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 8:30 a.m. seem totally fine.

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Best Moments:

(02:01) Why everyone’s using letter format emails—and what they’re getting wrong

(03:02) The sneaky visual signals that make your “personal” emails feel automated

(04:30) 600% higher reply rates when your email looks truly human

(05:15) Why your “plain text” email is still HTML—and why that’s okay

(06:15) The email strategy mistake of living in both the graphic and plain text worlds

(08:13) Jack & Coke at 8:30 a.m.? Only acceptable in airports, apparently

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

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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/

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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

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 many Lululemon hats.

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Best Moments:

(01:10) Jay confesses he’s never used self-checkout without needing help

(02:28) Daniel explains why waitlists matter even if you’re not launching a product

(03:35) Jay shares how he turns a free event waitlist into a hype machine

(04:42) Daniel drops the “rolling thunder” strategy for smarter launches

(06:44) Limited quantity launches aren’t just hype—they’re insight gold

(08:05) Jay admits he keeps buying hats he’ll never wear at Lululemon

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Follow The Marketing Millennials podcast and connect with Daniel on LinkedIn to share marketing topics you want to hear in future episodes.

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

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 on her playbook, and after this, you might be too.

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Subscribe to Amy’s newsletter for weekly marketing tips that actually move the needle: https://www.amyporterfield.com/newsletter

Listen to The Amy Porterfield Show for deep dives on webinars, course creation, and smarter digital strategies: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-amy-porterfield-show/id594703545

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Best Moments:

(02:43) Why “webinar” is killing your sign-ups—and what to call it instead

(05:30) The simple live bonus that gets people to actually show up

(07:01) How often you should email between sign-up and go-live

(08:00) Why 7 days (not 2 weeks) is the sweet spot for promotions

(09:45) How to create “pre-launch breadcrumbs” that boost conversions

(14:15) What to do with all the people who don’t show up live

(17:15) Why she charges $37 for bootcamps—and gets 25% conversions

(20:45) How small events with specific goals outperform big ones

(23:10) Shrinking her audience on purpose (and making more money doing it)

(27:00) The one event mistake she keeps making—and how to fix it

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

If you want to watch this YouTube failure unfold give me a 'subscribe' RIGHT HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson/shorts

appreciate you!

J

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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 having only 600 subscribers taught Jay about perspective and growth

(06:23) You don’t need to be great—just willing to be in it and learn

(07:45) If you’re not hands-on, your feedback and decisions are worthless

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

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 visibility, building community, and yes, still making email matter.

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Check out Mari Smith's website at marismith.com. Join her Facebook group, The Social Scoop, for expert tips and community support. Follow Mari Smith on Instagram and Facebook.

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Best Moments:

(02:46) “Followers are dead” and why non-followers matter more than ever

(03:34) The one metric that tells you if your content is working

(04:30) What to fix when your content isn’t getting picked up

(05:17) Why Facebook is now pushing all video posts into reels

(07:03) Should you use your personal profile or a business page?

(09:00) The format that makes going viral way easier

(10:14) The downside of viral reach with the wrong audience

(11:11) How to turn casual scrollers into leads with one smart move

(12:08) Why your email list is your most important business asset

(13:15) What “trial reels” are and why they’re a big deal

(15:10) The one factor that predicts whether a Facebook group will succeed

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

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 than you'd expect. Also: Jay’s love-hate relationship with green markets, lavender dog biscuits, and mildly gross soap people.

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Best Moments:

(02:00) Why “does this apply to me?” is the most common (and misguided) marketing question

(03:44) The one element everyone overlooks that can drastically lift click-through rates

(04:59) How to replace “Donate” with CTAs that actually reflect what donors are thinking

(06:30) B2B examples of flipping “Download” into clicks that convert

(07:43) Ecomm buttons that tap into guilt, indulgence, and the online shopping spiral

(08:15) Jay’s favorite SaaS CTA: “Convince me this is worth it”

(09:00) Why green markets feel like a fever dream of soap, lavender, and risky mushrooms

(10:58) The one vendor Jay always buys from (hint: it’s briny)

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

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 tool.

Best Moments:

(00:45) The go-to excuse everyone secretly uses to escape bad meetings

(02:10) Why social proof isn’t optional anymore—it’s table stakes

(03:12) Generic testimonials kill conversions, but numbers make people act

(04:38) A lo-fi customer video trumps a polished quote every time

(05:32) Don’t slap the same logos on every page—match them to your audience

(06:30) Even attendee logos can drive event registrations if you use them right

Follow Daniel’s show The Marketing Millennials and drop him a note on LinkedIn about what topics you want covered next.

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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

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 prospects are mentally putting up the tree.

Best Moments:

(00:30) Why July flips the mental switch from BBQs to Q4

(01:15) Google’s data shows “holiday marketing” searches spike between July 10–15

(01:45) 68% of Q4 B2B deals start in summer—don’t get left behind

(02:30) Subject lines mentioning Q4 get 14% higher open rates after July 4

(03:04) Consumer emails with holiday mentions see a 22% boost in opens

(03:45) Social posts about Q4 drive 25% more B2B engagement starting in July

(04:30) Easy tests to see if early Q4 messaging works for you

(06:02) Steve from Blue’s Clues has a podcast—yes, really

(08:15) Jay’s favorite random podcast: a Melrose Place rewatch

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

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

Register here: www.GuruConference.com

ㅤ

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/

ㅤ

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