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Welcome to do this not that, the podcast for marketers. We share quick tips, things you can do right now, and then we add a little bit of chaos at the end of every episode. We also keep it short like this intro. Let's check it out. We are back for what's up this week from the do this not that podcast. This is our super short episode. We break down what's going on this week in marketing, in business, and in life. And we have our other episodes later in the week. Let's jump into it. So first off, the biggest news definitely is from Google. Google has radically changed the game this week. And if you're not aware of it, you should really look up something called Universal Commerce Protocol ucp. So they literally just announced it. And this is going to a massive impact on business to business marketers, consumer marketers, nonprofit marketers, and basically what they've done is all in with their AI. Whether you're just going to Google to search for something or you're using Gemini, you go on Google and you say, hey, I'm interested in getting a new piece of luggage. Now with this new setup they're doing, when you ask for that new piece of luggage, what's going to pop up with their AI mode instantly are different luggage options that you can buy. Oh, I like this brand, I like this one. But you don't click and leave Google and go to that luggage brand's website. Right there. You could pick the color, you could see if there's any discounts, pricing, whatever. If it's available, when it will ship, you click another button. You go to checkout right now using Google Pay. But they're also about to roll out with PayPal and other payment options. You click Pay and it goes. It ships, you get your confirmation and it's done. Okay? And this isn't theoretical. They now have 25 of the world's biggest retailers already on board, including Shopify and Walmart and Home Depot and Target and Best Buy and Wayfair and you name it, and Etsy and all of them. Okay, what that means is right now it feels like a consumer play, that instead of people just going to your direct to consumer site or your overall consumer product site within AI mode is where the shopping is going to take place. And Gemini is exploding. I knew Google was going to win, okay, because ChatGPT is great, but it's not able to keep up with the behemoth of what Google has behind it. So Gemini and Google are almost at the same level in terms of usage. It's getting close to ChatGPT, and it's going to explode even further with things like this. But the reason that all marketers need to check out this ucp, okay, is because now imagine you're a business marketer and you fast forward a few months and now you're out there. Somebody is looking for a SaaS product and you're like, oh, I want to book a demo. They're going to book a demo right there in AI mode. They're going to download your content right there in AI mode. If you're a nonprofit, they're going to make the donation right there. It is no longer, your marketing is no longer about generating clicks back to your site. It is generating influence. So that way when the person is thinking about what they need and they see your offering whatever it is they're interested in, that is going to be much more of a be everywhere type of thing. So you're there in the right moment. So check that out big time. Other things that are going on that I think people aren't aware of that are actually really, really important is that these next two weeks, okay, these next two weeks from January 20th through January 30th, that's really more of a 10 day span. But basically these next 10 days are among the best periods of the year for email marketing specifically. That's according to World Data Research. It's actually a top five 10 day period. I know that's a weird thing, but It's a top five 10 day period from January 20th through January 30th in terms of generating demo requests, content downloads, people buying products and things not tied to a holiday. So we have a little bit of a timeout before we have a Valentine's Day. And the reason this 10 day period is so strong is because we came out of the new year. Everybody was sick of working. They didn't want to come back to work. They had to get their act together, right? And now you're like, oh, but I do want to kick butt this year. And now they're finally in motion. So I would really think about, believe it or not, sending out more promotional emails from January 20th and January 30th. This is a great, great period to actually generate some of your best results of the year. So if you're not intentional about that period of time, I think you're missing out on some of the best opportunity to drive performance. Some other random things that are going on. I was a lot, somewhat sad about this. I saw Sprinkle Cupcakes. I don't know if you know, sprinkle cupcakes. Those are the cupcakes that you can get out of vending machines. Okay. And they had a zillion of these locations. It went out of business. That stinks. Some of these vending machines, though, you go in the airports and there's vending. First of all, I saw a vending machine for champagne. I don't know who is going to the airport. Oh, I'm going to get a bottle of champagne from a vending machine in the airport. It's the weirdest thing of all time. I went through Idaho, Boise, Idaho. They had a vending machine for french fries. Now this, of course, I had to try it. Was it good? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. They're known for their potatoes, but I had to try it. But the vending machine thing is a little bit like, what are we doing? Like, let's just shove anything we can into an actual vending machine. I don't know what I'm talking about. On useless news. I know the Golden Globes are a little behind us now, but Amy Poehler won for the best podcast, which is great because her show Good Hang is awesome. Love Amy Poehler, but I'm going to get in trouble for this and I don't really care. I saw that Dax Shepard was nominated, right? He was nominated. I find him very annoying. I do. I find Dax Shepard annoying. Is that bad? Can I say that? I don't understand. Why is his show popular? Maybe I'm annoying. I definitely am annoying. Whatever. Who cares? So what other nonsense going on? Serious nonsense going on. And that's a very valid question. All right, so Star Search is coming out. I don't particularly care about Star Search coming out on Netflix. That's coming out in a few days. It's going to be a live version of where it's