Ep. 288 - Ask Us ANYTHING❓Oops! Uh-oh! Yikes! POWER OF Failure Marketing!➕Expensive Friend Obligations! Ugghhhhh

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson"
Episode: Ep. 288 - Ask Us ANYTHING❓Oops! Uh-oh! Yikes! POWER OF Failure Marketing!➕Expensive Friend Obligations! Ugghhhhh
Release Date: March 12, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 288 of "Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson," hosted by GURU Media Hub and presented by Marigold, Jay Schwedelson delves into an engaging Ask Us Anything session. The episode tackles two primary questions submitted by listeners: a professional marketing dilemma and a personal, somewhat humorous, predicament related to social obligations. This episode emphasizes the power of "Failure Marketing" and offers practical advice on managing expensive friend obligations.

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Section 1: Tackling the Work Question – Embracing Failure Marketing

Listener Question:
Jen from Boston asks, "My company messed up and sent out an email without the right link and then refused to send out a second email with the correct link because they did not want to look foolish. Am I wrong that this was a mistake?"

Jay's Response:

Jay affirms that Jen's company indeed made a mistake, highlighting two critical reasons:

1. Essential Correction:
   "It's table stakes to send out the correction email. Like, hello, you screwed up." By failing to acknowledge and rectify the error, the company risks appearing incompetent and loses customer trust.

2. Missed Opportunity for Engagement:
   Jay introduces the concept of Failure Marketing, explaining how acknowledging mistakes can be leveraged to enhance engagement. He states, "Micro panic emails… can increase your open rates by over 40%." By using subject lines that evoke a sense of urgency or apology, such as "Oops, did you miss this Industry-changing report?" or "Yikes, this webinar is almost full," marketers can capture attention more effectively.

Key Insights on Failure Marketing:

• Subject Line Strategy:
  Utilizing phrases like "oops," "oh," or "yikes" at the beginning of subject lines can significantly boost open rates. Jay provides examples:

  • "Oops, did you miss this Industry changing report."
  • "Yikes, this webinar is almost full."

• Broad Applicability:
  This strategy isn't limited to emails. It extends to social media posts, ads, popups, and content headlines, making it a versatile tool in a marketer's arsenal.

• Statistical Support:
  Jay cites credible sources to back his claims:

  • Harvard Business Review: "Ad campaigns that embrace failure see 33% higher engagement compared to traditional success-driven ads."
  • Edelman: "Brands that publicly acknowledge mistakes experience a 15% boost in consumer trust."
  • HubSpot: "Content featuring failure in the headline gets 27% more clicks than content just highlighting success."

• Building Credibility and Relatability:
  By openly discussing failures, brands can connect with their audience on a more human level. Jay emphasizes, "Failure marketing in general is so relatable where we feel like people are opening up about mistakes." Sharing past missteps and how they were addressed can enhance a brand's authenticity and trustworthiness.

Practical Applications:

• Campaign Development:
  Brands can create entire campaigns centered around acknowledging and learning from mistakes, thereby fostering a stronger connection with their audience.

• Content Strategy:
  Incorporating failure-related content can drive higher engagement and clicks, as evidenced by the statistics mentioned.

Conclusion on Work Question:

Jay reinforces the importance of embracing and leveraging failures in marketing strategies. Acknowledging mistakes transparently not only mitigates negative perceptions but also opens doors to increased engagement and trust.

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Section 2: Addressing the Ridiculous Question – Managing Expensive Friend Obligations

Listener Question:
Jared from San Jose shares, "I'm losing my mind and going broke because I've been getting invited to weddings, destination bachelor parties, and over-the-top birthday dinners where we all split the bill. How do I deal with this?"

Jay's Response:

Jay empathizes with Jared's predicament, recognizing it as a common societal issue where social obligations can lead to financial strain. He offers the following advice:

1. Set Clear Boundaries:
   Jay suggests, "If you can't do it all, tell me which one you want me at because I can't be at all of it." By prioritizing events, individuals can manage their financial and personal commitments more effectively.

