Create Like the Greats

What Reddit Metrics Should You Track? A Reddit Masterclass Nov 15, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross breaks down the essentials of marketing on Reddit—covering the metrics that matter, strategies that actually work, and the mistakes that brands often make when they step onto the platform. Ross lays out actionable steps to help marketers make an impact, from tracking engagement to building genuine relationships and delivering content that truly adds value. Whether you’re new to Reddit or looking to level up your approach, this episode is your guide to getting it right on Reddit.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Upvote to Downvote Ratio

The upvote-to-downvote ratio is a quick yet powerful way to measure content success on Reddit. A high upvote count reflects that your content resonates positively with users, indicating that it adds value or sparks interest. Tracking this ratio helps you understand what works for your audience and fine-tune future content to align with community preferences.

2. Community Sentiment

Understanding the sentiment around your brand or content is essential on Reddit, where opinions are often raw and unfiltered. Monitor discussions to gauge whether your posts generate positive engagement or potential backlash. By staying tuned into community sentiment, you can adapt your strategy to better align with audience expectations, ensuring you stay relevant and respected.

3. Authentic Engagement

Reddit users prioritize authenticity, making it essential to approach the platform with genuine engagement rather than direct promotion. Instead of hard-selling, participate in conversations, answer questions thoughtfully, and share insights that contribute value. Authentic interactions build trust and credibility, which can have a lasting positive impact on your brand’s presence on Reddit.

4. Create Valuable Content

Consistency and quality are key to standing out on Reddit. Take the time to create content that is both informative and valuable to the community. Address common interests, questions, and pain points to position your brand as a helpful resource. Reddit’s audience is highly discerning, so prioritize quality over quantity to establish a strong, positive reputation.

And many more…

Resources:

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What Is A Content Marketing Remix A Deep Dive Nov 08, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross dives into the concept of the "content marketing remix," an innovative approach to amplifying content reach by repurposing and reformatting existing material. By remixing content across different platforms, marketers can engage new audiences while maximizing the impact of their original work. Ross shares actionable insights and examples, demonstrating how to creatively recycle content to keep it fresh and relevant.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Understanding the Content Marketing Remix

The content marketing remix is the practice of reimagining and reshaping existing content to fit various formats and platforms. By adapting content to different mediums, brands can tell a cohesive story while connecting with diverse audience segments, ultimately amplifying their message and extending content lifespan.

2. Tactical Approaches for Remixing Content

To implement a successful content remix strategy, here are several practical ways to transform existing material:

Summarize the podcast discussion into a blog post.
Create a YouTube video version of the blog post.
Develop short video clips for social media platforms.
Turn podcast insights into checklists or downloadable PDFs.
Extract key quotes from blogs and design shareable graphics.
Use tools like Canva to convert data into infographics.
Repurpose long-form articles as microblogs on different platforms.

Resources:

Distribution.ai - https://distribution.ai/

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Unlocking Reddit for Digital Marketing Success Oct 31, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross explores how marketers and creators can harness Reddit as a powerful tool for growth and community engagement. Packed with actionable insights, the episode breaks down key strategies for effectively engaging on Reddit, from finding the right communities to hosting AMAs and running ads. Listeners will learn how to share valuable content authentically, foster discussions, and use Reddit's unique culture to boost visibility and drive engagement.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Engaging in Subreddits

Identify subreddits where your target audience is active, and contribute to discussions with authentic value. Engaging in relevant communities like r/marketing for software topics can help subtly promote your brand while building genuine connections.

2. Hosting Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions

Host or sponsor AMAs to give Redditors direct access to your expertise or that of an industry leader. An AMA allows users to ask questions about your niche, letting you provide value and establish credibility through open and honest interaction.

3. Strategic Commenting

Host or sponsor AMAs to give Redditors direct access to your expertise or that of an industry leader. An AMA allows users to ask questions about your niche, letting you provide value and establish credibility through open and honest interaction.

4. Creating Educational Content

Share guides, infographics, or other educational resources that help users better understand your industry. By offering actionable and transparent content, you add value to the community and position yourself as an expert in the field.

And many more…

Resources:

Distribution.ai - https://distribution.ai/

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SaaS + Media: Semrush Acquiring More SEO Blogs Oct 25, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, we dive into the strategic implications of Semrush's recent acquisition of a high-traffic blog and what it reveals about ROI opportunities in digital marketing. We explore how acquiring media entities can transform a company's overall marketing strategy by boosting visibility and creating new pathways for growth. Additionally, we analyze the competitive edge gained through strategic acquisitions, particularly in the SaaS space, and the vital role SEO and backlinks play in maximizing the value of these deals.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. The Value of Traffic Acquisition

Acquiring high-traffic media platforms presents untapped ROI potential for businesses. Ross emphasized that media entities bring immense value by offering access to vast and engaged audiences. Semrush's acquisition of a blog, which draws over 4.8 million visits, showcases how strategic media buys can enhance a company's reach and strengthen their marketing ecosystem.

2. Strategic Acquisitions in SaaS

Ross highlighted that SaaS companies purchasing media properties is a game-changing trend in today's competitive market. As software products become harder to differentiate, acquiring media with a loyal audience provides companies with immediate customer access and credibility. This tactic allows businesses to influence perception and control narratives in ways that traditional marketing can't always achieve.

3. Mastering SEO and Backlinking

Successful acquisitions are often underpinned by strong SEO and backlink strategies. Ross pointed out that media platforms with superior SEO performance can propel a brand's online visibility. By securing backlinks from authoritative sources, companies can improve their SERP rankings and drive sustained organic growth—further amplifying the value of their media acquisitions.

Resources:

Semrush - https://www.semrush.com/

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Content Marketing Strategy for Boring Industries Oct 11, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares a conversation from The Niche Marketing Podcast with John Bertino, where they dive deep into learning about how to do content marketing for boring industries. From collaborating with influencers to designing a newsletter that drives engagement, they explore actionable strategies to get your message out there. The discussion is packed with insights on influencer marketing, distribution tactics, and leveraging newsletters to tell a brand’s story effectively.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. The Linear Process of B2B Marketing

Ross breaks down the step-by-step approach to B2B marketing, which begins with demonstrating the value of your offering. He explains how selling a story, not just a product, drives transactions and secures sales. But the journey doesn’t stop there—Ross emphasizes the need to build continuity in storytelling. By crafting evergreen content, marketers can continually repurpose stories into assets like short-form videos, maintaining relevance long after the sale.

