Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

Latest Episodes:

SPECIAL SERIES ==> How to Use Clicks to Win at Segmentation <== | BATHROOM Break #104 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Most marketers glance at their click data and move on. But Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray think that's a massive missed opportunity hiding in plain sight. This Bathroom Break gets into the underrated power of click-through segmentation, bot inflation you probably don't know you have, and why your unsubscribe link might be quietly wrecking your metrics. Oh, and Jay gave up caffeine seven weeks ago. Chamomile tea era, officially.

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Follow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights. Subscribe to Ari Murray’s newsletter at gotomillions.co for sharp, actionable marketing insights.

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Best Moments:

(03:00) Why your click data is worth way more than you're treating it

(04:00) How to build retargeting audiences from email clicks for almost nothing

(06:45) The two or three in the morning trick that reveals your real click-through rate

(07:40) Using an invisible link above the fold to catch bot clicks before they skew your data

(08:26) The surprisingly common mistake of counting unsubscribe clicks in your CTR

(08:45) Why filtering clicks by ICP before retargeting makes everything sharper

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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!

Ask Us ANYTHING!! 💀 Stop Throwing MONEY at Bad Offers & DATING Advice??? | Ep. 493 Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

There is something oddly relatable about getting dating advice from a guy who hasn't opened a dating app in over two decades. Jay Schwedelson tackles two very different kinds of questions this episode - one sharp and practical about why your "great" offer is probably not great, and one completely unhinged series of dating questions submitted by listeners who really should know better than to ask him.

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Best Moments:

(01:45) Jay drops the cold truth: if you think your offer is great but results say otherwise, the offer just isn't great

(02:58) The 100% Rule - the single question you should always ask before trying to save a failing campaign

(04:18) Why throwing more money at a bad offer is a trap, and what to do instead

(06:15) Venmo requesting someone after a bad date - Jay's take is exactly what you'd expect

(07:45) Why going on vacation too early in a relationship is a recipe for disaster (he learned this the hard way)

(08:45) The real reason you need to Google someone before a first date, according to Netflix true crime

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MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, CallRail!

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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!

ZOOM's CMO!! 🎯 Stop Calling It a Webinar 🍿 SPECIAL GUEST! Kimberly Storin | Ep. 492 Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Zoom became a verb for a reason, but most people are still sleeping on what it can actually do. Kimberly Storin, the CMO of Zoom, joined Jay Schwedelson with a take that might make you rethink your entire webinar strategy - the problem was never the format. It's the death spiral of treating every webinar like a lead machine. There's a smarter way to play it, and it starts with a phrase most marketers have never heard: preference formation.

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Follow Kimberly Storin on LinkedIn for her takes on modern marketing, webinar strategy, and building a brand at scale. Check out Zoom's webinar and virtual events platform if you haven't looked at it beyond the meetings product.

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Best Moments:

(03:34) Why "most webinars deserve to die" is actually about behavior, not the format itself

(06:00) The idea that buying decisions are already made before a prospect ever wants to talk to you - and what that means for your webinars

(12:45) Why segmenting your webinar strategy by audience type is just as important as segmenting your email list

(15:04) The CMO of Zoom just said don't call it a webinar when you're trying to get someone to show up

(17:17) Kim's monthly "table talk" playbook - including the one question she asks every guest that gets 50 CMOs typing in the chat instantly

(18:49) The data point that should change how you think about chat engagement - people who comment go to the pipeline faster

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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!

What’s Up THIS WEEK?! NEW AI Must Do’s, 1990s Impact, Subject Line Tips, TV Recos? | Ep. 491 Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

The data landed this week, and it quietly changes how you should be titling just about everything. Jay Schwedelson unpacks three tactics that are already moving the needle on AI visibility and email open rates, including one that produces what he describes as the most poorly written subject lines imaginable, and it still outperforms. Add in a genuinely spicy Coachella take and some unexpected news from Levi's, and this one earns its 10 minutes.

