Podcast Summary: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson

Episode: SPECIAL SERIES ==> Reply-Driven Email & Holiday Chaos <== | BATHROOM Break #83

Hosts: Jay Schwedelson (Do This, Not That Podcast) & Daniel Murray (The Marketing Millennials)
Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lighthearted Bathroom Break collab episode, Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray share rapid-fire, actionable insights about the upcoming trend of reply-driven email marketing, why reply rates matter in both email and social, and how to tap into human responses to make campaigns more effective. They weave in holiday banter and a dash of pop culture, making practical marketing strategies both accessible and memorable.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reply-Driven Email: The Next Big Thing

• The hosts predict a surge in reply-focused email campaigns in 2026, thanks largely to increased AI capabilities making it easier to manage responses and personalize interactions.
  (Jay, 02:29):
  “This kind of reply rate on promotional emails is going to be a game changer… AI is allowing us to kind of react to these replies faster.”

• Encouraging replies to emails is not just about boosting engagement — it’s pivotal for maintaining inbox visibility and avoid getting flagged as spam.

2. Tactics for Increasing Replies

• Personalized Questions:
  Daniel emphasizes adding personal touches to emails, such as asking about hobbies or holiday favorites, which encourages genuine human interaction.
  (Daniel, 03:15):
  “You’re talking to humans here that have lives… I always make the question something like, what is your favorite hobby? …or send me recipes for something like that. Something that just lightens the mood.”

• Easter Eggs in Emails:
  Daniel shares his method of hiding Easter eggs (secret prompts) within emails to measure reader engagement and reward attention, leading to a spike in replies from engaged subscribers.
  (Daniel, 03:44):
  “If you see this, reply this… and I will send you something… it showed that people were reading to the middle of my email.”

• Simple Reply Calls to Action:
  Jay breaks down a tactic for lead generation and offers: Instead of sending recipients to a form, simply instruct them to reply with a code word (“guide” or “discount”) to receive what they want. (Jay, 05:24):
  “You’re going to get a much, much higher number of people doing that than going to fill out your form.”

  Bonus: Every reply is a deliverability signal, keeping your brand in the inbox:
  (Jay, 06:06):
  “The number one signal to stay in somebody's inbox… is getting them to actually reply to an email that you sent.”

3. Reply Engagement Beyond Email

• Daniel points out the same principle applies on platforms like Instagram:
  (Daniel, 06:28):
  “If you get people to reply to Instagram stories, it will show your Instagram story to more and more people… because they think that’s an interactive story.”

• Using DMs and auto-responders (e.g., ManyChat) to automate reward delivery while keeping interaction high. (Jay, 07:28):
  “Somebody comments a word and then it instantly sends them a link to whatever the content piece is… and (people) think you’re doing it live.”

4. What Replies Reveal About Your Audience

• Reply rates offer valuable first-party data about subscriber interests and inform what content truly resonates. (Daniel, 08:29):
  “The amount of first party data I get from replies and insights about my audience from reply rate is astronomical.”

• Pop culture or personal topics in marketing emails can spark engagement and reveal unexpected interests (e.g., reality TV). (Daniel, 08:47):
  “Marketing doesn’t always have to be about your thing… you can integrate pop culture and understand your audience at a deeper level…”

5. Fun Segment: Holiday Traditions & Movies

• The episode’s closing leans into the Thanksgiving/holiday spirit, with Jay and Daniel debating the best holiday foods (unanimous for mac and cheese, against salads) and favorite holiday movies.
  • Memorable exchange on Thanksgiving foods:
    • (Jay, 02:03):
      "The only thing that Thanksgiving shouldn't have is salad… This is the one day of the year we could, like, get stretchy pants, get out of control."
  • Favorite holiday movies:
    • Daniel: Die Hard, Home Alone, The Grinch
    • Jay suggests Love Actually, The Holiday, praises Hallmark movies despite their bad promotion.
      (Daniel, 10:37):
      “I think Hallmark is like one of the most underrated movie channels in the world… some of the movies are just so good, and… they get lost in the ether.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (Jay, 06:06):
  “The number one signal to stay in somebody's inbox… is getting them to actually reply to an email that you sent.”

• (Daniel, 03:44):
  “If you add an Easter egg in the middle of (the) email… it showed that people were reading to the middle of my email, which was a good sign for me.”

• (Jay, 07:28) (after being asked how he DMs people instantly):
  “Are you kidding me bro? I didn’t do that… Like, it wasn’t me. Like, it wasn’t like a magic trick.”

• (Daniel, 08:29):
  "The amount of first party data I get from replies and insights about my audience from reply rate is astronomical."

• (Jay, 02:03):
  “The only thing that Thanksgiving shouldn't have is salad. Like, if somebody's like, we need a salad at Thanksgiving, like, you missed the memo.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:29] – Importance of reply-driven emails and AI’s impact
• [03:15] – Personalized questions and email Easter eggs
• [05:06] – Using replies instead of forms for lead magnets and discounts
• [06:06] – Replies as a deliverability booster
• [06:28] – Social media (Instagram) reply engagement hack
• [07:28] – Automation tools and surprise from audience interactions
• [08:29] – The value of reply data and integrating pop culture
• [09:48] – Favorite holiday movies and the Hallmark movie discussion

Episode Takeaways

• Encourage direct replies in email and social campaigns—this not only builds rapport but strongly boosts engagement metrics and helps your emails stay out of spam.
• Use personal prompts and hidden Easter eggs to increase genuine interaction and learn what subscribers care about.
• Apply reply tactics to social media stories and DMs for extra reach and visibility.
• Analyze replies for first-party data to better understand and target your audience.
• Maintaining a fun, human, and relatable voice—even discussing holidays and movies—can boost connection and brand loyalty.

Stay tuned for future Bathroom Breaks—where Jay and Daniel continue to ‘spew’ marketing tips that are both practical and entertaining.