2. Finding the Right Influencers

Ross stresses the importance of choosing influencers who align with your brand and audience. Effective influencers create content that educates and entertains, while building trust with their followers. Ross also highlights the power of paid media to amplify influencer content, enabling brands to increase their reach and engagement, especially within niche markets.

3. Ongoing Distribution and Internal Communication

Content distribution doesn’t end once it’s published, that’s only the beginning. Regularly redistributing content across multiple platforms is key to sustaining its visibility. He also emphasizes strong internal communication, ensuring that teams like sales are fully aware of new content, like case studies, so they can integrate it into conversations with clients.

Resources:

Niche Marketing Podcast - https://www.nichemarketingpodcast.com/

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The Intelligence Age [Thoughts] Oct 03, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares his thoughts on the future of AI, inspired by Sam Altman's insights. He dives into how AI is poised to revolutionize our work, culture, and ability to solve complex problems. Ross explores how far human capabilities have come and how AI will continue to enhance our potential. He also reflects on the current state of AI adoption and how those who take advantage of it now will have a significant edge in the future.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. People Have Become Dramatically More Capable Over Time

Over the years, human productivity has soared to levels previously thought impossible. Tasks like sending hundreds of emails, creating design mockups, optimizing blog posts, and repurposing content can now be done in minutes, thanks to technological advancements. Yet, many still overlook the full potential of AI. In retrospect, we’ll see this moment as a missed opportunity if we don't take action now. No matter your field—SEO, video editing, social media, sales—AI tools should be a core part of your toolkit. Those who embrace AI today will be ahead of the curve tomorrow.

2. AI Will Equip Us to Solve Complex Problems

AI is not just an incremental tool; it's a revolutionary one. As we integrate AI into more aspects of work and life, it will allow us to solve challenges that were previously out of reach. Recent reports predict that AI could contribute trillions to global productivity, especially in areas like marketing optimization, lead generation, and personalized outreach. This is just the beginning. Future generations will likely harness AI to achieve things we can't even imagine today.

3. AI Will Improve Lives as It Scales

AI’s growth is just starting, and while the initial hype has quieted, the true power of AI is just beginning to unfold. As AI scales, it will bring profound improvements to everyday life—especially for those who integrate it into their workflows now. The ROI for early adopters who use AI to streamline communication, personalize campaigns, and analyze data is already extraordinary. The buzz may have faded, but those who stay the course will see transformative benefits

Resources:

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Why Content Distribution Is Important in 2025 Sep 26, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Max Branstetter from the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share his journey from a fantasy football blogger to the founder of Foundation, a leading content distribution agency. Ross reveals how his passion for fantasy football led him to build essential skills in writing and content creation, ultimately shaping his path to entrepreneurship. He also dives into the concept of "Create Once, Distribute Forever," offering practical insights into maximizing the reach of your content. Plus, he shares valuable lessons on work-life balance, hiring your first employee, and even the wisdom gained from top deathbed regrets. This episode is packed with strategies and stories that can inspire creators and entrepreneurs alike.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Workcation

Ross explains how a well-planned workcation can boost productivity while balancing work and relaxation. By aligning work hours with team availability in different time zones, he managed to stay connected without sacrificing downtime. The key to a successful workcation, he emphasizes, is having a trusted team and systems in place that can operate smoothly in your absence.

2. From Fantasy Football Blogger to Agency Founder

Ross takes us through his evolution from a passionate fantasy football blogger to becoming the founder of a successful content distribution agency. He highlights how his obsession with the game gave him the writing and content management skills that would later become the foundation for his career. More than just a hobby, fantasy football taught Ross about community building, long-form content creation, and the realization that the internet could unlock global reach and endless opportunities.

3. Create Once, Distribute Forever

Ross outlines his approach to content distribution, emphasizing the importance of sharing content across multiple platforms. His philosophy is simple: If your content has value, it deserves to be shared continuously. In his book, he provides tactical steps on how to leverage different channels like email, social media, and online communities to maximize reach. His goal is to help creators overcome the fear of self-promotion and fully embrace the power of distribution.

4. Hiring Your First Employee

Ross reflects on the challenges and triumphs of hiring his first employee. He offers practical advice on finding the right person, delegating tasks, and building a team that can thrive without you micromanaging. According to Ross, hiring the right people is crucial to scaling your business, and trusting them is key to personal and professional growth.

5. Lessons from Deathbed Regrets

Drawing inspiration from studies on deathbed regrets, Ross shares his thoughts on living a life without major regrets. He encourages listeners to take bold steps in their careers, prioritize experiences, and make the most of their time. For Ross, it’s a reminder to pursue passion projects and not wait for the "right time," because life is too short to live cautiously.

Resources:

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The One Book I've Given To Over 30 People Since Reading It Sep 19, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross dives into Dale Carnegie's timeless principles from "How To Win Friends and Influence People" and how they can be applied to win in business and marketing today. He highlights the importance of building genuine relationships with your audience, making meaningful interactions, and leveraging digital tools to personalize messages at scale. Ross also discusses how listening attentively, showing positivity, and making others feel valued can significantly enhance both personal and professional relationships. These insights are key to not just winning clients, but creating lasting, impactful connections.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Show Genuine Interest in Your Audience

As marketers, it’s easy to think of audiences as simply customers, but real success comes when you truly care about their problems and desires. Engaging deeply with your audience means being present in their communities, learning where they spend their time, and understanding their challenges. By studying their online behaviors and preferences, you can connect with them authentically, offering solutions that resonate with their needs.

2. The Power of a Smile

A simple smile can transform the tone of your voice, making your message more approachable and positive. People are naturally drawn to positivity, and brands that exude this energy create a sense of trust and likability. Incorporating optimism into your story and content encourages your audience to associate those positive feelings with your brand, making your message more compelling and memorable.