2. Communicate Transparently:
   When unable to attend multiple events, it's essential to communicate openly with friends, expressing willingness to participate in select gatherings rather than overcommitting.

3. Challenge Extravagant Plans:
   Jay shares a personal anecdote where a friend's over-the-top birthday plans led him to address the issue directly, stating, "This is actually weird... I couldn't take it. I said, dude, this is actually weird." This approach helped realign social expectations and reduce financial pressures.

4. Realize Social Obligations May Not Be as Significant to Others:
   Jay bluntly states, "Nobody cares. Sorry, don't care." This reinforces the idea that overextending oneself for social events is often unnecessary, as others may not place as much importance on extravagant celebrations as one might assume.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritization:
  Focus on attending the most meaningful or manageable events to maintain both financial health and social relationships.

• Peer Support:
  Addressing the issue with friends can lead to collective understanding and adjustments in social event planning.

• Self-Advocacy:
  It's crucial to advocate for one's own limits to prevent burnout and financial strain.

Conclusion on Ridiculous Question:

Jay highlights the importance of balancing social obligations with personal well-being. By setting boundaries and communicating openly, individuals can navigate the complexities of social invitations without compromising their financial stability or mental health.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 288 of "Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson" offers valuable insights into both professional marketing strategies and personal life management. By embracing Failure Marketing, marketers can enhance engagement and trust, turning mistakes into opportunities for connection. Simultaneously, the episode provides practical advice on managing overwhelming social obligations, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and clear communication.

Listeners are encouraged to apply these lessons to their marketing endeavors and personal lives to achieve greater success and balance.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jay Schwedelson on Failure Marketing:
  "Failure marketing in general is so relatable where we feel like people are opening up about mistakes they’re making and it crushes it." ([05:45])

• Jay Schwedelson on Social Obligations:
  "Nobody cares. Sorry, don't care." ([10:30])

• Jay Schwedelson on Correction Emails:
  "If you don't send out that second email, your company is incompetent and embarrassing." ([02:15])

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the primary discussions and insights from Episode 288, providing actionable takeaways for both marketing professionals and individuals navigating social obligations.

Transcript

[Jay Schwedelson]

Foreign.

[Co-host]

Welcome to do this not that.

[Jay Schwedelson]

The podcast for marketers.

[Co-host]

You'll walk away from each episode with actionable tips you can test immediately. You'll hear from the best minds in.

[Jay Schwedelson]

Marketing who will share tactics, quick wins.

[Co-host]

And pitfalls to avoid. We'll also dig into life, pop culture, and the chaos that is our everyday.

[Jay Schwedelson]

I'm Jay Schwedelson.

[Co-host]

Let's do this, not that.

[Jay Schwedelson]

