Podcast Summary:

Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson (Ep. 407) – “3 WORDS That Can BOOST Your Engagement 60% 🚀 Jay’s SCOOP”
Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Guru Media Hub
Guest/Host: Jay Schwedelson

Overview:

This episode is laser-focused on a surprisingly overlooked aspect of marketing copy: the first word (or first three words) of your email subject line and social media posts. Jay argues—and backs with real data—that the very beginning of your copy massively impacts engagement rates, sometimes by as much as 60%. He walks through which words and strategies work best for LinkedIn, email, and Instagram, giving listeners actionable tools for immediate results.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Why the First Few Words Matter – More Than Anything

• Attention is Won (or Lost) Instantly:
  Jay opens by stressing that elaborate copy, creative offers, and beautiful landing pages are pointless if no one ever reads them. The critical moment happens where eyes land first: the very beginning of your subject line or post.

  “No one's going to see the thing, read the thing, do the thing, buy the thing if you don't nail that first word or the first few words.” (01:41)

• Dispelling the ‘Hook’ Obsession:
  Jay cautions against over-focusing on hooks in favor of obsessing over the literal first word.

  “Forget about the hook. We need to take a step back and think about literally what is the first word that we are using?” (01:17)

LinkedIn: The Power of the First Three Words

[04:15-06:06]

• Algorithmic Importance:
  On the mobile app, LinkedIn notifications only show the first three words of a post, making them the make-or-break factor for engagement.

• Massive Engagement Boost:
  Social Insider data cited: impactful first three words can boost engagement by 45-60%.

  “If you don't nail those first three words on your post, your engagement goes down massively.” (05:08)

• Winning Approaches for First Three Words:

  • Contrarian: “Everyone is wrong…”
  • Command: “Stop doing this.”
  • Relatable: “I messed up…”
  • Authoritative: “Three things every…”
    Jay’s take:

  “These are the things that do the best according to all the most recent data.” (05:24)

Email Subject Lines: What Works, What Doesn’t

[06:10–09:23]

Non-Sales Promotional Emails:

• First Word is Key:
  • Using the right first word can give a 20% lift to open rates.
  • Top performing first words: Why, Stop, Invited, Most.
    • Stop: Triggers an instinctual pause.
    • Invited: Creates a sense of inclusion and excitement.
    • Most: Leverages social proof/effectiveness.

  “When you say 'invited', somebody gets excited, they're invited, they don't realize it. …We like being invited.” (08:06)

Sales Promotion Emails:

• Leading with Last, Ends, or Just signals immediacy or scarcity.

  • Examples: “Just in...”, “Ends today…”, “Last sweater in stock…”

  “The point is, don't just write a subject line. Think about how it works. And how it works is that word, that first word, gets them to the next word.” (09:21)

Instagram: The First 1.5 Seconds

[09:33–10:30]

• Hook = First 1.5 Seconds:
  • Instagram claims engagement rides on the first 4-5 seconds, but Jay stresses it’s really 1-2 seconds.
  • Reels are the #1 format—start strong!

  “There's a lot of data out there that says the first second and a half is where they're going to decide if they're going to go further.” (09:55)

Jay’s Rant: “Since You Didn’t Ask”

[11:45–14:20] (Humorous Non-Marketing Segment)

• Jay shares a relatable, ranty travel story about airport people movers.
• Laments people who ride, block the walkway, and treat it like “a ride at Disney.”

• “It's not like, oh, the whole point of these were created so you... you... you lazy human... you don't have to move anymore. It's not a ride.” (12:34)

• Emphasizes “keep walking!” on people movers, humorously declaring,

  “We're uniting against you. We're finding you.” (13:34)

(Note: This segment is designed for levity and connection, not marketing education.)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Marketers’ Priorities:

  “You spend so much time on everything else... but nobody is going to see it if you don’t nail that first word.” (02:14)

• First Words Impact:

  “Social Insider said that those first three words, that first line right there, getting on that first line and getting it to be strong and engaged, will increase your engagement by 45 to 60%.” (04:58)

• Email Writing Simplified:

  “Why do I get so worked up? I don't know.” (10:42)

• On Human Behavior in Airports:

  “If you're out there and you're a stander on the people mover, we need you to keep walking. No more standing.” (13:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | Key Points | |-----------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Introduction & Show Format | Quick overview, podcast’s rapid-fire, actionable tip style | | 01:00–03:10| Why First Words Matter | It’s not about the offer, it’s about the first word/three words | | 04:15–06:06| LinkedIn First Three Words | Best-performing formats, 45-60% engagement boost | | 06:10–09:23| Email Subject Line Advice | “Why, Stop, Invited, Most” for non-sales; “Last, Ends, Just” for sales | | 09:33–10:30| Instagram Engagement Tips | Reels, focus on first 1–1.5 sec, quick visual/auditory impact | | 11:45–14:20| “Since You Didn’t Ask” | Humorous rant about airport moving walkways, creating a personal connection |

Actionable Takeaways

• For LinkedIn:
  Prioritize your first three words—try contrarian, command, relatable, or authoritative tones.
• For Email:
  Lead with “Why,” “Stop,” “Invited,” or “Most” for content; “Last,” “Ends,” or “Just” for promotions.
• For Instagram:
  Nail the first 1–2 seconds in Reels—visual/audio impact is EVERYTHING.

Tone and Style

Jay delivers with urgency, wit, and real talk, discarding fluff for practical, data-backed tactics. He remains relatable and hilarious, seamlessly weaving actionable advice with everyday observations.

Summary

This episode drills home a counterintuitive but crucial point: micro-choices (the first word or three!) can have macro-results on engagement. Marketers should be obsessively strategic at the very front of their copy—regardless of channel. Jay keeps it fast, fun, and actionable, ensuring listeners leave with simple improvements that can generate outsized returns immediately.