3. Remembering People’s Names

In a digital world, personalized interactions go a long way in building rapport. Using tools like email marketing software or AI technologies, you can scale personal messages that address individuals by name. This level of personalization creates a human connection, making your audience feel seen and appreciated, even in large-scale outreach efforts.

4. Be an Active Listener

Listening is more than just hearing words; it's about making the other person feel understood. When you actively listen and reflect back what someone has said, it shows them that their voice matters. This builds trust and opens up opportunities for deeper connections, as people value those who take the time to understand their perspectives.

5. Talk in Terms of the Other Person’s Interests

It's easy to get caught up in promoting the features and technical aspects of your products, but what truly matters to your audience is how it benefits them. Frame your conversations around their needs, showing them how your solutions will impact their lives or businesses. By speaking their language, you’ll build stronger, more persuasive marketing messages that resonate.

6. Make Others Feel Important—Sincerely

People want to feel valued, and when you show genuine care for someone’s well-being or success, it can foster long-lasting relationships. Consistently making others feel important, not just through words but through your actions, strengthens connections and can turn clients into advocates for life.

Resources:

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28 Content Ideas For LinkedIn That You Can Steal Sep 12, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross uncovers content ideas to help you elevate your LinkedIn strategy and drive meaningful engagement. From leveraging social media to celebrating key milestones and engaging influencers, Ross dives into practical tactics to optimize your content for maximum impact. Ross also explores personalized marketing tools, the power of building human connections, and how to debunk common misconceptions about content creation. Tune in to discover these actionable strategies and start transforming your LinkedIn presence today!

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Leveraging Social Media to Drive Website Traffic

Ross highlights the power of social media as a traffic generator when used strategically. By focusing on sharing industry-specific trends and insights, you can create curiosity and encourage your audience to explore more on your website, driving meaningful engagement.

2. Celebrate Milestones and Share Feedback

Celebrating company milestones and feedback from both customers and your team creates opportunities to showcase your achievements. Sharing before-and-after snapshots of campaigns or projects allows your audience to see the tangible results of your strategy and draws them into your brand story.

3. Maximizing Content Through Influencers

Engaging with influencers who resonate with your brand is a key tactic to expand your reach. Tagging them in your content not only invites engagement but also increases the likelihood of your brand being seen by their followers. Webinars and thoughtful mentions can further deepen these influencer relationships and enhance your credibility.

4. Leveraging Personalized Marketing Tools

Ross delves into the use of powerful tools like Koala and HubSpot to personalize outreach. By analyzing who’s interacting with your content, you can craft tailored messages that resonate with individual users. This level of personalization turns casual readers into loyal customers and strengthens your marketing efforts.

5. Building Human Connections

Building real human connections is essential in today’s market. Ross emphasizes the importance of showcasing the personal struggles and wins behind your brand. By being transparent and relatable, you build a sense of trust and authenticity that resonates with your audience on a deeper level.

6. Comparing Competing Products and Showcasing Insights

Ross advises comparing competing products that your team considers for specific tasks to provide valuable insights for your audience. Sharing this process, along with surprising data points, demonstrates your thought leadership and helps establish your brand as a credible source of information.

And many more!

Resources:

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Fantasy Football Meets Business Strategy Sep 05, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, with the new Fantasy Football season upon us, Ross revisits an old episode about Fantasy Football and draws parallels between fantasy football strategies and business success. Ross explores how decision-making in the game mirrors the strategies used in the business world. He talks about building your dream team, managing high-performing talent, eliminating bias, and even smack talk—yes, you heard that right! Tune in to discover how lessons from fantasy football can help you optimize your approach to leadership and strategic planning in business.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Building Your Dream Team

Just as fantasy football managers carefully select players during the pre-season, businesses must invest time in recruiting the right team members. Ross explains the importance of assembling a cohesive group of high-performing employees, emphasizing that a strong, well-balanced team is crucial for driving the overall success of any business.

2. Balancing Hot Streaks and Consistency

In fantasy football, managers often face the dilemma of choosing between a player on a hot streak and a more consistent performer. Ross explores how this applies to managing talent in business, stressing the need to balance short-term gains with long-term potential. Recognizing top performers is important, but understanding their long-term value is key to sustainable success.

3. Removing Personal Bias

Personal biases can cloud decision-making, whether you're selecting players for your fantasy team or making strategic business decisions. Ross highlights how removing emotional and personal preferences allows for more objective choices, leading to better outcomes and faster growth in both the business and fantasy worlds.

4. Strategic "Smack Talk"

While smack talk is a staple of fantasy sports, it has its place in the business world too—though in a different form. Ross discusses how using competitive banter wisely can help differentiate your business from competitors and draw attention to your unique value. Smack talk in business isn’t about targeting colleagues but about positioning yourself confidently in your industry.

5. Planning Ahead

Just as fantasy football players must anticipate future matchups and injuries, businesses need to forecast potential challenges and opportunities. Ross emphasizes the importance of being proactive and planning ahead, helping businesses stay agile and prepared for unexpected hurdles that could disrupt operations or progress.

6. Treating Every Week as a New Challenge

In fantasy football, every week brings fresh competition, requiring new strategies and adjustments. Similarly, Ross encourages businesses to treat each week as a new challenge, constantly adapting to market conditions, evolving customer needs, and internal goals. This mindset keeps teams innovative and resilient.

7. Embracing Bold Moves

In both fantasy football and business, success often comes from taking bold, calculated risks. Ross explains how businesses can benefit from stepping outside their comfort zone and making daring decisions. Whether it's launching a new product or pivoting strategy, bold moves can lead to breakthroughs and drive significant success.

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Exploring Prompt Engineering in Marketing Strategy with Ethan Crump Aug 29, 2024

In this special episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross is joined by Ethan Crump, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist at Foundation, to unveil the concept of prompt engineering and its significance in leveraging innovative tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. The conversation delves into how prompt engineering is shaping marketing strategies, exploring its growing influence in the field. Ross and Ethan also discuss the benefits, offering insights into various prompts that can be utilized to enhance AI-driven marketing campaigns.

