Podcast Summary: “Try This Email Tactic That Works Every Time”

The Marketing Millennials | Bathroom Break #82

Host: Daniel Murray
Guest Co-Host: Jay Schwedelson
Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This quick Bathroom Break episode dives straight into one actionable marketing tactic: Using animated GIFs in email campaigns. Daniel Murray teams up with Jay Schwedelson (of Subjectline.com and “Do This, Not That” podcast) for a punchy, insight-packed conversation. The discussion covers why GIFs work, how to apply them across all marketing sectors, common misconceptions, practical implementation tips, and some candid reflections about moving houses, new spaces, and marketer life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Animated GIFs: The Overlooked Email Tactic

• Widely Applicable:

  • Works for B2B, B2C, nonprofits—any industry.
  • Excellent from November to December, when engagement peaks.
  • Usable in newsletters, offer emails, cold and warm prospecting.

• Why They Work:

  • Instantly draw the reader’s eye and break up long blocks of text.
  • Trigger emotional reactions: smiles, curiosity, and surprise.
  • Uniqueness in the inbox makes them stand out.
  • Not many marketers leverage this, so it’s a “lost art.”

• Key Results:

  • Animated GIFs can increase click-through rates by about 20%.
  • “We are a simple-minded species. The shiny object is where we draw... Animated GIFs—what they’re not is video.” (Jay, 03:32)

• Misconceptions and Myths:

  • “For anybody out there like, ‘It’s going to mess up my deliverability’... It’s just not true. It’s literally three images tied together.” (Jay, 05:30)
  • GIFs ≠ Videos: Can’t (and shouldn’t) embed video directly in email.

2. Practical Tips: Implementation and Theming

• Call-to-Action Boost:

  • Use an animated call-to-action button—like one with a flashing “Watch Now” message.
  • Eye-catching play button overlay for video links, demo invites, or case study teasers.
  • “Tease” external content and drive clicks by animating curiosity.

• Relevancy and Theming:

  • Theme GIFs to occasions (holidays, special events) or specific offers.
  • Use reference points relevant to your recipient for more impact (example: meme Golden Bachelor GIF for Jay).

• How to Create GIFs:

  • AI platforms can walk users through GIF creation tailored to the user’s preferred ESP (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot, etc.).
  • Giphy: Upload videos, crop the desired part, convert to GIF.
  • Canva’s free tier: Built-in GIF studio for rapid creation.
  • “If you don’t know how to do it... go to AI and say, ‘Hey, I’m a doofus. Can you tell me in simple terms how to do it?’” (Jay, 07:27)

3. Personal Banter & Relatable Moments

• On Moving Houses:

  • Jay jokes about Daniel’s move and the universal pain of unpacking—“Anything with boxes is a hard no.” (Jay, 01:21)
  • Daniel: “When people ask someone over 30 to move, it’s like, ‘Here’s a free lunch but also you get back surgery as your present.’” (Daniel, 01:01)
  • Discussion on the weirdness of adjusting to a new space—especially finding the bathroom at night.

• On AI and Learning New Tricks:

  • Jay repeatedly refers to AI as his “best friend” for solving marketing execution challenges.
  • Emphasis on permission to ask “dumb” questions to AI tools—just try, no shame.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re a simple-minded species... The shiny object is where we draw. Animated GIFs just move around a little bit and that draws attention.”
  — Jay Schwedelson, 03:32

• “You need to be able to break up text with GIFs, things to stop the scroll... Not many people do it. It’s kind of a lost art.”
  — Daniel Murray, 02:40

• “There’s no downside. It’s easy. And this is the time of year—November through December—where animated GIFs work best because we’re in the mood of, hey, what’s up?”
  — Jay Schwedelson, 05:30

• “If you don’t know how to do it... just go to AI and say, ‘Hey, I’m a doofus. Can you tell me in simple terms how to do it?’”
  — Jay Schwedelson, 07:27

• On relevant theming:
  “If I was prospecting Jay, I would have, like, a Golden Bachelor or something real like…”
  — Daniel Murray, 06:35

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19–01:55 – Lighthearted intro & banter about moving
• 02:06 – Lead-in to the main topic: Animated GIFs in email
• 02:40 – Why animated GIFs work, the “lost art” of GIFs
• 03:32–04:45 – Explanation of how GIFs increase CTR; What GIFs are/aren’t; Ease of use with AI tools
• 04:45–05:30 – Using animated CTA buttons; Linking to videos/case studies via GIFs
• 05:30–06:12 – Debunking myths about deliverability; Why this tactic excels in Nov/Dec
• 06:12–07:01 – Theming GIFs for relevancy and stronger engagement
• 07:57–08:26 – Practical tools: Giphy, Canva, AI video to GIF conversion
• 08:45–09:08 – Fun tangent: Moving, finding the bathroom at night, and feeling at home
• 09:44–10:06 – Shoutouts & closing congratulations

Takeaway Action

“If you haven’t tested animated GIFs in your email campaigns for a year, or even six months, you’ve got to do it. There’s no downside.”
Test, theme, and play—now is the best time of year to stand out in the inbox.

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