Podcast Summary: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson | Presented By Marigold
Episode: NEW! LinkedIn & Instagram SECRET Reach Boost!! 📈 Jay’s SCOOP | Ep. 396
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Host: GURU Media Hub
Introduction
In this episode of Do This, NOT That!, hosted by GURU Media Hub and sponsored by Marigold, Jay Schwedelson delves into the latest strategies and insider tips to elevate your marketing efforts. Focusing on recent updates in LinkedIn and Instagram, the podcast also touches on the declining relevance of Blue Sky and offers valuable advice on optimizing email subject lines for the back-to-school season.
1. LinkedIn’s New Achievement GIFs Boost Engagement
Timestamp: [00:02]
Jay discusses LinkedIn's recent update introducing 16 new built-in animation GIFs tailored for achievement announcements. These dynamic GIFs replace the traditional static images like cupcakes and fireworks, providing a fresh way to celebrate milestones.
Key Points:
- New GIFs Introduction: LinkedIn has rolled out 16 animated GIFs specifically designed for celebrating achievements such as new jobs, certifications, and other professional milestones.
- Engagement Boost: Jay explains that using these new GIFs can lead to a significant increase in post circulation and engagement over the next 30 days. He emphasizes that the novelty of these animations catches the audience's attention, prompting more interactions.
- Utilizing the Experience Section: Even if you don't have a traditional milestone, you can list new experiences (e.g., attending webinars, learning new skills) in your LinkedIn profile. By toggling the "notify your network" option, you can leverage these updates to gain more visibility.
Notable Quote:
"When you use one of these new 16 achievement GIFs and notify your network, you’re going to see a massive boost in your post’s circulation over the next 30 days." – [00:05]
2. Instagram’s Edits App Enhances Reach
Timestamp: [00:15]
Jay shifts focus to Instagram, highlighting the platform's newly launched video editing app, Edits. This app is currently being promoted by Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, as a tool to help users create and edit videos seamlessly.
Key Points:
- Edits App Overview: Instagram's Edits app is a free tool designed to facilitate video creation and editing directly within the platform.
- Boosting Reach: According to Adam Mosseri, content created and edited using the Edits app is favored by Instagram’s algorithms, resulting in increased reach and visibility for those posts.
- Strategic Use: Marketers are encouraged to utilize the Edits app to not only create high-quality video content but also to take advantage of the temporary algorithmic boost to maximize audience engagement.
Notable Quote:
"Edits, the video editing app from Instagram, does help with Reach. We are trying to bootstrap the app." – Adam Mosseri [00:20]
3. The Decline of Blue Sky: A Cautionary Tale
Timestamp: [00:25]
Jay provides an analysis of the social media platform Blue Sky, which once showed promise but is now experiencing a decline in both user growth and engagement.
Key Points:
- User Growth Decline: Blue Sky's new user additions have decreased from 5 million per month to approximately 1.5 million.
- Posting Volume Reduction: Overall posting activity on Blue Sky has dropped by 15% since June, indicating waning user engagement.
- Future Outlook: Jay predicts that Blue Sky is on a downward trajectory and may become irrelevant in the competitive social media landscape.
Notable Quote:
"Blue Sky is going to become irrelevant. So sorry, Blue Sky, you're in big, big trouble." – [00:30]
4. Maximizing Email Open Rates with Back-to-School Themes
Timestamp: [00:35]
Moving to email marketing, Jay emphasizes the untapped potential of incorporating back-to-school themes into email subject lines, even for B2B marketers.
Key Points:
- Statistical Insight: According to SubjectLine.com, referencing back-to-school themes can increase email open rates by about 15% between now and September 15th.
- Creative Subject Lines: Instead of directly mentioning "back to school," use related phrases such as "Pop Quiz: [Your Offer]," "Report Card: [Your Content]," or "First Day Energy: [Your Message]."
- Broad Applicability: This strategy is effective across various markets, including B2B, nonprofits, and consumer sectors, as it taps into the collective mindset associated with the back-to-school period.
Notable Quote:
"If you actually reference things related to back to school between now and September 15th in your subject line, email open rates increase by about 15%." – [00:40]
Conclusion
Jay Schwedelson wraps up the episode by reinforcing the importance of staying updated with the latest platform features and utilizing behavioral insights to enhance marketing strategies. By leveraging LinkedIn's new GIFs, Instagram's Edits app, understanding the pitfalls of emerging platforms like Blue Sky, and optimizing email subject lines around seasonal themes, marketers can significantly boost their campaign performance.
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