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Best Moments:

(00:30) Content titles that start with a number are getting picked up by AI overviews nearly 22% of the time, the highest rate of any content type

(01:45) Starting your subject line with "And," "But," or "Plus" is lifting email open rates by around 15%, and yes, it looks as weird as it sounds

(03:00) Comparison-style content like "X vs Y" is showing up in AI answers 45-60% more than other formats

(04:45) Levi's 517 jeans saw a 25% sales spike this quarter, and a JFK Jr. TV show gets partial credit

(05:30) Why Kylie Jenner's cigarette post at Coachella is one 90s trend that should stay buried

(06:00) Jay's full-throated defense of Justin Bieber's Coachella set and why calling it lazy is just wrong

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Big shoutout to our sponsor, Knak!

Marketers, you know the pain… You spend hours on a campaign, and then it gets stuck in review cycles and barely looks like what you started with. Knak makes it simple. Build emails, landing pages, and mobile messages; collaborate and launch - all in one place. No tool hopping, no messy handoffs, with AI built in to help you move faster.

See how it all works, get started at knak.com/demo

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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 ==>TRUTH about Instagram Engagement! <== | BATHROOM Break #103 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Most restaurant specials aren't what you think they are, and somehow that's the most useful thing Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray have ever shared on this show. Between the fish warning and the Instagram algorithm reality check, this Bathroom Break episode packs in more practical social media clarity than most hour-long marketing podcasts manage to pull off.

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Best Moments:

(01:10) Never order the fish special - a TikTok chef blew Daniel's mind and now it's your problem too

(02:18) Instagram's trial reel feature is criminally underused and it's the safest way to test content without tanking your feed

(04:30) Three-second hook analytics on Instagram tell you exactly where your video is losing people

(05:15) The head of Instagram says reposting to your story doesn't boost reach - Jay pushes back, and he's not wrong

(08:15) 80% of Instagram activity happens in Stories and DMs, so that's where your real goal should be

(09:22) The engagement story trick - warm up your audience before you post to maximize story views

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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!

🔥BEST MAN from MY WEDDING! & Head Coach Washington Huskies!🔥BREAKTHROUGH in your Career! 🏈 W/ JEDD FISCH | Ep. 489 Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

It is rare to hear a major college football head coach talk about almost dying at age 26 and the ridiculous ways they forced their way into the business. Jedd Fisch joins his lifelong friend Jay Schwedelson to share the raw, unfiltered truth about surviving a massive health crisis and turning a catastrophic sports program into a national powerhouse. Expect some wild stories about leaving notes on a legendary coach's car for a job and why showing up for your friends matters more than anything else.

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Best Moments:

(03:15) Jedd recalls the terrifying morning run that led to his life-threatening aortic aneurysm

(08:08) Why the support of coworkers during a major health crisis pushed Jedd to return stronger

(12:55) The insane lengths Jedd went to get his first coaching opportunity under Steve Spurrier

(18:36) How to convince a team on a long losing streak to completely buy into a brand new system

(23:40) Why treating everyday relationships like a fast journey shifts your professional priorities

(27:10) A high school yearbook quote from Jedd's dad that serves as his ultimate daily motivation

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Explore the foundations of Jedd's professional career and employment opportunities at the Washington Huskies.

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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!

What’s Up THIS WEEK?! 🤖 The ANTI-AI Advertising Movement ➕Connected TV is FOR ALL Size Marketers Now [B2B and B2C] 📺 | Ep. 488 Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

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

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Big shoutout to our sponsor, Knak!

Marketers, you know the pain… You spend hours on a campaign, and then it gets stuck in review cycles and barely looks like what you started with.

Knak makes it simple. Design emails and landing pages, collaborate, and launch - all in one place. No tool hopping, no messy handoffs, with AI built in to help you move faster.

See how it all works, get started at knak.com/demo

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We are breaking down some wild new data on exactly what types of LinkedIn posts actually get the most likes and reactions right now. Jay Schwedelson also looks at the growing pushback against fully computer-generated ads and why brands are actively bragging about using real humans again. Plus, find out how you can test out connected TV ads for almost zero dollars and why buying celebrity bath water soap means humanity has reached its limit.

