Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

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 fi...

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. ㅤ Best Moments: (01:45) Jay compares buying the same shir...

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 co...

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’...

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: ㅤ “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.” ㅤ Then he swaps analytics for dice as he relives a wild Vegas trip where his crew tur...

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...

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. ㅤ Best Momen...

Jay Schwedelson finally found someone who might just have the answer to his time struggles: Rebecca Shaddix . She’s not only a Forbes contributor and the force behind UCLA's Women in Tech research, but she’s also on a mission to rescue your day—90 seconds at a time. This episode isn’t about productivity hacks that require color-coded calendars or waking up at 4 a.m. It’s about the tiny gaps you al...

Trying to get attention for a new product or newsletter and hearing crickets? Jay Schwedelson drops a simple mindset shift that can actually double or triple conversions—without changing your offer. It’s all about how fast you get people to act, and Jay has a playbook for doing it that works across email, social, popups, and even SMS. Plus, he weighs in on the Coldplay kiss cam scandal, where tech...

Memes aren’t just for Gen Z or internet junkies—they’re a real-deal marketing tool, and Jay Schwedelson teams up with Daniel Murray to break down exactly why. From condiment debates to viral ad strategies, they get into how memes can signal audience empathy, drive shares, and even outperform traditional ad formats. If you’ve ever wondered whether your “serious” brand could pull one off—yep, you pr...

How to Make Your Own Custom GPT (in under 10 minutes): Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month). Go to chat.openai.com , click “Explore GPTs” on the left sidebar. Hit “Create” in the top right corner. Fill in the prompts (name, purpose, tone, etc.). Upload your content (transcripts, newsletters, articles—anything). In the instructions, tell it to only use your uploaded content unless told otherwise. Sa...

You might not think running marketing for over 130 wildly different restaurants sounds like fun, but Jay Schwedelson finds out that for Jennifer Bell , it’s exactly that. From Michelin-starred fine dining to casual pizza joints, Jennifer has spent 25 years at Lettuce Entertain You, mastering how to scale loyalty, storytelling, and strategy without turning everything into a bland, one-size-fits-all...

Marketing doesn’t always have to be sunshine and sparkle—sometimes a little “doom” drives way more clicks. Jay Schwedelson digs into fresh data showing that negative words, emojis, and angles can outperform the classic “win-win” tone we’re all told to use. So if you’ve ever wanted to tell your boss that positivity is tanking your subject lines, now’s your moment. Plus, Jay gets fired up about weir...

If you’re ignoring weekends in your marketing plan, you might be sleeping on gold. Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray are teaming up for “Bathroom Break” — a quick-hit series where they trade data-backed tips while pretending we’re not all scrolling on the toilet. This one’s all about why Saturday and Sunday might be your secret weapon for better engagement, higher intent, and less crowded inboxes....

Most people don’t love their jobs—and that’s not only normal, it might be healthier. Jay Schwedelson unpacks the toxic myth that everyone should “do what they love” and explains why chasing passion often backfires. He shares why he doesn’t love his own job (and why that’s fine), what actually matters more than love, and how redefining career fulfillment might be the smarter move. ㅤ Best Moments:...

Jay Schwedelson gets the truth about LinkedIn company pages from Michelle J. Raymond —and it’s not what you'd expect. Turns out those dusty, forgotten pages could be your brand’s biggest missed opportunity. They dig into what’s actually working now, why impressions are dropping for everyone, and how you can build a company presence that doesn’t feel like a corporate ghost town. Plus, Michelle reve...

If your email performance is slipping even though you're using that classic “letter format” style, there’s a reason—and it’s not what you think. Jay Schwedelson breaks down why hybrid-looking plain text emails are quietly tanking results, and what real 1:1 messaging actually looks like. Also: laser planetariums, shoe policies at TSA, and the weird airport loophole that makes Jack & Coke at 8:3...

Waitlists might sound boring, but Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray make them feel like a secret weapon you’re probably underusing. They break down why waitlists aren't just for trendy DTC brands and how you can use them to test demand, gather leads, and build buzz—without sounding like a scammy giveaway. Plus, you’ll hear some strong opinions on self-checkout, impulse buys, and why Jay owns too m...

Jay got a rare chance to dig into exactly how Amy Porterfield gets such ridiculously high value—and sky-high conversions—from her webinars, bootcamps, and intimate in-person events. And she doesn’t hold back. From rethinking your promo timing to why “masterclass” beats “webinar,” she shares the specific tactics she uses to drive results without burning out her audience. Jay Schwedelson is all in o...

If you want to watch this YouTube failure unfold give me a 'subscribe' RIGHT HERE! https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson/shorts appreciate you! J ㅤ Best Moments: (00:34) The real reason it’s powerful to admit when something isn’t working (01:45) Why YouTube Shorts will rule the internet in the next three years (03:00) Most marketers are dumping content on YouTube and calling it a day (04:55) What...

Jay finally gets to sit down with the queen of Facebook herself, Mari Smith , and she’s got strong words: “followers are dead.” But don’t panic—this episode is packed with real talk on what actually works now, how Meta’s algorithm thinks, and why your personal profile might be your biggest untapped asset. Mari Smith doesn’t just explain the changes—she gives you the “do this, not that” of growing...

When Jenny from Lockhart, Texas asked whether email and social tips really apply to nonprofits, Jay Schwedelson gave a hard yes—and then proved it. This episode is all about how to rewire your calls to action with “inner dialogue” buttons that speak directly to what your audience is thinking. Whether you’re in nonprofit, B2B, DTC, or SaaS, these simple tweaks can boost your click rates way more th...

Marketers throw testimonials on their sites like seasoning—but most are bland and forgettable. Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray are back in the bathroom (not literally, we hope) to explain why one great, specific testimonial beats a wall of fluff. They also dig into smarter ways to use logos, how to tailor social proof by tier, and why your customer’s phone camera might be your best marketing too...

Mid-July and it’s 98 degrees out—but marketers are already thinking about December. Jay Schwedelson drops a reality check: your Q4 and holiday campaigns don’t start in the fall, they start now. From subject line data to social engagement spikes, he breaks down why jumping into end-of-year messaging this early isn't just smart—it's a major edge. Even if you’re sweating through summer, your prospect...

You know those people who refuse to let B2B get boring? That’s Jay Schwedelson sitting down with Shawn Perritt , who’s out to prove that “business to boring” is a mindset—one that needs to go. From why your brand budget shouldn’t be an afterthought, to how AI can actually make things less creative if you’re not careful, this one’s full of real talk for anyone tired of beige B2B. You’ll walk away r...