Key Insights

1. Partnering with AI for Enhanced Productivity

Treating AI as a collaborator in content creation can significantly enhance productivity. By laying a solid foundation of quality input, AI can expedite the content creation process while maintaining relevance and precision. Effective prompt engineering, particularly when built on advanced prompt-writing techniques, allows for more tailored and goal-aligned outcomes, transforming AI into a powerful tool for marketers.

2. Chain-of-Thought Prompting

Chain-of-thought prompting is a technique that enhances the reasoning abilities of AI by guiding it to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable steps. This method helps the AI provide a clear and logical progression of ideas, leading to more accurate and thoughtful results. By using this approach, you can improve the depth and quality of the AI's responses in your marketing efforts.

3. Leveraging Different Types of Prompts

Use a variety of prompt types, such as extraction, summarization, and creation. When used strategically, these prompts can uncover valuable insights, generate engaging content, and effectively connect with your audience. Understanding when and how to use each type of prompt is key to maximizing the impact of AI in your marketing efforts. The AI marketing console has tons of different prompts that people can steal and use.

4. Visual Prompting

Visual prompting can yield impressive results in creative fields. Tools like DALLE and Midjourney, enable users to create art or design mockups through well-crafted prompts. By developing a prompt library with specific artists, styles, and techniques, marketers can quickly generate high-quality visuals that align with their brand’s aesthetic and messaging.

Resources

Prompt Engineering: A Guide for Marketers and Content Creators - https://foundationinc.co/lab/prompt-engineering-guide-marketers/
AI Marketing Console - https://ross.gumroad.com/l/ai-console

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╰ foundationinc.co/team/ethan-crump

The Key to Better Content Aug 22, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares an engaging conversation from his appearance on The Copywriter Club Podcast with Rob Marsh. They explore how content creation is evolving, especially in light of new technologies, and discuss what this means for writers moving forward. The episode dives into the importance of storytelling, the shifting role of content marketers, and practical strategies for making the most of your content. Ross emphasizes the importance of balancing technology with human creativity and strategic thinking in the ever-changing world of content marketing.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. The Power of Storytelling and Curiosity

Ross emphasizes how storytelling, fueled by curiosity, is key to creating content that resonates. By staying curious and always seeking to learn, writers can craft compelling narratives that capture attention and engage audiences, making their content memorable and impactful.

2. The Rise of AI and Its Impact on Content

While AI has allowed for the creation of vast amounts of content, it has also flooded the internet with low-quality and generic articles. Ross highlighted the need for human intervention to elevate the quality of AI-generated content. Great copywriters, content marketers, and writers in general possess unique insights, creativity, and strategic thinking that AI cannot replicate.

3. Evolving Role of Content Marketers

Content marketing is not just about producing content; it’s about ensuring that content reaches and resonates with the right audience. Ross discusses the need for content marketers to take a broader view, integrating both creation and marketing strategies to maximize the impact of their work.

4. Maximizing the Lifespan of Content

Ross shares the importance of getting the most out of your content by resharing and repurposing it over time. By keeping valuable content in circulation and updating it as needed, businesses can maintain engagement and drive traffic without constantly needing to create new material. This strategy helps to extend the life and effectiveness of existing content.

Resources:

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Content Repurposing 101: The Masterclass Aug 15, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares valuable insights on how to effectively repurpose your content. He emphasizes the importance of constantly thinking about how to repurpose content within your library and highlights the power of turning words into visuals. Ross also discusses the repurposing process, from conducting an audit to utilizing third-party voices. He explores various methods of repurposing content, including transforming ebooks into blog posts and leveraging presentations for multimedia assets.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Turning Words into Visuals

Transform text-based content into visually engaging assets to capture attention and expand your content’s reach. Converting blog posts or ebooks into infographics or slide decks not only diversifies your content but also enhances its shareability across platforms.

2. Transcribing Content for Multimedia Adaptation

Expand the reach of audio content by transcribing it into written formats. This allows you to create blog posts, video scripts, or other multimedia assets, catering to various audience preferences and increasing the accessibility of your message.

3. Incorporating Third-Party Voices

Enhance your content's credibility by collaborating with industry experts or influencers, or by utilizing synthetic voices for narration. Diverse voices in your content not only build thought leadership but also attract a broader audience.

4. Leveraging Event Speaking Engagements

Maximize the value of speaking engagements by repurposing presentations into blog posts, videos, or other content formats. Reach out to event organizers for recordings or transcripts to extend the impact of your insights to a wider audience.

Resources:

ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/?from=rosssimmonds1914

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How The Content Game Has Changed + My Video Bet Aug 08, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross delves into the evolving landscape of video marketing, particularly within the B2B realm. Drawing from his experience with the Cut30 program, he explores how these insights have shaped his approach to crafting impactful video content. Ross discusses the power of targeted audience outreach and the need to shake up traditional video marketing methods.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Targeted Audience Outreach

Ross emphasizes that truly effective B2B video marketing starts with a deep understanding of the audience. Through his involvement with the Cut30 program, he learned the critical importance of tailoring video content to specific buyer personas. By addressing the unique needs, challenges, and aspirations of these personas, businesses can create videos that not only capture attention but also drive meaningful engagement and conversions.

2. Shake Up Video Marketing

Ross discusses the necessity of rethinking the current state of video marketing in the B2B sector. He identifies video as an underutilized yet powerful tool that holds immense potential for B2B companies. To truly leverage this medium, Ross advocates for applying innovative best practices and stepping away from traditional approaches. His insights challenge businesses to push the boundaries of video content creation, leading to more dynamic and effective marketing strategies.

Resources:

Cut30 Program - https://cut30.co/

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The Impact of AI on Marketers: Insights from Ross Simmonds and Joe Glover Aug 01, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares an engaging conversation with Joe Glover from The Marketing Meetup. They discuss the impact of AI on the marketing industry, focusing on various tools and their practical uses. The conversation highlights how AI can enhance efficiency while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human creativity in storytelling. With a mix of innovative AI insights and the importance of human touch, this episode provides a fresh look at the evolving landscape of marketing.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. AI Tools for Creative Thinking and Content Creation

Ross and Joe discuss ChatGPT as a versatile AI tool that supports event planning, content creation, and marketing material development. By using prompts and personas, ChatGPT generates fresh ideas tailored to specific contexts. They also touch on DALL-E, an AI that creates visual content, enabling marketers to blend unique concepts and explore new creative avenues.

