Podcast Summary: Ep.318 - BOUNCED Emails = GOLD! ➕ YOU on Netflix, Martha Stewart New Show, Golden Bachelor Update! Jay’s SCOOP

Host: Jay Schwedelson
Presented By: Marigold
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Podcast: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

1. Introduction to Bounced Emails (00:00 - 25:00)

In this episode, Jay Schwedelson delves into the often-overlooked topic of bounced email addresses and their significant impact on marketing strategies. He begins by demystifying the concept of email bounces, categorizing them into two main types:

• Hard Bounces: These occur when an email address is invalid or non-existent.
• Soft Bounces: These happen due to temporary issues like a full inbox or server problems.

Key Points:

• Opportunity in Bounced Emails: Jay emphasizes that bounced email addresses are not just lost contacts but potential gold mines for uncovering new business opportunities.

  "Your bounced email addresses are lost opportunities, and it is critical that you dig into that data."
  — Jay Schwedelson [05:15]

• Actionable Strategies:

  • Analyze Bounce Data: Instead of discarding bounced addresses, marketers should investigate why these emails failed. Are key contacts no longer with the company? Has a primary contact changed roles?

  • Account-Based Marketing (ABM): Convert bounced email data into a company name string to refine ABM efforts. This helps in targeting the right companies even if specific contacts have changed.

    "If you're not using your bounce data to drive your prospecting efforts, you are wasting time and money."
    — Jay Schwedelson [12:40]

• Maintaining List Hygiene: Jay underscores the importance of keeping bounce rates below 5%, ideally under 2%, to avoid deliverability issues. Continuously sending to hard-bounced addresses can tarnish sender reputation, leading to emails being marked as spam.

  "Your bounce rate, the percentage of emails bouncing, is a big indicator. If it's over 5%, that is really bad."
  — Jay Schwedelson [18:50]

• Monitoring and Adaptation: Regularly monitor bounce rates to detect sudden increases, which could indicate underlying issues such as problematic third-party tracking codes or affiliate links affecting deliverability.

  "There is gold in your bounced email addresses."
  — Jay Schwedelson [23:30]

Conclusion of Section:
Jay reinforces the notion that bounced emails should be viewed as valuable data sources rather than mere failures. By leveraging bounced email information strategically, marketers can enhance their targeting, improve deliverability, and ultimately drive better business results.

2. Breaking Down TV: Pop Culture Insights (25:00 - End)

Transitioning from technical marketing insights, Jay shifts focus to current pop culture and television trends, injecting a lighter and more personal touch to the episode.

Key Discussions:

• Netflix’s "You" Season 5: Jay introduces the latest season of "You," highlighting its continuation with Pen Badgley and describing it as a compelling albeit disturbing watch.

  "He's been a killer for four years. But if you've never watched 'You,' this is a great show."
  — Jay Schwedelson [25:45]

• Apple’s "Your Friends and Neighbors": He shares his impressions of the new Jon Hamm show, humorously clarifying that while Jon Hamm is excellent, the character portrayed is not.

  "He's an idiot. Not Jon Hamm. The character's an idiot."
  — Jay Schwedelson [28:10]

• Golden Bachelor Announcement: Jay expresses excitement over the return of "The Golden Bachelor," appreciating the selection of a 66-year-old lead compared to the previous, slightly older iteration.

  "The last Golden Bachelor was... 70 or 71... him being slightly younger is pretty cool."
  — Jay Schwedelson [30:20]

• Bravo’s "Love Hotel": He previews the upcoming reality dating show featuring beloved Real Housewives stars, anticipating it to be a hit.

  "They're taking a lot of the different women from the Real Housewife show... This sounds tremendous."
  — Jay Schwedelson [32:00]

• NBC’s "Yes, Chef" Hosted by Martha Stewart: Jay highlights the new cooking contest show hosted by the renowned Martha Stewart, sharing a personal anecdote about his experience interviewing her and receiving her email address.

  "Martha is the goat. I love Martha. She is amazing."
  — Jay Schwedelson [34:30]

  "And she actually gave me her email address. She goes, 'Here's my email.'... she's like the greatest, nicest, most awesome human."
  — Jay Schwedelson [35:10]

Engagement and Personal Touch:

• Jay maintains an engaging and humorous tone, encouraging listeners to embrace the latest TV offerings as a form of entertainment and escapism.

  "Just watch all this garbage TV because it's more important than seeing your friends. It is your friends. Come on. They're annoying."
  — Jay Schwedelson [36:50]

Closing Remarks:

• Jay wraps up the episode by thanking listeners, emphasizing the blend of actionable marketing tips and relatable pop culture discussions that make the podcast both informative and entertaining.

Final Thoughts

Episode 318 of "Do This, NOT That" masterfully balances deep marketing insights with engaging discussions on current television trends. Jay Schwedelson not only provides valuable strategies for leveraging bounced email data but also connects with listeners through his candid and lively commentary on popular media. This combination ensures that both marketing professionals and casual listeners find the episode enriching and enjoyable.

Notable Quotes:

• "Your bounced email addresses are lost opportunities, and it is critical that you dig into that data."
  — Jay Schwedelson [05:15]

• "If you're not using your bounce data to drive your prospecting efforts, you are wasting time and money."
  — Jay Schwedelson [12:40]

• "Your bounce rate, the percentage of emails bouncing, is a big indicator. If it's over 5%, that is really bad."
  — Jay Schwedelson [18:50]

• "There is gold in your bounced email addresses."
  — Jay Schwedelson [23:30]

• "She's like the greatest, nicest, most awesome human."
  — Jay Schwedelson [35:10]

• "Just watch all this garbage TV because it's more important than seeing your friends. It is your friends. Come on. They're annoying."
  — Jay Schwedelson [36:50]

Recommendation: For marketers looking to optimize their email campaigns and leverage data-driven strategies, this episode offers invaluable insights. Additionally, fans of contemporary television will appreciate Jay's engaging reviews and personal anecdotes, making this episode a must-listen for a diverse audience.