Podcast Summary: Ep. 231 - NEW Marketing Tactics that WORKED on Black Friday! 📺 NEW TV Show Alert! What’s Up THIS WEEK

Podcast Information:

• Title: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold
• Host: GURU Media Hub
• Release Date: December 3, 2024

Introduction In Episode 231 of "Do This, NOT That!" presented by Marigold and hosted by Jay Schwedelson from GURU Media Hub, the conversation centers around the latest marketing tactics that proved successful during Black Friday. The episode delves into data-driven insights, particularly focusing on the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in retail, email marketing trends, and innovative strategies that marketers can adopt to enhance their campaigns. Additionally, Jay shares some pop culture recommendations and announces an upcoming certification program.

1. Black Friday Performance Overview The episode kicks off with a brief recap of Black Friday's success, highlighting impressive sales figures and personal anecdotes from the hosts.

• Sales Surge: Jay notes, “Salesforce came out and said on Black Friday, online sales in the US rose 7% to $17.5 billion” (00:45). This uptick signifies a robust consumer response to the holiday shopping event.

2. The Impact of AI on Black Friday Sales A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how AI technologies influenced Black Friday sales, providing retailers with a competitive edge.

• Generative AI Boosts Conversion: Jay emphasizes, “Retailers employing generative AI had a 9% higher conversion rate than those that didn't” (02:15). This improvement underscores AI’s role in personalizing the shopping experience and driving sales.

• Chatbots and Increased Traffic: He further explains, “Chatbots powered by AI during Black Friday were super impactful as bot-driven clicks to retail sites rose by over 1800% compared to last year” (02:50). AI-driven chatbots not only enhance customer engagement but also significantly increase site traffic.

3. Email Marketing Trends for Black Friday The episode delves deep into the evolving trends in email marketing, backed by data from SubjectLine.com.

• Increased Use of Emojis:

  • Subject Lines: “Emojis were used 14% more in email subject lines for Black Friday email promotions this year than last year” (04:10).
  • Pre-Headers: Jay adds, “Emojis in pre-headers of emails promoting Black Friday offers were up 70% this year versus last year” (04:25). The strategic use of emojis enhances email visibility and engagement.

• Capitalization in Subject Lines:

  • “Nine percent of emails had at least one full word capitalized in their subject line in Black Friday emails. That is up almost 100% versus last year” (04:40). Capitalizing entire words like "SALE" or "IN STOCK" grabs recipients’ attention without triggering spam filters.

• Email Frequency:

  • Jay observes, “Brands sending out multiple emails on Black Friday were up over 300% this year versus last year” (05:05). Instead of a single email blast, brands are engaging customers with multiple touchpoints throughout the day, announcing flash sales or countdowns.

• B2B Email Marketing Strategies:

  • Contrary to the overall trend, "business to business promotional email volume was down about 15% versus last year on Black Friday” (05:30). However, Jay suggests that B2B marketers who did send emails benefited from lower competition, allowing their messages to stand out more effectively. “They actually have the opportunity to stand out in that inbox” (05:45).

4. Trending Keywords: The Use of "Wicked" in Subject Lines A unique trend highlighted is the integration of current pop culture references to boost email open rates.

• "Wicked" as a Powerful Keyword:

  • “The word 'Wicked' is increasing email open rates, 90% on the consumer side and 15% on the business side” (06:10). Inspired by the popularity of the movie Wicked, marketers are leveraging this term to create engaging and timely subject lines such as "Wicked Smart Strategy" or "Wicked New Guide for Finance Pros."

• Cultural Relevance: Jay advises, “This is the edge that you get in marketing by tapping into being of the moment” (06:30). Utilizing trending terms can enhance relatability and prompt higher engagement rates.

5. Pop Culture Influences and Marketing Beyond marketing tactics, Jay shares his personal recommendations on current TV shows and movies, subtly tying the conversation back to marketing strategies influenced by popular media.

• TV Show Recommendation: “Ted Danson is in a new show on Netflix called A Man on the Inside. It is the number one TV show right now on Netflix. A Man on the Inside. It is great. He’s like this undercover dude at this home for elderly people. And it is fantastic” (07:00). This recommendation underscores the importance of staying current with media trends, which can influence marketing narratives.

• Movie Highlight: “Lindsay Lohan’s new holiday movie, Our Little Secret, has jumped right to the number one spot on Netflix as the number one movie in the world right now” (07:40). References to popular movies can be leveraged in marketing campaigns to enhance engagement through shared cultural touchpoints.

6. Announcements and Future Episodes Towards the end of the episode, Jay announces an upcoming initiative and teases future content.

• Certified Guru Program: “Later this week, we are opening up Certified Guru. That is a free email certification program... Only people on the waitlist are going to be able to do it” (07:50). This program aims to provide marketers with specialized training and certification, enhancing their expertise and credibility.

• Upcoming Content: Jay mentions that listeners can expect a "Certified Guru" program to open up and encourages them to join the waitlist via certifiedguru.com.

7. Conclusion In wrapping up, Jay reinforces the wealth of information shared and encourages listeners to apply these insights to optimize their marketing strategies.

• Final Takeaways: “You're going to stick 'Wicked' in your subject line, you're going to watch a Lindsay Lohan movie and I don't have any idea what's going on” (08:00). This lighthearted closing emphasizes the blend of professional advice with personal touches, making the content relatable.

• Engagement Call: Listeners are encouraged to subscribe for more actionable tips and to leave a review, ensuring they stay informed with future episodes (08:02-08:19).

Key Insights and Actionable Takeaways:

1. Leverage AI Technologies: Implement generative AI and chatbots to personalize customer experiences and boost conversion rates.
2. Enhance Email Marketing:
   • Use more emojis in subject lines and pre-headers to increase engagement.
   • Capitalize full words in subject lines to draw attention without risking spam filters.
   • Increase the frequency of emails during peak shopping periods to maintain visibility.
3. Capitalize on Pop Culture Trends: Integrate trending keywords and cultural references to make marketing messages more relevant and engaging.
4. Explore B2B Opportunities: Consider sending promotional emails during high-volume consumer periods like Black Friday to stand out in a less crowded inbox.
5. Stay Current with Media: Keeping up with popular TV shows and movies can provide inspiration for marketing strategies and content creation.
6. Invest in Professional Development: Participate in certification programs like Certified Guru to enhance marketing skills and stay competitive.

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of successful Black Friday marketing strategies, emphasizing the crucial role of AI, innovative email marketing techniques, and the incorporation of current cultural trends. Marketers are encouraged to adopt these tactics to improve their campaigns and achieve remarkable results.