2. AI as a Partner for Efficiency and Innovation

The episode highlights various AI tools like Adobe for advanced marketing projects and ElevenLabs for voice manipulation. Descript, a tool that modifies voice tones within transcripts, is also mentioned. Ross and Joe agree that embracing AI as a partner can significantly boost efficiency and productivity, allowing marketers to tackle previously daunting tasks and unlock new opportunities for growth.

3. The Repurposing Power of AI

Ross emphasizes AI's ability to transform and extend the lifespan of content. By leveraging AI, marketers can create high-quality content that can be distributed and repurposed over time, reaching a broader audience. This capability ensures continuous value delivery and helps marketers connect with more people effectively.

4. The Role of Human Storytellers

Despite AI's advancements, the episode underscores the irreplaceable role of human storytellers. Humans have a unique ability to craft narratives that deeply resonate with audiences. While AI can enhance and amplify storytelling efforts, it cannot replicate the core elements of human creativity and emotional connection. AI serves to augment human creativity, enabling storytellers to achieve new heights without replacing their essential role.

Resources:

The Marketing Meetup - https://themarketingmeetup.com/podcast/

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OpenAI Partnerships: What They Mean For Marketers Jul 25, 2024

Ross dives deep into the fascinating world of OpenAI and its recent partnerships, exploring how these collaborations are reshaping the landscape of content creation and the implications for marketers. Ross also touch upon some controversial aspects related to OpenAI and shed light on the potential long-term effects on various creative industries.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. OpenAI's Partnership with Apple

On June 10, 2024, OpenAI and Apple announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at leveraging OpenAI's advanced technology to develop innovative products. This collaboration is set to streamline text creation directly on our devices, simplifying tasks such as email writing and iMessage creation, thereby enhancing user experience and productivity.

2. OpenAI's Partnership with Media Organizations

VoxMedia's collaboration with OpenAI and ChatGPT marks a significant step in integrating AI into media production. WAN-IFRA's initiative, in partnership with ChatGPT, aims to assist over 100 news publishers in exploring and incorporating AI into their newsrooms, promising a transformation in how news is produced and consumed. The partnership between The Atlantic and OpenAI, although controversial, highlights the potential and challenges of integrating AI into traditional media outlets.

3. OpenAI's Partnership with Reddit

OpenAI's partnership with Reddit to enhance ChatGPT is a brilliant move, bringing together the voice of journalists and the voice of the people. This collaboration provides direct access to the thoughts and discussions of Reddit users, offering valuable insights into public opinion and enhancing the relevance and accuracy of AI-generated content.

Resources:

OpenAI Partnerships List - https://foundationinc.co/lab/openai-partnerships-list/
Reddit Is Dominating SEO Right Now - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wgxKBuWCQuNcce7TGccq9?si=4c9990f3d1294c01

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How MasterClass Built a $2.8 Billion EdTech Empire in 7 years Jul 19, 2024

In this special reupload episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross dives into the impressive success story of MasterClass and its winning formula. He dissects MasterClass's innovative content strategy, their mastery of video and animations, their focus on search intent, and their success in generating backlinks. Ross underscores the critical importance of knowing your audience, consistently offering value, embracing outbound marketing, and leveraging remarketing and reactive storytelling techniques. The episode's main takeaway is the power of creating and distributing high-value content.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Leveraging Video Content

MasterClass places a significant emphasis on video content, weaving it seamlessly into their SEO-driven pieces. This commitment to high-quality video and engaging animations captivates their audience and boosts their search engine rankings.

2. The Power of Backlinks

By producing exceptional content and collaborating with industry experts, MasterClass has become a powerhouse in generating backlinks. This strategic approach has resulted in over 640,000 backlinks, enhancing their online visibility and authority.

3. Understanding Search Intent: The Key to Effective Content Creation

MasterClass excels by deeply understanding search intent, ensuring their content aligns perfectly with what users are seeking. This alignment not only increases visibility but also drives higher engagement in search engine results.

4. Connecting with Influencers and Industry Experts

MasterClass extends its reach by featuring influential figures across various industries. This strategy not only adds credibility but also broadens their audience base, making their platform more appealing and relevant.

5. Creating Compelling Stories that Resonate

MasterClass distinguishes itself through storytelling that profoundly impacts people's lives. By consistently understanding their audience and delivering valuable content, they foster a strong connection and engagement with their users.

Resources

Foundation Content Marketing Playbook - https://content.rosssimmonds.com/stand-out-guide1
How to Write for the Web - https://foundationinc.co/lab/writing-for-the-web/

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Insights from Chris Meabe: How Dialpad Generates Massive Organic Traffic Using Programmatic SEO Jul 11, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, we delve into the secrets behind how Dialpad, generates an impressive 500,000 visits in organic traffic every month. Ross is joined by Chris Meabe, a Senior Content Specialist from Foundation Marketing, who shares invaluable insights on Dialpad's success. Ross and Chris explore the unique and special approach Dialpad uses to capture traffic and the innovative techniques that set them apart in the competitive landscape.

Key Insights

1. SEO and Programmatic SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) revolves around identifying relevant keywords and understanding user search intent to improve visibility in search engine results. Dialpad leverages programmatic SEO, using technology to create landing pages and AI to write copy based on variable inputs. This scalable SEO engine, enhanced with a human touch, propels their rankings from the top 5 to number 1.

2. On-site Optimization and AB Testing

Dialpad optimizes its pages for conversions and sales by leveraging effective Calls to Action (CTAs). They employ AB testing, a real-time optimization technique, to continuously refine their strategies. By analyzing different variations of their landing pages, Dialpad improves conversions and drives substantial ROI for the business.