We are back for Ask Us Anything from the do this not that podcast presented by Marigold. This is our super short episode where all week long we get in amazing questions and we try to tackle one ridiculous question and one work question. And if you want to submit a question, you'd be very cool. You just go to jschwettleson.com there's a button that says podcast, another one that says ask us anything. And that's where we get the questions for this ridiculous episode episode. So let's jump into it. Let's do the work question first. We got a question from Jen from Boston. Oh, love Boston. And you know what's coming up? St. Patrick's Day. And I happened, me and my wife happened to be in Boston on St. Patrick's Day one year and we did not have planned this. We didn't have, we weren't going to get involved. And all of a sudden we're in there in the heart of Boston and the parade is going on and I'm like, we got to get involved this parade. By the end of the day, I was wearing all green hat necklaces. I don't know what I drank so much green beer. Boston. St. Patrick's Day is a bucket list thing you got to do. That was bonkers and I did not plan on anyway. Jen, what is your question? Jay, my company messed up and sent out an email without the right link and then refused to send out a second email with the correct link because they did not want to look foolish. Am I wrong that this was a mistake? Well, this was a mistake for two very important reasons. Number one, it's table stakes to send out the correction email. Like, hello, you screwed up. People are clicking on this thing. They think your company's incompetent. And if you don't send out that second email, your company is incompetent and embarrassing. So that's the first thing. But the second thing is you missed out on a massive, massive opportunity. And this is something I don't think the marketers realize about. Let's call it mistake emails or micro panic situations. What do I mean? What do you think is the most engaged style email. What is the email that you can send out that will generate the highest amount of engagement? Believe it or not, it is micro panic emails. What I mean by that, when you purposely send out an email and the subject line starts with words like oops, oh or yikes, these micro panic words at the start of your subject line will actually increase your open rates by over 40%. Right? And I know you're like, oh, that's gimmicky, that's cheesy. Is that clickbait? No, I'm talking about do subject lines like this. For example, oops, did you miss this Industry changing report. Yikes. This webinar is almost full. Last chance. Oh, you're about to miss this. Oh, restock almost gone again. Oh no, you're about to scroll past this. It's not a gimmick or cheesy or whatever. This is called marketing. And when you see that, oh, or that, oops or that, yikes, it grabs our attention. And it's not just an email. Subject lines where this does incredibly well. This crushes it in social media posts and social media ads. You know, things like oops, did you just miss our biggest discount of the year? Or our popups. This is perfect for popups on your site. Oh no, you're about to miss this. You're about to miss this great piece of content, this limited offer. It's great for display ads and retargeting campaigns. It's amazing for content pieces like Listicles where you could do things like oops, 10 common healthcare billing mistakes you need to avoid, or oh, seven signs you're doing hiring all wrong. Listen, it is all part of this idea of failure marketing. Failure marketing in general is so relatable where we feel like people are opening up about mistakes that they're making and it crushes it. It's an incredible test and you'll see it in the marketing my company does all the time. We do this everywhere. But if you look at some of the stats related to failure marketing, it is wild. So here's a few of them. So Harvard Business Review came out this data. Ad campaigns that embrace failure see 33% higher engagement compared to traditional success driven ads. How about this one from Edelman? Brands that publicly acknowledge mistakes experience a 15% boost in consumer trust. And when you start your subject line with oops, yikes or oh, you didn't actually screw up, but you're leveraging this mindset where people like, oh wait, what is this? Am I screwing up? Are they screwing up? And it Gets people engaged and that is the game. How about content featuring failure in the headline? So when you actually say the word failure in the headline, it gets a 27% more clicks than content, just highlighting success. And that's from HubSpot. Just including the word failure in your headline. Right? So in general, okay, failure marketing is a huge win. And you can build entire campaigns around it, right? You can create a campaign that is things we got wrong campaign and you can admit past missteps. How you fix them, what you learned. This builds credibility. It's not embarrassing to your brand. It's how you can connect with people in a more human way. Right? And you can even turn negative reviews into content where you can acknowledge criticism publicly. You want to hear the craziest thing? The most popular episodes of this podcast, okay, the most popular episodes we do is when I read hate mail. I've done, I think two or three episodes where all I did was take all of the negative reviews that we've gotten, all the negative emails I get, all the mean unsubscribes that I get, and I read them as an episode. Those are the episodes that actually get the most downloads. Maybe people don't like me and they like hearing me get shredded. Possibly. But it's also this idea of being relatable, being vulnerable, being open, being real. That's what we want in this world of AI, this, this tidal wave of garbage that's out there. So failure marketing incorporating this is a win. And by the way, if you do actually screw up, back to the original question that you had. Yeah, you got to acknowledge it. Come on, what are we doing? All right, before we get to the absolutely ridiculous question, I want to let you know this podcast is exclusively presented by Marigold. Yes, they are my email sending platform and I thank think they're awesome and I send out billions of emails. But they have a new piece of content. Why haven't you checked it out? Listen, this thing is ungated and it is free. Marigold surveyed 27,000 people. Okay. No, 21,700. I almost said that wrong. 