That InboxArmy Podcast

Hosted by InboxArmy LLC

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Hosted by Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs - Talking about the hot topics in and around email marketing.

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19 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 1945 min

How Email Marketing is Evolving in 2026 with Tanya Plaza

Digital messaging expert Tanya Plaza shares in this episode of That InboxArmy Podcast that email continues to be a vital channel in the marketing mix. The episode explores the evolving landscape of email marketing, deliverability, and AI's role in email and marketing as a whole in 2026. Tanya shares invaluable insights on key topics such as: The importance of email deliverability and how it interfaces with engagement and other channels Why email remains a core channel in 2026, and how to integrate it with new messaging channels The significance of benchmarking against yourself rather than industry standards for meaningful growth Defining engagement beyond opens and clicks—focusing on KPI alignment and customer interaction The legal vs. ethical considerations in email marketing and the importance of reputation management Practical strategies for leveraging AI in marketing: time-saving tools versus overreliance The economic impact and future costs of AI technology, including implications for marketers Handling unsubscribes with ease and viewing them as opportunities rather than failures The importance of meeting consumers where they are across multiple digital touchpoints Timestamps: 02:45 - The evolution of deliverability and the postmaster role 03:45 - Where does email sit in marketing in 2026? 06:22 - The relevance of email alongside new channels and trends 07:48 - Discarding myths: Why email is still vital 09:08 - Challenges and misconceptions about email performance and ROI 11:14 - Lessons from consumer experience: the importance of respect in unsubscribes 16:11 - Building reputation: the impact of legal compliance on deliverability 18:34 - Measuring yourself against your own data, not industry benchmarks 29:53 - Practical uses of AI: efficiency tools, data analysis, and avoiding pitfalls 33:23 - The importance of human oversight in AI-driven marketing 36:26 - The democratization and rising costs of AI technology 41:02 - Imagining AI as a collaborative partner in human-led endeavors 42:34 - The influence of AI on jobs and the importance of expertise 44:17 - Engaging with unusual interview questions—insights into organizational culture

August 27, 2025Episode 1846 min

Navigating the Yotpo Migration with LB Blair

Email is hard. It's even harder when you have a necessary email platform migration sprung on you, like the case of Yotpo's email and SMS customers. Join Scott Cohen, Garin Hobbs, and LB Blair as they discuss the key factors to consider when choosing a new ESP, the mistakes to avoid in the process, and more. InboxArmy is also offering special reduced pricing for Yotpo customers who need to migrate. You can learn about our ESP migration services here: https://www.inboxarmy.com/yotpo. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of Yatpo's Sunset 03:09 Key Factors in ESP Migration 05:54 Challenges of Migration and Warmup Strategies 08:57 Timing and Urgency in Migration Decisions 11:55 Navigating Platform Choices and Deliverability Risks 15:07 Evaluating New Platforms and Avoiding Common Mistakes 18:00 Involving Practitioners in Platform Selection 23:01 Crafting Effective Plans for Tech Integration 24:05 Identifying Key Needs in Data Management 27:05 The Role of AI in Modern Tech Stacks 30:02 Human Elements in Decision Making 36:11 Navigating Migration Challenges 39:00 Practical Advice for Successful Migration

June 25, 2025Episode 1755 min

Handling Your "Mess of Data" in Email with Chris Behrens of BearMail

In this episode, Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs welcome Chris Behrens, CEO of BearMail, to discuss how brands and marketers can get beyond "garbage in - garbage out" data to power their email marketing programs. The conversation dives into focusing on fundamental attributes in data collection while exploring the importance of understanding both data quality and consumer motivations. And of course, a natural discussion around AI and how important it is to have the right data to power it. 03:07 - Chris Behrens' Journey into Email Marketing 06:13 - Understanding Data: Goals and Consumer Motivations 09:05 - Key Data Points for Effective Email Marketing 11:56 - The Importance of Timing and Context in Marketing 15:13 - Creating Emotional Connections through Personalization 17:56 - The Power of Zero Party Data 21:03 - Overcoming Data Collection Hesitations 24:01 - The Challenge of Aligning Preferences with Behavior 26:59 - Framing Questions for Better Insights 28:45 - The Anxiety of Sending Emails 29:45 - Data Overload: Finding Actionable Insights 30:43 - The Evolution of Content Creation 32:39 - Mindset vs. Technology in Marketing 35:14 - Human Touch in AI-Driven Marketing 40:08 - Data Quality: The Foundation of AI 45:12 - Navigating Data Utilization in Marketing 48:28 - Brands Excelling in Email Marketing

March 24, 2025Episode 1641 min

The Intricacies of Email Design with George Pettigrew of InboxArmy

In this episode, Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs welcome George Pettigrew, InboxArmy's Creative Director, to discuss the challenges and demands of great email design. The conversation covers the importance of a strong understanding of design fundamentals, the importance of the user experience in creating effective email communications, and how design systems can address these needs. Come for the learnings on how to be creative within a design system and leave with an understanding of why you shouldn't use image-only emails, how to avoid the common mistakes of email design, and more. 03:21 - Understanding Email Design Systems 06:16 - Creativity Within Design Systems 09:41 - The Importance of Accessibility in Email Design 17:01 - The Case Against Image-Only Emails 20:35 - Designing for Dark Mode 24:20 - Common Mistakes in Email Design 28:52 - Brands Excelling in Email Design 30:46 - Balancing Creativity and Best Practices 35:33 - B2B vs B2C Email Design Strategies

