Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

Latest Episodes:

SPECIAL SERIES == Failing Fast Is a Power Move 🔥 <== | BATHROOM Break #68 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Sometimes your best growth comes from your worst flops. On this Bathroom Break edition, Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray get real about failure in marketing—not just accepting it, but planning for it, documenting it, and even celebrating it. From botched campaigns to abandoned social channels, they dig into why marketers should embrace failure as a feature, not a bug.

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Best Moments:

(01:41) If you're not comfortable with failure, you're not going to grow—period

(02:49) Bad marketing often just gets ignored, so most people never even see your misses

(03:30) Not documenting failures is worse than failing itself

(04:20) You have to create a culture where sharing mistakes doesn’t feel risky

(05:00) Every campaign should have a clear kill switch—don’t let it drag on

(06:15) The Guru Awards launch flopped fast, and that was the win

(07:00) Letting go of TikTok let Marketing Millennials double down on what was working

(08:00) Keto, Barry's, vegetarian… personal flops can be just as revealing

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Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights.

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

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Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

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Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

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Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

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Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

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Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Does Bullying AI Work? + Jay's TV Recos!🤖 Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 391 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Jay Schwedelson just admitted he bullies AI—and thought it worked. Turns out, he’s not alone. A wild claim from Google's Sergey Brin got Jay spiraling: can being mean to AI actually make it perform better? New research says no... but the real reason behind better results might surprise you. Plus, Jay explains why treating AI like a doctor (yes, really) is the key to getting more value from it.

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Best Moments:

(00:37) Jay admits he yells at AI when he doesn't like its answers

(01:18) Sergey Brin claims AI models respond better to threats

(02:45) Study from Wharton shows tone has zero impact on AI performance

(03:49) People give more info when frustrated—that’s what improves AI results

(05:00) Why giving AI more personal context makes all the difference

(06:17) The “AI is like a doctor” analogy you won’t forget

(09:00) Jay declares the Bachelor franchise is probably doomed

(09:40) Why you should skip Love is Blind US and go straight to the UK version

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

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Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

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Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

You’re Doing Video Wrong... Here’s the Fix ⚠️ GUEST! Emmy-winner Tony Gnau | Ep. 390 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

It turns out your smartphone is probably better than the cameras Emmy-winner Tony Gnau used in the early days of his video career—and he’s here to tell you why that’s good news. Jay Schwedelson gets into what’s actually required to make great video, the gear myths you can ignore, and how to stop treating video like a one-off side project. If you think you need a studio and a giant budget to win with video marketing, this episode might just change your mind.

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Connect with Tony on LinkedIn or visit tonygnau.com to learn more. If you’re in healthcare, check out healthcarevideospecialists.com for his agency.

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Best Moments:

(03:15) The minimum setup you need to shoot video that won’t embarrass your brand

(04:30) When it’s fine to DIY video—and when you should go pro

(05:45) Why “let’s make a video” is the wrong starting point

(07:00) The smarter way to bake video into your full marketing strategy

(08:20) Why short form videos can actually spark long form ideas

(12:02) Every video needs its own strategy to succeed

(13:30) What B-roll really is—and when you don’t need it

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

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Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

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Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

NEW! Tariff Marketing Tips for B2B and Consumer! + Dating Advice 😬 | Ep. 389 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Boston accents, tariff talk, and some surprisingly solid dating advice all in one shot. Jay Schwedelson keeps it real on this quick-hit episode, breaking down why tariffs still matter for your marketing strategy (even if the headlines have moved on) and sharing a sneaky email tactic that’s crushing right now. Then, things take a hilarious turn as he tackles a stack of dating questions with zero filter—because why not?

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Best Moments:

(01:15) Jay cracks up over Boston’s official accent dictionary and his new favorite word, “donkeys.”

(02:01) Why tariff concerns aren’t as “over” as marketers think—and what it means for your promos.

(04:20) The value-per-use marketing trick that’s driving double-digit email engagement boosts.

(07:15) Why mentioning tariffs in your subject lines could give you a 19% lift in opens.

(08:30) Jay’s blunt take on what to do when someone says “we should hang out sometime” but never picks a date.

(09:45) The Instagram ex-following debate—fine or full red flag?

(10:36) When “I need space” actually means “this relationship is toast.”

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

SPECIAL SERIES == 💀 Templates Are Killing Your Marketing 🚫 <== | BATHROOM Break #67 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Templates may save time, but do they kill your creativity? That’s the debate Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray dive into during this Bathroom Break collab. They get real about why marketers rely on templates, how they backfire, and when it actually makes sense to break the rules. Plus, a tangent about AI glasses you didn’t know you needed.

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Best Moments:

(01:45) Jay compares buying the same shirt to marketers clinging to templates.

(02:30) Daniel explains why canned templates make brands invisible on social feeds.

(03:36) Jay reveals the “new template” trap that lures teams into stale content.

(05:15) Daniel shares how custom styles keep newsletters consistent without blending in.

(06:00) Jay points out how copying common webinar formats leads straight to “nowheresville.”

(06:18) Daniel highlights why unpolished, text-based emails often outperform slick designs.

(07:09) The two riff on AI glasses and the future of wearable tech.

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Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights.

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Secret to Closing Big Deals! 😮And why 1,000,000 Downloads Means Nothing! Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 387 Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Your company doesn’t matter as much as who you connect with through your content. Jay Schwedelson explains why building real relationships through podcasts, newsletters, or any content platform beats chasing vanity metrics like downloads or clicks. It’s a fresh way to think about your brand’s storytelling and networking—less about audience size, more about the right people you actually meet and collaborate with.

