Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Marketing Millennials
Episode: The Simplest Conversion Lever You’re Not Testing | Bathroom Break #91
Host: Daniel Murray
Guest: Jay Schwetelson
Date: January 19, 2026
Episode Overview
This "Bathroom Break" mini-episode features Daniel Murray and Jay Schwetelson (of Do This, Not That and subjectline.com fame) riffing on the single easiest conversion lever marketers aren’t testing enough: the title or name of your offer, content, or campaign. With signature energy and humor, Daniel and Jay share why renaming and title modification may be the fastest route to boosted conversions—and how most marketers are missing the boat by ignoring simple A/B tests. The duo also briefly veers into work stress and personal wellness hacks before wrapping up this concise, actionable session.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dealing with Big Wins and Pressure
00:39 - 04:16
- Jay shares major news: he’s sold subjectline.com to Constant Contact, which increases pressure and his drive to “crush life.”
- They discuss the increased anxiety and pressure that comes from major deals—contrary to the expectation that success should be relaxing.
- Quote:
“I feel 10x more anxiety, more everything than I did before because now I want to crush life. And my wife is like, ‘What's wrong with you? You’re worse than ever.’”
— Jay Schwetelson [01:23] - Both reflect on how bigger clients and fees always bring more pressure to overdeliver, and when it's wise to take on smaller deals—only if there’s room to scale or real future upside.
2. The Simplest Conversion Lever: Your Title or Offer Name
04:16 - 08:51
- Jay highlights that marketers overcomplicate conversions, overlooking perhaps the easiest testable factor: the offer or content title.
- He argues changing the title can have an outsized effect on conversions for products, content, or donation pushes—often more than the content or offer itself.
- Quote:
"It's not your offer, your creative... It's the simplest thing. It is the title, it is the name of your content piece, it is the name of your offer, it is the name of your sale. And marketers get so confused. Your offer name, your sale name is not your dog. You can change the name."
— Jay Schwetelson [04:35] - Daniel chimes in, advising marketers to personalize offer or content titles to different audience segments—and reminds them how diligently they A/B test subject lines or thumbnails, but rarely test the actual names of offers.
- Quote:
"Most of the time, it's the hook, it's the title that is not opening it."
— Daniel Murray [06:11]
3. How to Test Titles Using Simple 'Modifier Only' Tests
06:32 - 08:51
- Jay shares a practical and immediate tactic: insert a single modifier word to revamp a boring title, then A/B test.
- Examples include:
- “HR Guide for SMBs” → “Quick Fix HR Guide for SMBs”
- “Email Framework for 2026” → “Simple Email Framework for 2026”
- “Skincare Sale” → “Glow Up Skincare Sale”
- Emphasizes the importance of only testing small changes so learnings are actionable (i.e., don’t test dramatically different sentences).
- Quote:
"You can throw in literally one modifier word, do an A/B test, see the impact it has on your conversions. This isn't like an open rate or click through rate. This is conversions."
— Jay Schwetelson [07:36] - Daniel reinforces that micro-tests (single words, capitalization, emoji) yield better learning than testing entirely new messaging, a lesson from subject line testing.
4. Quick Hack: Using AI to Generate Title Modifiers
08:51 - 09:33
- Jay suggests running your offer title through ChatGPT (or similar) to brainstorm 1-2 word modifiers—making this tactic even easier to deploy.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the anxiety of success:
"No. I feel 10x like, more anxiety, more everything than I did before because now I want to crush life."
— Jay Schwetelson [01:22] -
On the overlooked testing opportunity:
"Marketers get so confused. Your offer name is not your dog. You can change the name of that offer, that content piece."
— Jay Schwetelson [04:40] -
On personalizing and testing titles:
"If you have different sections in your audience and they respond differently to different words...it's also good to…do paid ads framing it one way with this title and then to another person frame it [differently]."
— Daniel Murray [05:27] -
On the power of micro A/B tests:
"Test those little things. Because if you test the whole subject line…what did you learn from the test? That you’re never going to use that subject line again."
— Daniel Murray [08:13]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:39–04:16 — Dealing with big wins, pressure, and overdelivering
- 04:16–06:32 — The real conversion lever: changing your offer/content title
- 06:32–08:51 — The 'modifier only' test and tactical examples
- 08:51–09:33 — Using AI to brainstorm offer title modifiers
- 09:33–11:01 — Wellness tangent: morning meditation, sun-gazing, and stress hacks
Bonus Segment: Life Hacks & Stress Reduction
09:33 - 11:01
-
Jay reveals his morning routine (sun-gazing, 10-minute meditation) to manage work stress. Daniel jokingly approves.
-
Quote:
"I started a few weeks ago meditating in the morning. Every time I wake up in the morning now, and before I look at my phone, I do a 10 minute meditation. Am I the weirdest, biggest nerd now of all time?"
— Jay Schwetelson [09:33] -
Daniel tells a story about working at Snack Nation and experimenting with wellness routines, tying it back to the need for decompressing in high-pressure jobs.
Actionable Takeaways
- Immediately test alternate offer/content names with small word changes (a “modifier-only” A/B test) to unlock easy conversion gains.
- Don’t be afraid to personalize titles across segments or channels.
- Use AI tools to quickly generate modifier options.
- Keep A/B tests minimal: change only one or two words for actionable insights.
- Consider wellness routines for managing marketing stress—bonus points for meditation!
Episode Tone
Conversational, irreverent, and energetic—full of “just do it” marketer energy, candid storytelling, and practical, no-BS advice.
End of summary.