In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson joins Danielle Gallant and Guy Hanson for a special Spamageddon crossover with the Email After Hours podcast to share fast, tactical fixes for email deliverability challenges and escaping the spam folder.

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Best Moments:

(01:05) The hosts play a fun 10-second game before diving into the main topic

(03:00) Discussion begins on getting emails back into the inbox instead of spam/junk folders

(03:20) Guy explains that fixing deliverability isn't easy but there are strategies that work

(03:41) Focus on data quality at both beginning and end of subscriber journey

(04:27) Rule of thumb: subscribers who haven't engaged within a year become risky

(05:26) Debunking the myth about only sending to engaged users to rebuild reputation

(06:30) Open rates still provide value despite Apple MPP challenges

(06:50) Importance of collecting customer feedback to improve email performance

(07:15) Discussion of "hidden metrics" mailbox providers track that senders can't see

(08:38) B2B marketers should separate cold email programs from promotional emails

(09:44) Reference to a subreddit about cold emails that provides examples of what not to do

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

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Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

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=================================================

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Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

6/24 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson answers a listener’s question about declining email metrics—and shares real performance trends and what tactics are actually working right now. He also dives into a rapid-fire batch of dating dilemmas with his usual off-the-cuff honesty.

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Best Moments:

(01:21) They have a... fluff festival, a marshmallow fluff festival. It's called, What The Fluff?

(04:05) Vanity metrics are not going to ring the bell. You're not going to drive revenue with vanity metrics during these uncertain times.

(05:20) Non engaged contacts... about a 15% decline in open rates and about a 20% decline... in click through rates.

(06:03) If you only market... to your engaged database... we're actually seeing a rise... of about 15% overall.

(08:08) Weekend email performance... Sunday do really, really well.

(08:40) Click through rates are up... consumer emails... about 20%... B2B emails on weekends are up about 35%.

(09:30) Flash sales are doing incredibly well in the last ninety days.

(10:00) Webinar show up rates have gone up really high for Fridays... increased about 25% year over year.

(10:56) This is not the time to try to wake the dead in your database.

(12:08) Jay, what do you do when someone is perfect on paper, but boring in real life?

(13:03) If your friend really likes the person... they're not really asking your opinion.

(14:07) If you don't like the person, get out of it. Life's too short.

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!

Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

May 6/24 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

In this episode of Do This, Not That, Jay Schwedelson breaks down what's trending this week—from Instagram’s push for carousel posts to summer-themed subject lines that boost open rates. He also covers LinkedIn layoffs, Dick's Sporting Goods buying Foot Locker, and some personal takes on movies and Blake Lively.

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Best Moments:

(00:34) So basically you should only be posting carousels

(01:34) Carousel posts... are increasing average engagement rates... to about 30% higher

(02:05) Summer oriented subject lines... have a 22% higher average email open rate

(03:15) Your summer starts with this email or hot summer, hotter discounts

(03:40) This tool doesn't take summer Fridays

(04:19) LinkedIn is facing job cuts

(05:12) Do you not then use LinkedIn to find your next job?

(05:48) Dick's Sporting Goods bought Foot Locker for $2,400,000,000

(06:27) They could be a total of 35% of Nike's sales

(06:58) Liberty Mutual's TV spot, the Limu Emu

(07:22) They spent... $2,700,000 on that ad this week

(07:33) Wegovy's TV spot... $8,700,000 because they're going after some more expensive markets

(08:00) Tom Cruise can like jump out of planes

(08:28) I do not like these live action versions of cartoons

(08:58) This is the sixth film in the Karate Kid whatever

(09:39) Sorry, Blake Lively

(10:00) She needs to hide. If she just hid for a few months...

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!

Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

June 24th 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

In this episode of The Bathroom Break, Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray dive into how marketers should respond during economic uncertainty. They share tactical tips on messaging, pricing, and customer communication to stay relevant and retain customers when times are unpredictable.

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Best Moments:

(01:18) What is that personality trait that you're that person that doesn't read the room and realize everybody's ready to go?

(01:37) There is no debate on the planet that for the next few months, there's uncertainty in the economy.

(02:13) One thing is transparency and it can go both ways.

(03:21) Be very aware of what's going on in your category.

(04:15) If you can't go too far on discounting, the way to do this is double down on messaging on value.

(05:08) If you haven't revised your own internal expectations in terms of sales and pipeline, you are making a huge mistake.

(06:05) Double down on your existing client base.

(07:16) You need to be transparent... on your own channels as well.

(07:52) Talk about uncertainty... Have downloadable information, webinars.

(08:32) If you're locally sourcing and locally doing things... go hard with that messaging right now.

(09:30) He does not know what's going on in his social plans, just FYI.

(10:24) Why haven't you made your skin check with so and so, doctor, and I gotta do that?

=================================================

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EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!

Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

June 24th 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson shares simple but powerful ways to use the free version of ChatGPT—especially by sending it on “missions” most people overlook. He also dives into the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and why flex culture is exhausting.

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Best Moments:

(00:59) You can ask ChatGPT to audit things

(02:05) Compare your homepage to your top 3 competitors

(02:38) Audit your LinkedIn profile as a personal brand coach

(03:06) Curate gifts under $50 that are clever, unique, and shipped fast

(04:07) Audit my site for AEO—what's missing?