January 3, 2025Episode 151 hr 11 min

Investing in Email the Right Way with Ryan Phelan of RPE Origin and Chris Marriott of Email Connect

In this on-location episode from MediaPost's Email Insider Summit, InboxArmy's Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs are joined by Ryan Phelan, CEO at RPE Origin, and Chris Marriott, CEO at Email Connect, to discuss the challenges of navigating the decision process around choosing and fully utilizing an email service provider. The conversation dives into great detail around the common mistakes and pitfalls marketers make when making these kinds of decisions as well as what's necessary to make these complicated decisions. Come for the banter around the limitations of AI, stay for the 2025 predictions made by email marketing experts with more than 100 combined years of experience. 00:00 - Introduction to Email Platform Utilization 06:47 - Understanding Email Service Provider Utilization Rates 16:54 - Navigating ESP Changes and Decision Points 25:03 - Common Mistakes in ESP Migration 35:56 - The Shift in Power Dynamics with New Platforms 41:40 - Underinvestment in Email Marketing 49:41 - The Role of AI in Marketing 58:19 - Predictions for 2025: The Future of Marketing Channels

November 8, 2024Episode 1453 min

The Year of Deliverability with LB Blair of Email Industries

In this episode of That InboxArmy Podcast, Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs welcome back LB Blair, Chief Strategy Officer of Email Industries, to catch up on the latest updates and trends in email deliverability. The conversation focuses on numerous topics, including email authentication requirements, content filtering, the importance of email hygiene, and even branch out into the evolving landscape of email security, the implications of cybersecurity threats, and the risks associated with cold emailing. You'll learn about the need for businesses to build a sustainable brand identity and engage in ethical email practices to ensure deliverability and security. 02:47 - Changes in Email Authentication and Filtering 05:59 - Content Filtering and Image Usage 09:11 - Spam Traps and Email Hygiene 11:57 - The Shift in Email Best Practices 14:53 - Cybersecurity and Email Links 18:12 - Understanding Spam Traps 20:57 - The Importance of Email Compliance 27:12 - Understanding Email Security and Cyber Threats 38:15 - The Risks of Cold Emailing 52:01 - The Future of Email Marketing and Security

October 14, 2024Episode 1356 min

The Psychology Behind Email Marketing with Sarah Levinger

In this episode of That InboxArmy Podcast, Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs welcome marketing psychology expert Sarah Levinger to explore the intersection of psychology and marketing. The fascinating conversation covered the importance of understanding human behavior, the emotional drivers behind purchasing decisions, and how generational influences shape behavior and marketing strategies. Come for the strategies and leave with some valuable book recommendations for marketers looking to deeper their understanding of consumer psychology. 01:20 - Sarah's Journey to Marketing 04:54 - Why Psychology is Important in Marketing 09:16 - The Critical Drivers of Consumer Behavior 15:36 - How History and World Events Drive Consumer Behavior 19:05 - Conscious vs. Subconscious Decision Making 25:12 - How Emotion Breaks Through Commodity 29:12 - What to Avoid When Using Emotions in Marketing 35:25 - Customer Loyalty and Brand Obsession 41:47 - Who is Doing Emotion in Marketing Right? 47:25 - Book Recommendations for Marketing Psychology

October 3, 2024Episode 1256 min

Email's Importance in Digital Marketing with Hank Hoffmeier of Kickbox

Hank Hoffmeier, Senior Manager of Marketing Operations at Kickbox, joins the podcast to discuss the integral role of email in the broader marketing ecosystem. The conversation touches on the interplay between email, social media, and SMS, the impact of AI on marketing strategies, and the future of email marketing innovations. 01:36 - Hank's TLDR personal history 07:22 - How email marketing and social media play well together 18:16 - Where SMS fits into the marketing channel hierarchy 22:42 - What has more conversions? Push or SMS? 28:51 - The impact of AI on email marketing 46:11 - How email marketers make themselves indispensable

August 23, 2024Episode 1146 min

The Hows and Whys of Email Testing with Kath Pay of Holistic Email Marketing

If you've been looking at different ways to test your email campaigns, you've come to the right podcast. In this episode, InboxArmy's Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs welcome best-selling author Kath Pay, founder of Holistic Email Marketing, to talk all things email testing. We dive into how to effectively use the scientific method as the basis for email testing, why achieving statistical significance is important, and the common mistake marketers make when testing. We go deeper on the challenges of testing during the holiday season, how to test for engagement and conversion performance, and how testing emotional and motivational drivers can lead to more effective email campaigns. 03:51 - The Scientific Method and A/B testing 06:45 - The importance of statistical significance 15:05 - Testing motivations 18:21 - High impact areas to test besides revenue 25:02 - Testing that's actually meaningful 35:14 - The challenges of testing during the holiday season 46:50 - Leveraging frequency, segmentation, and motivations in holiday testing

August 12, 2024Episode 1053 min

AI and Email Personalization with Matthew Dunn of Campaign Genius and Social Signal AI

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Dunn of Social Signal AI and Campaign Genius join InboxArmy's Scott Cohen and Garin Hobbs to discuss the evolution of AI in email marketing, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how data powers AI and personalization. 02:05 - The evolution of AI in email marketing 06:04 - The role of data in powering AI 11:29 - The importance of context and emotional drivers 19:16 - The risks of AI in terms of privacy and false information 26:11 - The risks and benefits of AI in personalization and email marketing 29:42 - Defining personalization: Relevance vs. Creepiness 36:05 - The importance of considering user intentions in AI 39:51 - Privacy concerns in the age of AI and personalization