3. Programmatic SEO and Exploring Potential Industries

Chris and Ross discuss the potential of programmatic SEO across various industries. For instance, the real estate sector can use data from third-party sources to create targeted landing pages for potential homebuyers. Job listing sites can utilize data from platforms like Glassdoor to create hyper-localized listings. In the education industry, landing pages can target topics such as the best schools by state or province. The finance sector requires thorough research to ensure credibility when creating content related to investments and financial advice. They also explore many other industries, highlighting the endless possibilities of programmatic SEO.

4. STAT Tool

STAT is a powerful tool, especially when it comes to keeping track of queries and SEO performance. For those building large enterprise sites with hundreds of pages through programmatic SEO, STAT provides comprehensive monitoring of progress in the SERPs. This ensures that optimization efforts are effective and visibility remains high.

Resources

Dialpad’s Area Code SEO Moat: How to Rank for 50k Keywords - https://foundationinc.co/lab/dialpad
How Brands Can Use STAT To Thrive Amidst SERP Chaos - https://foundationinc.co/lab/stat-seo-serp/
STAT Search Analytics - https://getstat.com/foundation-exclusive

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Reddit Is Dominating SEO Right Now Jul 04, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross discusses the significant shift in the business landscape over the past year and how Reddit has emerged as a major beneficiary of this change. He delves into the Google and Reddit partnership, the importance of creating a subreddit, leveraging ads within subreddits, and the value of cross-referencing YouTube videos in search engine results. This episode offers valuable insights for businesses looking to leverage Reddit's growing influence to enhance their digital strategies and engagement.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. The Google and Reddit Partnership

Google announced the helpful content update, highlighting their collaboration with Reddit to enhance the content they index. This partnership allows Google to access valuable user-generated content from Reddit, which had previously been overlooked. Reddit's upcoming IPO further solidifies its position as an influential platform for businesses.

2. Creating a Subreddit

Encouraging companies with a significant customer base to consider creating their own subreddit ensures control over the subreddit's content and prevents the creation of unofficial subreddits. This allows businesses to engage directly with their customers and establish a community.

3. STAT for Keyword Monitoring - STAT allows users to upload and monitor a series of keywords, providing insights into which URLs and domains are showing up in Google more frequently for these keywords compared to your own. This is crucial because, as a marketer, recognizing your SEO competitors can reveal that many people searching for your product or service are landing on Reddit threads. This insight helps in understanding where dialogues about you and your competitors are happening on Reddit, allowing you to engage more effectively with your audience on this platform.

4. Leveraging Ads within Subreddits

A powerful strategy is to run targeted ads directly to specific subreddits where the target audience spends time. This enables businesses to reach a highly engaged and relevant audience, leading to better conversion rates. It is recommended to carefully craft ad content that aligns with the interests and values of the subreddit community.

5. Submitting Content to Relevant Subreddits

To increase visibility and reach a wider audience, businesses should submit their content (such as blog posts, articles, or videos) to relevant subreddits. It is essential to research and understand the target audience's interests and preferences within each subreddit to ensure content resonance.

Resources

How Brands Can Use STAT To Thrive Amidst SERP Chaos - https://foundationinc.co/lab/stat-seo-serp/
STAT - https://getstat.com/foundation-exclusive
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/
HeyGen - https://heygen.com/?sid=rewardful&via=ross-simmonds

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How To Create Content Based on Google Leak Jun 27, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross unpacks the recent Google leak with expert precision. Discover how the leak's revelations can transform your approach to content creation and SEO. From diving deep into the nuances of crafting quality content to enhancing user experience and leveraging Google’s resources, Ross provides a treasure trove of insights. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or a burgeoning content creator, this episode is packed with strategies to elevate your digital presence and secure that coveted top spot in search rankings.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Content Quality: Relevance, Originality, and Comprehensiveness

High rankings in search engine results rely on crafting content that is relevant, original, and comprehensive. Ross emphasizes the importance of collaborating with niche experts and industry professionals to infuse your content with diverse perspectives and in-depth insights, aligning with Google’s criteria for valuable content. Ross explains why content must not only meet but exceed reader expectations by providing clear, actionable, and expert-backed information. He discusses the necessity of creating content assets that truly serve and add value.

2. Enhancing User Experience: Streamlined and Intuitive Design

Superior user experience significantly boosts SEO performance. Ross recommends optimizing website usability to ensure quick and easy access to information. Strategies include image compression for faster load times, conducting mobile usability tests, and organizing content logically to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

3. SEO Insights: Engagement Metrics and Anchor Text Diversity

Ross explores various SEO factors such as click-through rates, dwell time, and the strategic use of anchor texts. He emphasizes the necessity of creating clickable and diverse anchor texts to avoid penalties and improve link equity, crucial for robust SEO.

4. Leveraging Google's Ecosystem: YouTube Integration and Internal Linking

Given Google’s expansive reach, including its monetization of YouTube, Ross advises using this to your advantage by driving organic traffic to Google-hosted platforms. He also underscores the importance of internal linking with relevant keywords to boost site visibility and engagement.

5. STAT Tool

Throughout the episode, Ross credits STAT by Moz as an indispensable tool in Foundation’s SEO arsenal. He discusses how STAT assists in competitive analysis and tracking SERP positions, providing crucial data that informs SEO strategies and helps brands maintain a competitive edge in search results.

Resources

How to Write SEO Content According to the Google Leaks - https://foundationinc.co/lab/google-algorithm-leak
How Brands Can Use STAT To Thrive Amidst SERP Chaos - https://foundationinc.co/lab/stat-seo-serp/
STAT Search Analytics - https://getstat.com/foundation-exclusive

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ChatGPT For Keyword Research & Marketing Research: Why You Shouldn't Trust It (Experiment) Jun 20, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross delves into the intersection of AI and SEO, exposing the misinformation spread by major media publications within the industry. He discusses recent articles by journalists and experts that misleadingly advocate for the use of ChatGPT in keyword research, keyword difficulty estimation, and subreddit selection. Ross highlights the significant errors in these claims and emphasizes the dangers of relying on AI for such critical SEO tasks. This episode is unique as Ross shares a comprehensive presentation on the topic. Tune in to this eye-opening episode and discover why following these misguided recommendations could be one of the biggest mistakes in your SEO strategy.

