Podcast Summary: Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Episode 478: What’s Up THIS WEEK: ChatGPT ADS? LinkedIn News! Marty Supreme - Ughhh 💸
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Jay Schwedelson (GURU Media Hub)
Overview
This fast-paced weekly update episode covers hot topics in marketing, tech, media, and a bit of relatable real-life commentary. Jay shares valuable insights about AI trends, LinkedIn’s unexpected rise as a data source, the shift in OpenAI's ad policy, and a notable acquisition in the email marketing space. The episode closes with Jay’s unfiltered take on current TV and movies—sprinkling in humor and tangents that keep it engaging and authentic.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Rumor: OpenAI Eyeing Pinterest Acquisition
[00:23–02:00]
- Rumor Mill: Multiple credible sources (including The Information and Pretty Little Marketer newsletter) report that OpenAI might acquire Pinterest.
- Strategic Motivation:
- Pinterest remains one of the last major independent social platforms.
- Holds a gold mine: Over 200 billion user-tagged images, ideal for AI training.
- Indicative impact: Pinterest stock jumped 3% on the rumor.
"It's one of the last major social platforms that's kind of independent... and it has over 200 billion images that have been tagged... so it's a gold mine for AI training." — Jay [01:09]
2. LinkedIn’s Surging Value as an AI Citation Source
[02:01–04:44]
- Data from Semrush:
- In the past 60 days, LinkedIn has become one of the most cited sources by major AI models (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity).
- LinkedIn citation rates increased 5x year-over-year, now surpassing Wikipedia, YouTube, Medium, Google, Facebook.
- Why the Jump?
- AI tools favor LinkedIn posts that:
- Present and solve one clear problem per post.
- Are “stupid proof,” direct, and formulaic.
- Avoid creative hooks; instead, clearly state the solution in the headline.
- Example Headlines:
- “The one reporting change that reduces forecast errors.”
- “Why new hires quit within 90 days.”
- “Why customers ignore your product updates.”
- Recommended Structure:
- Title states the problem and solution
- Problem is defined clearly
- Step-by-step solution provided
- Summarize and source the post (include your name and company)
- Opportunity: Marketers can intentionally craft posts that may be cited by AI, boosting organic company discovery.
- AI tools favor LinkedIn posts that:
"You can't be that creative with your hooks anymore. You need to have something that literally is the thing." — Jay [03:28]
"This is what's being pulled now by the different AI tools, which I think is really, really interesting. A way for us all to get a lot more traffic." — Jay [04:21]
3. OpenAI (ChatGPT) Beta-Testing Ads
[04:45–06:48]
- Big News: OpenAI starts testing ads in ChatGPT, initially for free users in the U.S.
- Paid tier ($20/mo) remains ad-free; lower-tier ($8/mo) “Go” users will see ads.
- Ads will appear below AI-generated answers.
- Still in beta; very limited so far.
- Inevitable Trend: Jay equates this to how Google and Facebook started ad-free, then monetized massively.
- Marketers should prepare for a major new ad channel.
"At one point, Facebook didn't have ads. At one point, Google didn't have ads. Now look at them. All right, this is just... the tip of the iceberg." — Jay [06:12]
"Anybody tells you otherwise is absolutely full of it." — Jay [06:42]
4. Acquisition News: Constant Contact Acquires Guru Conference, SubjectLine.com, Certified Guru
[06:49–09:40]
- What Happened: Constant Contact acquired multiple marketing assets from Guru Media Hub (Jay's company):
- Guru Conference (major virtual event)
- SubjectLine.com (email subject line testing/resource)
- Certified Guru (free email certification program)
- What It Means:
- Guru Conference: Remains free and virtual; Jay and team will continue to run operations in partnership.
- SubjectLine.com: Stays free, now backed by Constant Contact’s massive data resources.
- Certified Guru: Still independent, expands reach and resources without becoming a Constant Contact-only initiative.
"Guru Conference is going to remain free and virtual and it's going to get bigger than ever... So you're stuck with me on Guru Conference and on subjectline.com." — Jay [07:33]
"Certified Guru... is going to get a lot more juice to it and just get a lot more exposure to allow people to get these free certifications." — Jay [09:02]
5. Jay’s Movie & TV Rants: “Marty Supreme,” Previews, & The Reality TV Rabbit Hole
[09:41–13:33]
- Movie Review:
- Jay saw “Marty Supreme” (comedy starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow).
- He didn't like it—criticizes the protagonist, the cast chemistry, and especially the movie length (2.5 hours: too long!).
- New personal rule: No more movies longer than 2hr15 in theaters—at home, it's “like a two-part series.”
- Rants about excessive previews compounding time spent in theaters.
"It's over. That's the last movie I will ever see that is over 2 hours and 15 minutes long in a movie theater. If it's at home, I could hit pause..." — Jay [12:02]
- TV Trends (Newsletter Survey):
- Jay polled his newsletter list for current TV favorites.
- Surprised: Most mentioned “Traders” (reality all-star show, Peacock), not “Stranger Things” or “Landman.”
- Admits preference for “horrible TV—reality TV is my number one.” Hasn’t watched “Traders” but feels socially obligated to try.
"I'm embarrassed to say... I watch horrible tv. I mean reality TV is my number one... I do feel like I have to watch it. I feel like I have a moral obligation to watch Traders." — Jay [13:10] - Recommendation: Don’t see “Marty Supreme” in theaters—save that for blockbusters (“Jurassic Park,” Spielberg’s next).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the inevitable rise of ads in AI platforms:
"At one point, Facebook didn't have ads. At one point, Google didn't have ads. Now look at them. All right, this is just... the tip of the iceberg." — Jay [06:12]
- On crafting LinkedIn content for AI citation:
"It's a singular post that solves one problem with one answer… define the problem, you give a step by step solution to the problem, and then you summarize it." — Jay [03:56]
- On movie length reality:
"Everything stops working. My butt, my feet, everything stops working. I don't like it... new rule for my life: I'm not doing it. I don't care what you say." — Jay [12:36]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [00:23] OpenAI and Pinterest acquisition rumor
- [02:01] LinkedIn’s AI citation surge—what content gets pulled
- [04:45] OpenAI announces ChatGPT ads beta
- [06:49] Constant Contact acquires Jay's properties—what changes?
- [09:41] Movie review: “Marty Supreme” and Jay’s new theater rule
- [13:00] TV poll results & “Traders” phenomenon
Final Notes
The episode is rich with actionable marketing insights, industry news, and memorable perspectives on pop culture, all delivered with Jay’s candid and relatable tone. Marketers in particular will find the LinkedIn-AI synergy and ChatGPT ad developments immediately useful, while the closing rants inject humor and authenticity.
Connect with Jay
- Contact/Partnerships: jschwedelson.com
- Book Plug: “Stupider People Have Done It”—all proceeds to the V Foundation for Cancer Research (available April on Amazon).
Recommendation: Listen for the latest marketing trends and Jay’s signature mix of practical advice and real-life commentary!