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Best Moments:

(01:00) Why multi-image posts on LinkedIn are currently averaging the highest like counts for personal and company pages

(02:15) The rising backlash against artificial intelligence in advertising and the dawn of the anti-AI marketing movement

(03:45) How connected TV advertising is highly misunderstood and why even tiny B2B brands need to start using it

(05:00) A simple strategy to run YouTube ads on TV devices, only by uploading your existing email newsletter list

(06:45) Why Instagram testing close friends' content feels like a step backward for reaching a wider audience

(09:00) The absolute ridiculousness of celebrities selling soap made from their own bathwater

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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 ==> Quick Wins and Some Nonsense <== | BATHROOM Break #102 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Turning 50 comes with a lot of surprises, but reading a custom Mad Libs advertisement about a hairy luxury tomato cruise might be the most bizarre one yet. Before jumping into childhood lunchbox trauma, Daniel Murray and Jay Schwedelson share some surprisingly effective email marketing tactics that go against conventional wisdom. You will find out why putting newsletter edition numbers back into your subject lines is suddenly working and how three simple words can drastically improve your open rates.

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Best Moments:

(01:56) Daniel reads a hilarious custom Mad Libs advertisement created for Jay's 50th birthday

(03:44) Why a documentary about a broken cruise ship is highly recommended viewing

(04:44) Jay explains why adding the edition number back into newsletter subject lines is lifting open rates

(06:04) How adding a simple personal question to your emails improves reply rates and deliverability

(07:45) Using the words and, but, or plus in your pre-header text to increase open rates by 10 percent

(11:02) Daniel reveals his childhood trauma of eating banana-flavored sandwiches before lunch

🥳I’M 50 TODAY!🥳 My Life Tips! (On my big birthday!): Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 486 Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

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!

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Turning half a century old comes with a lot of reflection, and Jay Schwedelson is using his milestone birthday to drop some highly random but incredibly useful advice. From demanding that waiters actually write down your dinner order to the exact phrasing that boosts email click rates by over 20 percent, this mix of marketing tactics and life rules is exactly what you need to hear today. Get ready to rethink how you argue with friends, why you should embrace unsubscribes, and the undeniable value of watching terrible reality television.

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Best Moments:

(01:36) Stop accepting waiters who refuse to write down your table's food order

(02:23) Never avoid a marketing test just because you personally dislike a specific tactic

(03:08) Avoid bringing up past grievances when arguing with friends or partners

(04:09) Write your call-to-action buttons in the first person to massively increase click rates

(05:27) Only spend advertising dollars to boost social media posts that are already performing well

(07:49) Stay away from people who constantly talk trash about others because you will eventually become their target

🔵Small Business Marketing Success Secrets w/CEO of Constant Contact Frank Vella🔵 | Ep. 485 Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Check out Constant Contact and use the special URL constantcontact.com/jay for a discount. You can also catch Frank speaking at the upcoming GURU Conference and connect with him directly on LinkedIn.

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Read the Small Business Now Report from Constant Contact.

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Ever wonder how someone goes from getting fired at KFC to running one of the most iconic digital platforms in the world? Jay Schwedelson sits down with Frank Vella, CEO of Constant Contact, to talk about the real grind of small business ownership. They get into why artificial intelligence is the ultimate equalizer for small teams and how shifting your mindset from doing marketing to simply telling your story changes everything.

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Best Moments:

(02:30) Frank shares his first jobs working at a carnival and getting fired from KFC for eating too much chicken

(03:30) Why AI is the single biggest advantage small businesses have ever had to compete against massive companies

(06:48) The biggest mistake small business owners make when trying to take on the entire burden of marketing themselves

(09:48) How shifting the focus from marketing to simply telling your story completely changes the dynamic for business owners

(11:00) A surprising stat showing that 68 percent of small businesses plan to increase their marketing spend despite inflation fears

(15:36) Frank gives his top career advice on capitalizing on opportunities and acting like you already have the promotion you want.

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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!

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