Podcast Summary

Podcast: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Host: GURU Media Hub
Episode: SPECIAL SERIES ⇒ LinkedIn Tactic You’re NOT Doing! And Karaoke Practice? | BATHROOM Break #80 COLLAB: The Marketing Millennials + Do This, Not That
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode features a crossover between Jay Schwedelson ("Do This, NOT That") and Daniel Murray (The Marketing Millennials) for the special “Bathroom Break” series. The main theme revolves around an under-the-radar LinkedIn tactic—using newsletters to bypass social algorithms, reach audiences directly, and generate event registrations. Alongside practical marketing strategies, the hosts inject humor and energy, making even discussions of karaoke and McDonald’s “nuggets” unexpectedly relevant.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Launch of LinkedIn Newsletters as a Marketing Channel

• LinkedIn Newsletters = Direct Inbox Access:
  Daniel recounts launching a LinkedIn newsletter for The Marketing Millennials to build awareness ahead of his conference ([02:48]). By leveraging LinkedIn’s notification system, he bypassed standard algorithmic limitations.

• Timing the Newsletter Send is Crucial:
  Daniel’s initial mistake was posting the newsletter too soon, before maximizing subscribers from the “launch push” ([03:37]). The optimal tactic:

  • Launch the newsletter, wait for subscriber growth from LinkedIn notifications

  • THEN send the first edition to ensure maximum reach

    “Wait until the subscribers come and then send the first newsletter.”
    — Daniel Murray [03:41]

• Results:

  • Through this, Daniel drove over 700–800 registrations for his event just from two LinkedIn newsletter sends ([04:31]).
  • Initial subscriber uptake: about 12–15% of total followers, with expectations closer to 20% as the list matures ([05:41]).

2. How LinkedIn Newsletters “Beat the Algorithm”

• Mechanics of Starting a LinkedIn Newsletter:
  Jay details the exact steps:

  • Click "Write article" on LinkedIn
  • Select "Start a newsletter"
  • Name it, and LinkedIn invites all followers to subscribe ([04:45])

• Applicability for Any Size Audience:

  • Available on personal pages (minimum 150 connections) and company pages ([04:50])

  • Valuable even for small businesses—ex: with 1,000 followers, you could get 200+ engaged subscribers ([05:57])

    “This is the only thing in social media that beats the algorithm.”
    — Jay Schwedelson [05:04]

• Deliverability Upside:

  • Every new edition gets emailed directly to subscribers’ inboxes—often with better deliverability and open rates than traditional email blasts ([06:30], [10:08]).

3. Dos and Don'ts: LinkedIn Newsletter Tactics

• Do:

  • Repurpose your existing newsletter content for LinkedIn; you get free distribution and added reach ([06:30], [08:24])
  • Add links inside the newsletter; LinkedIn doesn’t penalize outbound links in newsletters like it does in posts ([08:24])

• Don’t:

  • Don’t use the newsletter feature solely as an event registration vehicle. Jay shares how he received a direct warning from LinkedIn for doing so:

    “Within about 4:45 minutes I got a note … saying ‘Dude, you can't do that. That's not a good use of our community…”
    — Jay Schwedelson [07:41]

4. List-building & Deliverability Insights

• Doubled Chances to Reach Inboxes:

  • LinkedIn newsletters let you reach people at their personal email addresses, addresses they’re unlikely to change ([10:08])
  • Great tactic for B2B, as you can get into inboxes without relying solely on company domains ([10:08]).

• Brand Advantage:

  • Since LinkedIn delivers the newsletter, even those unfamiliar with your brand might open it. Jay notes possible higher open rates from the LinkedIn sender ([11:19]).

    “LinkedIn definitely has high brand awareness. So you might get even a higher open rate if they don't know who you are from a LinkedIn send.”
    — Daniel Murray [11:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On conference prep going off the rails:

  “I need this thing to just happen already because I'm losing it.”
  — Jay Schwedelson [01:07]

• Karaoke Confessions:

  “I'm gonna have a bandana covering my eyes. And everybody attending, virtually the thousands of people are gonna see the words, but I won't have the words.”
  — Jay Schwedelson [01:38]

• Event Insider Nugget Land:

  “There was this inside joke about, like, people giving nuggets...Everybody's like, I love Nugget Land...I think next year I’m going to launch a Nugget Land.”
  — Daniel Murray [11:59]

• McDonald's Brand Appeal:

  “McDonald's, if you're hearing this, please sponsor us. We're throwing out some marketing nuggets here.”
  — Daniel Murray [12:17]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Insight | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:39 | Event preview, intro to guests and topics | | 01:30 | Jay describes karaoke event feat. Nick Lachey | | 02:48 | Daniel introduces the LinkedIn Newsletter tactic | | 03:41 | Key learning: Waiting before sending first newsletter | | 04:31 | 700–800 registrations driven by newsletter sends | | 04:45 | How to set up and maximize LinkedIn Newsletter | | 05:41 | Subscriber percentages and list-building potential | | 06:30 | The “steal this tactic” philosophy and replication tips | | 07:41 | Cautionary tale: Using LinkedIn newsletter for event reg | | 08:24 | Equal link value inside LinkedIn Newsletters | | 10:08 | Dual-inbox hack and importance of personal email access | | 11:19 | Higher open rates possible via LinkedIn branding | | 11:59 | “Nugget Land” event joke and post-event vibe |

Final Takeaways

• LinkedIn Newsletters are an underused, powerful tool for event awareness, content distribution, and direct audience access.
• Start by launching the newsletter, letting subscribers roll in, then send out your first edition for maximum reach.
• Keep LinkedIn happy: Use newsletters as value-add, not mere event plugs.
• Repurpose your strongest content for LinkedIn newsletters to reach new audiences—especially since LinkedIn has inbox deliverability and trusted sender status.
• Humor, energetic banter, and the willingness to share mistakes make this episode as practical as it is entertaining.

For more quick-hit marketing tactics, follow both Do This, NOT That and The Marketing Millennials. And don’t miss the next “Bathroom Break” for another ten minutes of campaign-ready insights!