You can also check out Ross’ presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5cytgJgFMI&t=2s

Resources

How Content Is Evolving Thanks to AI — Whiteboard Friday - https://moz.com/blog/content-evolving-with-ai-whiteboard-friday

HeyGen - https://heygen.com/?sid=rewardful&via=ross-simmonds

RossSimmonds.com - https://rosssimmonds.com/

Foundation Marketing - https://foundationinc.co/

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Mastering Digital Marketing: AI, SEO, and Content Diversification Jun 13, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares valuable insights into the world of marketing, SEO, and content creation. He discusses how businesses can boost their online presence, attract new customers, and foster growth by integrating these strategies. He talked about the fundamentals of marketing, utilizing AI-driven tools, optimizing content for search engines, and tailoring strategies to suit different business types and platforms. By implementing these tactics, you can successfully navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. The Power of Communities

Many people overlook that the evolution of SERP is driven by changes in how humans interact online. We now trust people more than robots, always have and always will. People are looking to get their answers directly from other people, and communities like Reddit have become prime sources. Over the last few months, there has been a significant increase in content from Reddit appearing in SERP due to licensing deals with OpenAI and Google. This trend is set to continue, positioning Reddit as an increasingly important player in search results.

2. AI-Powered Platforms

LLMs (Large Language Models) are revolutionizing the way we conduct searches and interact online. Platforms like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Claude are at the forefront of this change. Users engage in conversations with these AI systems, asking questions and receiving detailed responses. These AI-powered platforms are significantly altering the landscape of search, providing more interactive and intuitive ways to find information.

3. The Fundamentals of Successful Marketing

Ross highlights the four key fundamentals of marketing: research, creation, distribution, and optimization. Conducting thorough research helps identify target audiences and their preferences. Content creation involves developing valuable and engaging content tailored to these audiences. Successful distribution involves employing various channels to reach a wider audience, while optimization ensures that content is discoverable on search engines. These fundamentals form the backbone of a successful marketing strategy, helping businesses grow and succeed in the digital age.

Resources

OpenAI - https://openai.com/

Perplexity - https://www.perplexity.ai/

Claude - https://claude.ai/

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Jason Barnard on Marketing at Kalicube, SEO and Brand SERPs Jun 06, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Jason Barnard, CEO of Kalicube to delve into the fundamentals of search engine optimization (SEO) and and Google's evolving understanding of search engine results pages (SERPs). They talked about the importance of educating Google to represent your brand, the role of content in SEO, building a knowledge graph, the significance of branding, the use of AI in SEO, and the impact of Google's NLP.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Understanding Google's Evolution

Google is no longer solely about SEO strategies but rather about comprehending the context and purpose behind content. Google's focus has shifted from keywords to understanding the intent and meaning behind the words used. This means that businesses can now influence how Google represents their brand by effectively educating it.

2. Balanced Digital Marketing Strategy

While some believe that flooding the internet with content can boost their rankings, Jason discusses that a balanced approach is key. Google aims to present a comprehensive overview to its users, so it's important to have a digital marketing strategy that engages your audience effectively while maintaining quality and relevance.

3. The Importance of Branding

Branding should take priority over marketing. Establishing a strong brand identity allows businesses to market effectively and package their marketing materials for search engines like Google and Bing, conveying who they are, what they do, who they serve, and their credibility as a solution.

4. The Role of AI in SEO

Fundamentals of marketing and SEO should be prioritized over using AI to manipulate search rankings. SEOs possess unique insights and skills, and Google serves as a valuable indicator of digital marketing performance.

Resources

Kalicube - https://kalicube.com/

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Gregory Kennedy on Unlocking B2B Marketing with AI: Navigating New Paradigms May 30, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Gregory Kennedy from BrandZen shared some game-changing insights into the world of B2B marketing. Their chat revolved around Kennedy's report, "New Paradigms in B2B Marketing," unpacking crucial ideas resonating with marketers navigating the digital landscape. Gregory highlighted the transformative role of AI, the importance of optimism in online interactions, and the enduring relevance of classic marketing frameworks.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. AI-Driven Personalization as a Trend

The growing importance of AI-driven personalization in marketing strategies. Traditional methods like using first names are becoming basic expectations, and marketers need to explore the substantial opportunities that AI offers in tailoring content to individual consumers. This trend can lead to enhanced connections with customers and better overall campaign results.

2. Social Media Optimization

Gregory emphasized the essence of genuine audience engagement over mere social media clicks. While marketers previously focused on maximizing clicks, there is now a shift towards 0-click social media optimization. This approach prioritizes impressions and reach over click-throughs, leading to a strategic realignment that better fits current trends and audience behaviors.

3. The Value of the Funnel and AIDA

Despite emerging paradigms, the traditional marketing funnel and the AIDA framework (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) continue to be valuable tools for marketers. Understanding these mental models helps marketers create effective copy and guide consumers along the buyer's journey with precision.

4. Brand Advocacy and Employee Participation

Gregory and Ross talked about the importance of brand advocacy and suggests that organizations should invest resources in measuring and promoting employee participation. Employee advocacy not only enhances a company's reputation but also benefits individuals' career growth and attracts customers, creating a win-win scenario for both the organization and its employees.

Resources

New Paradigms in B2B Marketing - https://www.wearebrandzen.com/research/

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Junae Brown On Marketing At Browned 2 Perfection: Navigating Creativity, Digital Trends, and Personal Growth May 23, 2024

In this episode of "Create Like the Greats," Ross sits down with Junae Brown, Founder and CEO of Browned 2 Perfection Agency. Junae shares her inspiring journey in the marketing world. Through the lens of authenticity and adaptive strategies, she showcases her deep expertise in crafting impactful marketing campaigns. Junae's insights into the importance of personal identity in marketing and the evolving landscape driven by AI provide valuable takeaways for marketers and entrepreneurs alike.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. The Importance of Authenticity

Junae emphasizes the significance of authenticity in creating brand loyalty. Authenticity helps brands connect with their audience on a deeper level and aligns with the purpose of the product or service. By being genuine, brands can build trust and long-lasting relationships with their customers.

