Episode 300: Ask Us ANYTHING❓Instant Engagement Boost with “Seasonal Jump” & Birthday Rants
Release Date: April 2, 2025
Presented By: Marigold
Host: Jay Schwedelson
Podcast: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson | Presented By Marigold
Introduction
In the milestone 300th episode of Do This, NOT That, hosts Jay Schwedelson and his co-host dive into the much-anticipated "Ask Us Anything" segment. This episode combines practical marketing insights with light-hearted personal anecdotes, providing listeners with both actionable strategies and an entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpse into the hosts' lives.
Section 1: Instant Engagement Boost with the “Seasonal Jump” Strategy
Timestamp: 00:39 – 08:49
The episode kicks off with a listener question from Emma in Gilroy, California, regarding her team's underperforming spring cleaning marketing campaign. Emma expressed frustration, noting that despite high expectations, the campaign failed to resonate with their audience.
Emma's Question:
"Jay, my team just launched a spring cleaning marketing campaign, and it is not doing well. We had high hopes for this and just don't understand. Help."
(05:15)
Jay’s Response: Jay introduces the concept of the "Seasonal Jump" as a highly effective strategy to enhance engagement. Instead of focusing on the current season—in Emma's case, spring—Jay advises marketers to anticipate and market for the upcoming season, which is summer.
Key Points Discussed:
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Understanding Seasonal Jump:
- Definition: Utilizing seasonal language that projects into the next relevant season rather than the one currently in progress.
- Example: In spring, focus on summer-themed campaigns instead of spring.
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Supporting Data:
- Klaviyo Research: Seasonal jump content achieves a 34% higher engagement compared to in-season marketing.
- SubjectLine.com Findings: Subject lines mentioning future seasons boost open rates by over 26%.
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Implementation Tactics:
- Advance Planning: Begin promoting summer-related products or services during early spring.
- Future-Centric Messaging: Use campaign themes like "Your Summer Starter Pack is Here" or "Q3 Toolkit Ready" instead of current seasonal themes.
- Timely Mentions: Incorporate future months in communications, e.g., mentioning May in mid-April to increase email open rates by over 25%.
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Broader Application of Future Dates:
- Not Limited to Seasons: Mentioning future dates in emails can lead to a 22% higher average open rate.
- Strategic Timing: For instance, in mid-April, start promoting May products or events to capture audience interest ahead of time.
Notable Quote:
"People just get excited about what's coming up. That's why, you know, you see around the holiday season, it now starts like in August. We're just excited that it's going to get there."
(06:45) – Jay Schwedelson
Conclusion of Section: Jay emphasizes the importance of forward-thinking in marketing strategies, encouraging marketers to look beyond the present and tap into the anticipation of their audience. By adopting the seasonal jump technique, campaigns can achieve significantly higher engagement and open rates, ultimately driving better results.
Section 2: Ridiculous Questions & Personal Anecdotes – Birthday Plans Rant
Timestamp: 08:49 – 08:56
Transitioning from marketing strategies, the podcast shifts to the more personal and humorous side with a listener question from Stephanie in Greenville, Michigan, seeking fun birthday ideas.
Stephanie's Question:
"Jay, my birthday is coming up, and I need some fun ideas to do with my friends. What do you got?"
(07:10)
Jay’s Response: Jay candidly shares his own ambivalence towards birthdays, revealing a humorous and relatable rant about the awkwardness of traditional birthday celebrations and the superficiality of social media birthday posts.
Key Points Discussed:
-
Personal Birthday Preferences:
- Avoiding Traditional Celebrations: Jay prefers genuine interactions over obligatory birthday parties or dinners.
- Movie Plans: He opts for personal enjoyment, such as watching a highly anticipated film like "Black Bag" featuring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender.
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Critique of Social Media Practices:
- Embarrassment Over Posts: Jay expresses disdain for common birthday rituals on platforms like Facebook, finding them superficial and unnecessary.
- Lack of Genuine Engagement: He points out that mass birthday messages are often insincere and do not reflect true personal connections.
Notable Quote:
"I still think it's embarrassing. So on your birthday, what people do is at the end of the day, those it's your birthday, you then go on Facebook and you make a post... it was so amazing to hear from everybody. I love you all. And people do that post. And to me, it's such a joke."
(07:50) – Jay Schwedelson
Conclusion of Section: This segment provides a humorous break from the marketing discourse, showcasing Jay's relatable frustrations with societal norms surrounding celebrations and social media. It adds a personal touch to the episode, making the hosts more relatable to their audience.
Conclusion & Takeaways
Timestamp: 08:49 – End
As the episode wraps up, Jay and his co-host encourage listeners to engage further by leaving reviews and participating in upcoming virtual events. They highlight the success of their podcast, being ranked number three in the country, and promote their free virtual email marketing event at guruconference.com.
Key Takeaways:
- Seasonal Jump Strategy: Anticipate future seasons in marketing campaigns to significantly boost engagement and open rates.
- Future Dates in Marketing: Incorporate upcoming months or quarters in your messaging to create anticipation and excitement among your audience.
- Personalization Matters: While marketing strategies are crucial, personal anecdotes and authenticity can effectively engage and humanize the content.
Closing Quote:
"Subscribe to make sure you get the latest episode each week for more actionable tips and a little chaos from today's top marketers."
(08:56) – Jay Schwedelson
Final Thoughts
Episode 300 of Do This, NOT That masterfully balances expert marketing advice with genuine, entertaining interactions. Jay Schwedelson’s insightful strategies, particularly the innovative seasonal jump concept, provide listeners with valuable tools to enhance their marketing efforts. Coupled with relatable personal stories, the episode remains both informative and engaging, solidifying the podcast’s position as a go-to resource for marketers seeking actionable tips and authentic conversation.
Stay Connected:
- Visit: jweddelson.com to submit your questions for future episodes.
- Join Events: Check out guruconference.com for access to free virtual marketing events featuring top industry experts.
Thank you for tuning into Do This, NOT That. Unlock your full marketing potential and stay ahead in the competitive landscape with each episode!