like a whole town competition. They have live shows twice a week and that's coming out in like the next two or three days. And I mean, yeah, I get it. Beyonce, Britney Spears, Adam Sandler, they all came through the original version of Star Search a zillion years ago. But I don't know. These competition thoughs, it's too much. Speaking of too much, this is unacceptable. Did you know that there's a trend on TikTok right now? It is called Perfume Talk. This is real. And it's this concept of scent stacking. This is getting like billions of views. Scent stacking. And the idea is you take, you know, three or four different types of perfumes or things that are like really scented and you put them on yourself and you make like, your own special scent. That is so disgusting. What are we doing? People need to stop. I was outside on a walk, and it was 7:30 in the morning. And I walked past this person. They had so much perfume, cologne. I don't know what it was. I wanted to throw up. 7:30 in the morning, outside. What are we doing? You're. You're in running, clothing. What are you doing? Okay. And then I went to the mall and, you know, I feel. I feel that whole thing where you're one of the perfume people. You're trying to get people to take the little thing and smell the little thing and do the little thing. I feel for those people. That is not easy. That is a tough one. You know, that you have to try to, you know, make that sale. I feel for those people. But if I work there in one of those perfume counters, I would have the worst headache. I would want to throw up within, I don't know, an hour. That seems. Putting aside how hard it is to make that sale, just from a physical standpoint, that seems like a very hard thing to do. Everybody needs to put on less. You smell great. You're doing fine. Okay. Not everybody needs to smell you if they're in the car on the other side of the street. We need to stop. Okay. What are we talking about once again? I don't know. Check out Google stuff. Get your emails out the door. Make it a great week and hit me up@jeddleson.com I want to work with you. We got all sorts of new consulting gigs. We're doing new packages, new things, new, new events. We're doing jschweddelson.com I'll see you there later. Wait. The party is not over. Go to J Schweddelson.com because I want to do stuff with you. I want to partner with you. When you click on the button partner with Jay, you let me know what you got going on. Work with my agency. Work with me directly. Get access to all of my free resources@jshwetleson.com and I got a book coming out this April. It's called Stupider Peace. People have done it. And all of the net proceeds are going to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Go on Amazon. Buy Stupider people have done it. That way, you can help kick cancer's butt with me. And if this podcast wasn't the worst podcast you've ever listened to, it might have been. Leave it a review. Follow the show. You are awesome. Go out there and crush it.
Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson
Episode 475: What’s Up THIS WEEK: Email More NOW! Google AI Mode Game-Changer...TikTok Horrible Trend 😳
Date: January 13, 2026
This episode of “Do This, NOT That!” delivers a rapid-fire roundup of current marketing trends and industry updates. Host Jay Schwedelson, in his trademark energetic and candid style, highlights Google’s latest AI-powered retail developments, strategic email marketing timing, offbeat pop culture news, and a bizarre TikTok trend. The episode is concise yet impactful, loaded with actionable insights and Jay’s colorful personal takes.
“When you ask for that new piece of luggage… what’s going to pop up with their AI mode instantly are different luggage options that you can buy… You could pick the color, you could see if there’s any discounts, pricing, whatever… checkout right now using Google Pay… They now have 25 of the world’s biggest retailers already on board, including Shopify and Walmart and Home Depot and Target and Best Buy and Wayfair and Etsy and all of them.”
— Jay Schwedelson [01:19–02:14]
“Your marketing is no longer about generating clicks back to your site. It is generating influence… much more of a be everywhere type of thing.”
— Jay Schwedelson [03:42–04:07]
“I would really think about, believe it or not, sending out more promotional emails from January 20th and January 30th. This is a great, great period to actually generate some of your best results of the year.”
— Jay Schwedelson [06:04–06:20]
“Some of these vending machines, though… First of all, I saw a vending machine for champagne. I don’t know who is going to the airport—oh, I’m going to get a bottle of champagne from a vending machine in the airport. It’s the weirdest thing of all time.”
— Jay Schwedelson [07:02–07:20]
“I find Dax Shepard annoying. Is that bad? Can I say that?”
— Jay Schwedelson [08:45–08:50]
“This is real. And it’s this concept of scent stacking… That is so disgusting. What are we doing? People need to stop.”
— Jay Schwedelson [10:40–10:57]
On Google AI Shopping:
“It is no longer, your marketing is no longer about generating clicks back to your site. It is generating influence.”
— Jay Schwedelson [03:45]
On Email Timing:
“You’re missing out on some of the best opportunity to drive performance.”
— Jay Schwedelson [06:17]
On Bizarre Vending Machines:
“It’s the weirdest thing of all time… like, let’s just shove anything we can into an actual vending machine.”
— Jay Schwedelson [07:19–07:24]
On Dax Shepard:
“Maybe I’m annoying. I definitely am annoying. Whatever. Who cares?”
— Jay Schwedelson [08:54]
On TikTok’s Scent Stacking:
“That is so disgusting. What are we doing? People need to stop.”
— Jay Schwedelson [10:57]
On Perfume Overload:
“If I work there in one of those perfume counters, I would have the worst headache. I would want to throw up within, I don’t know, an hour.”
— Jay Schwedelson [11:10]
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:20–04:30 | Google UCP & AI Shoppable Search | | 04:45–06:20 | Email Marketing Timing Window | | 06:30–08:05 | Vending Machine & Retail Trends | | 08:05–09:40 | Golden Globes & Star Search Pop Culture | | 09:50–12:00 | TikTok Perfume Talk & Rant on Scent Stacking |
Jay’s signature:
“Check out Google stuff. Get your emails out the door. Make it a great week and hit me up at jschwedelson.com… Go out there and crush it.” [12:10–end]
This lively, informative episode is ideal for marketers eager to stay on the cutting edge, delivered with Jay’s irreverent humor and practical focus.