21,700 people about everything they feel about brands, how connected they feel about to brands. Will they spend more money with a brand they feel connected to? What is AI doing to our relationship with brands? All this stuff. Their consumer trends index is the best piece of content that comes out every year. I don't care what you are downloading, you got to check this out. You can get this at meet marigold.com/cti. That is meet marigold.com CTI it is free. There's no form. Check it out. It is awesome. All right, let's get into the ridiculous question. We got a question from Jared from San Jose. All right, Jared, what do you got? Jay, this is not the normal question, but I'm losing my mind and going broke because I've been getting invited to weddings, destination bachelor parties, and over the top birthday dinners where we all split the bill. And this cost me a fortune. How do I deal with this? Yeah, you know, this is like a problem in our society. It really is. It's funny. I have. I'm a little bit older, so I only had one friend left who didn't get married, and he just recently got married. And so I just went through this because he felt because he had gone to all of our weddings, all of our events, all of our everything, that he was entitled for us to all step it up. And so he did this crazy wedding thingamabob and destination wedding, all this stuff. And to tell you the truth, the only the destination wedding thing is so funny to me because it saves the host money because it's a smaller event, but everybody else that gets invited to this thing, it's like a zillion dollars and it is a total joke. Putting that aside. So how do you deal with this? How can you actually navigate this? I'll give you my two cents because I don't think there's any good answer, unfortunately. But when you do get invited, let's say. Let's say it's a wedding, right? You're going to have a destination bachelorette party, Then you have the wedding itself. Maybe you're in the wedding party. You got to buy the dress. Maybe there is a wedding shower, a bridal shower. There's 17 different things leading up to not just weddings. Could be anything. So what I would. I would say is, listen, if you can't do it, all right, you say, listen, I'm all there for you. You got to tell me which one you want me at because I can't be at all of it. You want me to be at the wedding, all in. I'm there. You want me to be at your destination bachelorette party, I am there. I can't do it all. It's not possible. Pick one, and I will be there. Do you know what else happened the other day which I thought was really weird? My other buddy, it was his birthday coming up. I'm not a big birthday person. I personally don't care if I go out for dinner for my birthday, but he Was like, we're going out to some big crazy place for dinner. He got this private room, this whole thing. He starts a whole text chain. He's telling us what this crazy thing he lined up. And then he goes, all right, it's going to be this much money per person. I was like, dude, who are you? You're a loser. Like, like. He was like, it was a lot of money, right? And not that I'm like, cheap or whatever, but I think that's really weird to plan some extravagant thing and say, and this is how much going to cost. Everybody chip in. So on the text chain, I just called him out. I couldn't take it. I said, dude. I go, this is actually weird. I go, I'm not trying to be like, whatever, but I don't think that's cool to do that. If you want to say, hey, guys, you know, hook it up. Plan something for my birthday, I can't wait. Whatever you guys do, I'm all for, great, then it's on us to pay for. But you can't plan something bananas and then be like, yo, you all pay. You're a tool. So I called him out for it. And then my friends all chimed in. They had my back. And they were like, yeah, Jay's right. This is actually weird. Whatever. And then the guy felt like a jerk and we kind of fixed it all around. But I think sometimes people just need to be called out because you get so caught up you think everybody is as excited as you are about whatever it is you're planning. And I have a secret for you. They're not. Nobody cares. Nobody cares. Sorry, don't care. Is that rude? I don't know what we just talked about, as usual. Listen, I appreciate you being here. Would be awesome if you followed this show. You left it a review. It actually really does help to circulate what this show gets all over the place. So if you could follow the show, subscribe. I don't even know what the word is, but leave it a review. Do me a solid. You are awesome. And don't invite me to anything. I don't want to go later. You did it. You made it to the end.

[Co-host]

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[Jay Schwedelson]

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