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Best Moments:

(00 00) Why your business needs content that forces interaction with important people

(02 00) How inviting guests to your podcast breaks down cold-call barriers

(03 00) Jay’s secret behind landing high-profile guests like Gary Vaynerchuk

(04 30) Reimagining content as a tool for building strategic relationships, not just audience growth

(06 00) It’s never really about downloads—focus on who you want to meet instead

(07 00) Jay’s hilarious story about battling a fly that took over his house

(09 30) Don’t miss Guru Conference, a free virtual email marketing event with big names

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Ann Handley! AI and Creativity!🧠How Ann Handley Uses AI...| Ep. 386 Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Anne Handley is not here to bash AI—she actually uses it—but she is here to warn us about what happens when we use it too early, too often, and for the wrong reasons. Jay Schwedelson gets into it with Ann Handley about how to stay creative when AI wants to take over your brain, what’s really at stake for writers, and why being a good marketer still means sounding like an actual person (even if it’s a sweaty, messy one).

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Subscribe to Total Annarchy—Ann’s free newsletter on writing and marketing that’s actually worth reading.

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Best Moments:

(01:31) Why she’s more afraid of humans becoming robots than robots becoming human

(04:00) The biggest mistake creators make when using AI

(05:15) A smart rule of thumb for where AI should save time

(07:15) How we’re being trained to accept boring content—and how to fight back

(08:08) The rise of AI trigger words like “unlock” and “discover” (and why they’re ruining copy)

(09:00) Are marketers avoiding copywriting as a career now?

(11:18) The case for “thoughtstipation” and why prompt engineering is not the future

(14:00) The very human way Ann used AI to review her book draft

(17:30) Her 30-minutes-a-day reading challenge and why it rewires your brain

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

WRONG!😱AI Stats are Wrong - Here is how to FIX IT! + Guy's Trip Recap! - Ask Us ANYTHING❓ | Ep. 385 Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Ever trusted an AI-generated stat only to get called out? Jay Schwedelson drops the one prompt that keeps bogus numbers out of your deck:

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“Give me stats for ___, but clearly label them as either sourced and 100% accurate or inferred and prioritize real stats with sources that you have verified when possible.”

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Then he swaps analytics for dice as he relives a wild Vegas trip where his crew turned pennies into payouts. Short, sharp, and surprisingly useful, this one saves your credibility and maybe your next casino night.

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Best Moments:

(01:01) Ben’s meeting nightmare proves blind trust in AI can burn you

(03:00) ChatGPT admits 40-50 percent of its numbers are flat-out wrong

(03:32) Jay shares the exact prompt to separate sourced stats from AI guesses

(08:15) Blackjack drains wallets, but craps turns into a money-making marathon

(09:55) A stranger flips a $100 chip to Jay’s friend after a legendary 25-minute roll

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

SPECIAL SERIES == Are Followers Still a Thing? Let’s Get Real 🎯 <== | BATHROOM Break #66 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Not gonna lie, this one gets real. Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray go beyond the usual follower-count talk to break down what really matters when it comes to audience size—and what doesn’t. Social proof, ad credibility, platform strategies, and how to avoid looking like a ghost town brand all come into play. Whether you’re trying to grow a brand or just not embarrass yourself online, this one’s got some gems.

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Best Moments:

(00:40) The real reason Jay preps for Q4 months in advance—even if he procrastinates holiday shopping

(01:55) Why followers still matter when it comes to legitimacy and social proof

(02:54) Jay checks business credibility by LinkedIn followers, not websites

(03:49) YouTube Shorts outperforming subscriber-heavy accounts—and why that proves the algorithm has changed

(04:30) Why big brands run multiple burner accounts on social to maximize reach

(05:15) Running ads? People will click your profile—and your follower count influences their trust

(05:45) Followers unlock newsletter and broadcast features you can’t fake

(06:00) Set a baseline number to avoid looking sketchy—and stop chasing vanity metrics

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Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contact

ㅤ

Check out Jay Schwedelson's new book: Stupider People Have Done It

All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

ㅤ

Subscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletter

ㅤ

Check out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.com

ㅤ

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/

Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/ask

ㅤ

Leave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!

Major Instagram + LinkedIn Changes! 👀 Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 383 Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Instagram just changed the game by making posts searchable on Google—and Jay Schwedelson is here to tell you why it matters way more than you think. Plus, he breaks down the most overlooked, no-cost growth move on LinkedIn that could double your visibility with zero effort. If you’ve been sleeping on newsletters or just vibing your way through captions, this episode will wake you up.

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Best Moments:

(00:45) Instagram posts are now fully searchable on Google—even without logging in

(02:15) Why “weekend vibes” captions are killing your search visibility

(03:15) Tagging a location helps your post rank better in search—even if it’s generic

(04:30) The wild reason launching a LinkedIn newsletter beats the algorithm

(05:45) On average, 20–30% of your audience will subscribe to your LinkedIn newsletter

(07:30) LinkedIn now lets you use video as the header image for newsletters

(08:15) The first two words of your newsletter title are make-or-break

(09:45) Jay’s friend deleted Instagram and gave a TED Talk no one asked for

(10:55) The group text etiquette violation that made Jay nearly disown a friend

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