Podcast Summary: The Marketing Millennials

Episode: Steal This LinkedIn Growth Hack | Bathroom Break #80
Host: Daniel Murray
Guest: Jay Schwedelson
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energetic and insight-packed Bathroom Break episode, Daniel Murray is joined by fellow marketing pro Jay Schwedelson for a rapid-fire, highly actionable discussion. The main theme centers on a highly effective (and underrated) LinkedIn newsletter strategy for rapidly growing audience engagement, event registrations, and reaching your target market—without getting filtered by social algorithms. The episode is full of practical tips, real-life stories (including behind-the-scenes conference prep and LinkedIn hacks), as well as humorous asides about blindfolded karaoke and fast food nuggets.

Key Discussion Points

1. LinkedIn Newsletter Hack for Instant Audience Reach

[02:48 – 08:24]

• Launching a LinkedIn Newsletter

  • Daniel explains how launching a LinkedIn newsletter on your personal or company page sends an instant notification to all your followers, prompting them to subscribe.
  • Critical tip: Wait to send the first newsletter until after subscribers join, maximizing delivery and engagement.

• Daniel’s Use Case

  • He used this tactic to promote his Marketing Land event, netting 7-800 event registrations just from the newsletter push.
  • Mistake: Originally sent first newsletter too quickly, missing the window for maximum subscriber notification ([03:25]).

• Jay’s Breakdown of the Process

  • Any LinkedIn user with 150+ connections/followers can start a newsletter.
  • When launched, up to 20% of your follower base may convert instantly to subscribers.
  • This mechanism “beats the algorithm,” delivering content directly to inboxes instead of being buried in feeds ([04:45]).

Quote:

“This is the only thing in social media that beats the algorithm.”
— Jay Schwedelson ([04:51])

2. Pushing the Limits: Jay’s “Steal This Tactic” Story

[06:29 – 08:24]

• Jay recounts trying to game the system by launching a newsletter exclusively to promote his Guru Conference, which triggered a warning from a LinkedIn community manager.
• Lesson: Use the newsletter for genuine content/value, not just event registration promos.

Quote:

“Within about 45 minutes I got a note from someone at LinkedIn: ‘Dude, you can’t do that...That’s not what it’s there for.’”
— Jay Schwedelson ([07:35])

3. Email Deliverability & Link Inclusion Advantages

[08:24 – 10:08]

• Unlike regular LinkedIn posts, newsletters can contain unlimited links and are delivered straight to the recipient’s inbox (often with a high open rate, e.g., 25%+).
• Great for sampling your content, giving readers a “taste” and driving them back to your site or full newsletter.

Quote:

“In a LinkedIn newsletter you can add as many links as you want...for free as a marketing tactic to just show that you have good content, thought leadership.”
— Daniel Murray ([08:24])

• Strategic use: Use the LinkedIn newsletter as a “low-lift” entry point to newsletter marketing before committing to a full-blown email strategy.

4. The Value of LinkedIn as Prime “Inbox Real Estate”

[10:08 – 11:31]

• LinkedIn uses a persistent, high-importance email for users—often personal, not corporate—allowing you to hit an address that’s hard to get otherwise.
• Even though you don’t see subscribers’ email addresses, you reach their inbox—a critical business advantage.
• Dual-channel approach: Use both your own email list and LinkedIn newsletters to “fight for space” in your audience’s inbox.

Quote:

“The goal of marketing in general is to find that underpriced real estate—get into places where other people can’t get into.”
— Daniel Murray ([10:40])

5. Event Wrap-up; Marketing Community Moments

[11:31 – 12:21]

• Post-event rituals: Daniel jokes about shutting down Slack and a running joke at his event about “marketing nuggets” (which led to a mini branding brainstorm).
• Humor and light-hearted banter reinforce the importance of community, inside jokes, and memorable event moments that boost attendee engagement.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On LinkedIn newsletter hack:

  “You can do this on your personal page, you only need at least 150 followers...This is the only thing in social media that beats the algorithm.”
  — Jay Schwedelson ([04:45-04:51])

• When Jay gets in trouble with LinkedIn:

  “Within about 45 minutes...some important person on LinkedIn: ‘Dude, you can’t do that. That’s not a good use of our community.’”
  — Jay Schwedelson ([07:35])

• Newsletter open rates:

  “For example the email had a 25% open rate, which is pretty good for something that’s not coming from your personal name.”
  — Daniel Murray ([09:05])

• On recipient reach:

  “This allows your newsletter to actually go to their personal domain email address because that’s what they have with LinkedIn...very, very hard email address to get access to.”
  — Jay Schwedelson ([10:08])

• Funny event moment:

  “There was this inside joke at my event about people giving nuggets...And then at the end, everybody’s like, I love Nugget Land.”
  — Daniel Murray ([11:47])

Tactical Takeaways & Action Steps

• Start a LinkedIn newsletter on your personal or company page to reach your entire follower base instantly.
  • Wait to send the first issue until after followers subscribe for maximum impact.
  • Use content snippets to drive engagement and registrations.
• Don’t abuse the feature:
  • Deliver genuine value, not just registration asks or pure promotion.
• Leverage unlimited links and high open rates:
  • Great for promoting longer-form content, driving site visits or event signups.
• Compliment your email marketing with LinkedIn newsletters for dual inbox penetration.

Timestamps

• [00:39] — Jay and Daniel discuss upcoming conferences and event stories.
• [02:48] — Daniel’s LinkedIn newsletter launch: strategies, mistakes, wins.
• [04:45] — Jay details the technical process and the power of beating the LinkedIn algorithm.
• [06:29] — Jay’s “Steal This Tactic” story and the LinkedIn response.
• [08:24] — Daniel on newsletter open rates, content sampling, and leveraging links.
• [10:08] — Jay on the value of LinkedIn inbox reach and email address quality.
• [11:47] — Event wrap-up and “nugget land” humor.
• [12:21-end] — Closing banter about the Marketing Millennials community and future episodes.

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, energetic, and friendly: Lots of banter, relatable stories, and hands-on advice.
• No-nonsense, actionable, and occasionally cheeky: Both hosts skip fluff, focusing on hacks and hard-won lessons.

For Listeners:

Want a high-leverage, low-effort growth hack your competitors probably aren’t using? Start a LinkedIn newsletter and follow Daniel’s and Jay’s playbook. Avoid Jay’s “too cheeky” mistake, share real value, and you’ll instantly amplify your audience engagement—no algorithm games needed.

Next Steps:

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