Podcast Summary: "What’s Up THIS WEEK: Huge AI Google Update! Email Tactic Surging! 📺 TV Show News!!"

Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson | Episode 417 | September 24, 2025

Main Theme Overview

This brisk weekly episode of “Do This, NOT That!” dives into urgent updates and actionable marketing strategies, including a major AI update from Google, a proven email campaign tactic for Q4, debate-ending news about LinkedIn post links, and a pop culture check-in—all in Jay Schwedelson’s energetic, conversational style. Marketers get immediate tips to optimize efforts in light of new digital realities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Google’s AI in the Chrome Address Bar: A Game Changer

[00:35–03:10]

• Major Update: Google has rolled out Gemini (their ChatGPT competitor) directly into the Chrome browser’s address bar for U.S. users.

  • Now, users can type AI prompts into the Chrome bar and receive AI-generated responses as they would with ChatGPT or other tools.
  • “Your same Chrome bar in your browser, you can use that as if it’s a prompt bar…you could ask it whatever you want.” – Jay [01:25]

• Hot Take: Jay predicts Google will ultimately “win the AI wars,” thanks to their broad user integration and infrastructure.

  • “If they start to embed it the way they’re doing in the Chrome bar, I think they’re gonna win.” – Jay [02:02]

• Marketing Implication:

  • Marketers focus heavily on optimizing for ChatGPT/Claude, but need to consider how their content surfaces in Gemini/Google’s AI outputs as this new interface takes hold.
  • Actionable Tip: Experiment with the Chrome AI prompt bar and examine how your content appears in Gemini responses.

2. LinkedIn Link Myth Debunked

[03:15–05:05]

• The Question: “Does adding a link in my post impact my reach?”
• Direct Answer from LinkedIn: Rishi Jaban Putra (LinkedIn’s Senior Director of Product) stated unequivocally:
  • “Zero. Not true. …The only reason it doesn’t do well is when you put a link in there and it’s super self-serving and you’re trying to get people to do stuff they don’t want to do.” – Jay (paraphrasing Rishi) [03:45–04:15]
• Insight:
  • Quality, relevance, and non-self-serving links don’t suppress reach. Poor performance is more about messaging, not the presence of the link.
  • Marketers can safely include links for value-added content without fear of algorithmic penalty.

3. Surging Email Tactic: The Power of “Invitation”

[05:08–08:22]

• Seasonal Email Best Practice:

  • From October 1st through year-end, starting your subject line with “Invitation” or “Invited” leads to significant email open rate boosts:
    • ~24% increase (consumer side)
    • ~28% increase (business side)
  • “If you start your subject line with the word ‘invited’ or ‘invitation,’ starting October 1st, it will lift your open rates…” – Jay [06:00]

• Why Does This Work?

  • Subconsciously, people want to feel included/invited—especially during Q4 “event” season (holidays, deals, business planning, etc).
  • “I don’t mind being invited to stuff. I don’t want to go to anything…But in general, we all this time of year like being invited.” – Jay [07:02]

• Use Cases:

  • Not limited to literal events—can be for special offers, VIP sales, content invitations, or donation campaigns.
  • Actionable Tip:
    • Reframe subject lines across diverse campaign types to leverage this psychology.

4. Quickfire Pop Culture & TV News

[08:23–10:25]

• Recommended:

  • “The Girlfriend” (Amazon Prime) – described as “fantastic,” despite minor storyline holes.
  • “Absolutely. Watch The Girlfriend on Amazon Prime.” – Jay [08:35]

• Upcoming Shows:

  • “Love is Blind” Season 9 (Denver) premieres in a week; high excitement.
  • “The Golden Bachelor” starts now; Jay labels it “boring” but admits he’ll be watching.

• Sad TV News:

  • Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” canceled before season 5.
  • “And I’m very sad that that’s canceled, that nobody else cares. Maybe the people that were on the show care. But I care.” – Jay [09:57]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Here’s my hot take. I think long term, Google’s gonna win the AI wars. I do. I think they're gonna beat ChatGPT…They just have too much in place that we all use.” – Jay [02:02]
• “If you write a whole long post about some awesomeness and you write ‘here’s a link to the content…’ it will do great.” – Jay (paraphrasing LinkedIn’s Rishi) [04:10]
• “We do a millisecond pause in our inbox and this is how it gets us to open up the email.” – Jay (on why “Invitation” works) [07:30]
• “I don’t mind being invited to stuff. I don’t want to go to anything because I don’t like people…but in general, we all this time of year like being invited.” – Jay [07:02]
• “I’m very sad that that’s canceled, that nobody else cares. Maybe the people that were on the show care. But I care.” – Jay (on “Outrageous Pumpkins”) [09:57]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:35 – Google Gemini AI goes live in Chrome bar
• 02:02 – Jay’s “hot take” on Google’s AI dominance
• 03:15 – LinkedIn post link reach myth debunked
• 05:08 – Q4 “invitation” email subject line tactic
• 08:23 – TV show picks and pop culture updates
• 09:57 – Jay’s lament over “Outrageous Pumpkins” cancelation

Tone & Style

The episode is energetic, informal, and laced with humor and off-beat asides, keeping marketing education lively. Jay keeps content actionable and fast-paced, with memorable personal interjections adding personality and relatability throughout.