(05:20) Radiologists at Mayo Clinic increased headcount by 55% because of AI

(08:10) Black coffee is not a flex

(08:50) Not taking a vacation for 6 years is not impressive

(09:38) I don't watch TV—go play with rocks

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“Audit my homepage for conversion leaks.”

➤ Add: You’re a CRO expert. Critique this homepage [insert URL] and list 5 quick wins—headlines, CTAs, social proof, trust signals—to bump conversion by 15%.

“Compare our homepage to our top 3 competitors.”

➤ Add: Here are 3 URLs of our competition. Tell me where they outperform us in copy, social proof, clarity, offer, and CTA.

“Audit my promo emails.”

➤ Add: You’re the world’s greatest promotional email expert for webinars—shred my email and tell me how to improve the subject line, CTA button, preheader, image placement, the whole thing.

“Audit my LinkedIn profile like a personal brand coach.”

➤ Add: Based on my industry, tell me what’s missing from my profile to attract leads or speaking gigs.

“Find 5 creative birthday gift ideas from Etsy or Uncommon Goods for my [friend/boss/sister] who loves [insert interest].”

➤ Add: You’re a gift concierge. Curate gifts under $50 that are clever, unique, and ship fast. Don’t give me basic stuff. Be quirky but useful.

AEO PROMPT:

“Audit my site at https://your-site.com for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). What’s missing that would stop my content from showing up in ChatGPT answers? Tell me exactly what to fix or add—FAQs, schema, internal links, headings, etc.”

=================================================

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Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

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WunderKind: 20 Ideas in 40 Mins! Would You Rather?! Topic: Owned Channel Performance SECRETS!

May 8th - Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/wouldyourather-ownedchannelperf7310021407273304064/theater/

Marigold: May 30th 11am est. More info coming soon!

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson sits down with Carly Baker, the powerhouse leading media partnerships at HubSpot Media Network. From scrappy collaboration tactics to making shows binge‑worthy, Carly shares how partnerships unlock growth for businesses of any size—and why creative souls thrive in modern marketing.

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Best Moments:

(04:02) Partnerships as an under‑utilized growth hack for businesses of all sizes

(05:20) How smaller companies can effectively partner with larger organizations

(08:14) What makes a podcast “bingeable” — consistent, audience‑first value

(09:15) Should you release podcast episodes you’re not 100 % satisfied with?

(11:30) Paid‑media strategies and when they really move the needle

(14:03) The blurring line between creators and media companies

(15:54) Prediction: online communities are the next big wave in the creator economy

(17:55) How creative professionals can find fulfillment—and longevity—in marketing

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Guest Bio

Carly Baker develops podcast partnerships and media strategies for HubSpot Media Network, working on shows like My First Million and Marketing Against the Grain. A former professional classical oboist, she brings a unique creative lens to B2B media, championing personality‑led content and win‑win collaborations that expand reach and revenue.

CONNECT WITH CARLY!! - Carly Baker

More on Hubspot Media Network - https://creators.hubspot.com/

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson takes listener questions in an “Ask Us Anything” format, sharing down-to-earth marketing tactics—like how to boost webinar attendance—and veering off into pop culture commentary as only he can.

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Best Moments:

(01:30) Addressing declining show-up rates for events and webinars

(02:23) The power of remarketing to people who have already signed up

(03:33) Using Instagram Reel ads for remarketing (even for B2B)

(05:24) Creating incentives for live attendance with exclusive content

(07:05) "Ridiculous question" about Dr. Pimple Popper and Lifetime TV

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!

Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

May 30th 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma.

In this episode of Do This, Not That, host Jay Schwedelson covers the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), new data on webinar marketing trends, and quirky industry news—from AI-driven Safari updates to Chuck E. Cheese going media mogul.

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Best Moments:

(00:54) The shift from SEO to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) due to AI's impact on search

(02:19) ChatGPT's user growth to 800 million weekly active users, doubling from February

(02:39) How websites need to include listicles and answer core questions to appear in AI search results

(04:06) Apple's plan to redesign Safari to focus on AI search engines

(05:03) Chuck E. Cheese launching its own branded media network

(06:46) Webinar marketing data showing Wednesdays and Fridays have highest registration rates

(07:32) 2PM identified as the optimal webinar time with highest attendance rates

(08:05) Most webinar registrations happen in the week before the event (78.9% within two weeks)

(08:30) Update on Meghan Markle's podcast performance and comparisons to "Do This, Not That"

=================================================

Check out our 100% FREE + VIRTUAL EVENTS! ->

EVENTASTIC - The worlds LARGEST event about EVENTS! June 5-6 2025

Register HERE: https://www.eventastic.com/Registration

Guru Conference - The World's Largest Virtual EMAIL MARKETING Conference - Nov 6-7!

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

=================================================

Check out Jay’s YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson

Check out Jay’s TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelson

Check Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/

=================================================

AND don’t miss out on this awesome FREE upcoming Quick Hit!

Marigold: Should I Switch Email Platforms? 5 Truths & Myths!

May 6/24 11am – 12pm ET.

Register HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7325947932031991808/comments/

=================================================

MASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, Marigold!!

Email chaos across campuses, branches, or chapters? Emma by Marigold lets HQ keep control while local teams send on-brand, on-time messages with ease.

Podcast & GURU listeners: 50 % off your first 3 months with an annual plan (new customers, 10 k-contact minimum, terms apply).

Claim your offer now at jayschwedelson.com/emma