2. Junae's "I Am the Marketing Plan"

The concept is twofold: it focuses on establishing strong, authentic, lucrative, and impactful personal brands, and on building loyalty-based consumer or company brands. Additionally, it emphasizes personal growth and becoming one's best self. Junae believes that while technical marketing strategies are essential, recognizing and maximizing one's inherent capabilities is equally powerful.

3. The Evolution of Marketing Strategies

Junae believes in the necessity of adapting to the ever-changing marketing landscape. She talks about the importance of utilizing modern tools like AI to enhance human creativity and strategy. While AI offers powerful capabilities, maintaining a human touch and being open to change are essential for sustained success in marketing.

Resources

Browned 2 Perfection - https://www.browned2perfection.com/home

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Erica Schneider on Mastering the Art of Writing and Editing in the Digital Age May 16, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Erica Schneider, an experienced editor and founder of the program Cut the Fluff, who shares her journey as an online writer and entrepreneur. Erica provides valuable insights into the world of writing and editing, emphasizing the importance of clear thinking in writing, the impact of AI on copywriting, and the significance of finding balance in work and family life.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Journey to Becoming a Writer

Erica discovered her passion for writing in high school and ventured into SEO blog writing through platforms like Upwork. She persevered and gained valuable experience working as an English teacher in Thailand. This diverse background gave her a unique perspective and a solid foundation for her career in writing.

2. A Path to Good Writing

Good writing is good thinking, but not all thinking is clear thinking. Many writers make the mistake of trying to edit themselves while writing, leading to confusion and poor-quality content. Erica Schneider's expertise lies in helping writers master the art of editing by separating the writing and editing processes. By stressing the importance of clear thinking, she empowers writers to produce high-quality, concise, and engaging content.

3. The Art of the Hook: Writing Engaging Content

Erica shares insights into crafting captivating hooks in writing. By practicing and learning from failures, writers can enhance their ability to create compelling introductions. Erica suggests finding an accountability buddy to review and critique each other's work, a process that helps writers better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Mastering the art of writing effective hooks is essential for capturing readers' attention and encouraging further engagement.

4. AI and Copywriting: Embracing the Future

Erica delves into the impact of AI on the field of copywriting. While AI tools can offer valuable assistance with generating ideas and crafting headlines, Erica emphasizes the importance of personal touch and human creativity in writing. By combining the efficiency of AI tools with their own unique writing style, writers can optimize their content creation process and produce engaging and tailored copy.

Resources

Long to Short - https://long-to-short.com/

Cut the Fluff - https://cut-the-fluff.ck.page/

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Mastering Generative Engine Optimization May 09, 2024

Welcome to "Create Like The Greats," where we delve into the burgeoning world of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This episode explores the transformation from traditional SEO to GEO, a necessity in today's AI-driven digital landscape. We examine how the rise of AI search engines is reshaping content creation and digital marketing, offering insights and practical strategies for engaging both human and AI audiences effectively.

Key Insights

The Evolution from SEO to GEO: Understand the shift from Search Engine Optimization to Generative Engine Optimization, and why it matters.
Foundations of GEO: Discover the origins of GEO, its defining features, and how it differs from traditional SEO.
Strategies for Success: Learn the key strategies that influence AI-driven search engines, including language uniqueness, authoritative content, and the use of citations and statistics.
Practical Applications: Gain insights into how to apply GEO principles depending on the intent of the query—whether informational, navigational, or transactional.
Future of Digital Marketing: Consider the future implications of GEO and how it represents the next step in the evolution of digital content strategy.

Resources

What’s Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & How To Do It - https://foundationinc.co/lab/generative-engine-optimization

GEO Targeted: Critiquing the Generative Engine Optimization Research - https://sandboxseo.com/generative-engine-optimization-experiment/

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Alessandra Colaci on AI and Marketing at Humans + AI: Unlocking the Power of AI in Marketing May 02, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross Simmonds and Alessandra Colaci of Humans + AI delve into the world of AI and its vast potential in marketing. They explore how AI can elevate productivity and drive innovation in marketing strategies. They discuss various aspects of integrating AI into marketing practices, from harnessing existing data to overcoming resistance. Additionally, they delve into specific applications such as AI in sales, creativity, e-commerce, and content creation. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and embracing its role in shaping the future of marketing.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Harnessing Existing Data for AI:

Leveraging customer data, use cases, and personas can inform AI-driven decisions, enhancing marketing strategies through valuable insights. Chat GPT facilitates data conversations, enabling analysis and extraction of information based on natural language patterns, thereby improving insights.

2. Sales and AI:

AI tools empower salespeople by enhancing efficiency, identifying the right contacts, and analyzing successful approaches for improved results.

3. Standing Out with AI:

AI-powered marketing serves as a unique differentiator, augmenting human efforts to achieve greater success and productivity. Shifting from repetitive tasks to strategic and creative work is essential. AI can free up time for deeper and more meaningful endeavors.

4. Overcoming Resistance to AI:

Resistance to AI often stems from fear or uncertainty, which can be overcome through education and understanding of its capabilities.

5. AI in Creativity:

AI assists agencies in generating a high volume of creative ideas. Tools like Runway and Mid Journey enable image animation for creative projects. While voice-over tools enable storytelling, meditation audio, and creation of company spokespersons.

6. Mailshake's AI Content Creation:

Mailshake offers AI-powered content creation tools for email marketing, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in outreach and marketing efforts.

Resources:

ChatGPT: chat.openai.com/

Midjourney: midjourney.com/

Runway: runwayml.com/

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╰ LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/alessandraco/

Leveraging AI for Distribution Apr 25, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares insights from his recent interview on the podcast Distribution First, hosted by Justin Simon. They explore how marketers can use AI to enhance distribution strategies, emphasizing its role as an augmentation too rather than a replacement tool. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on plagiarism, the value of communities in career development, and the power of repurposing content for efficient distribution.

Detailed Breakdown

1. AI as an Augmentation Tool, not a Replacement:

Ross emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than a complete replacement. Many people make the mistake of relying solely on AI-powered tools for creating and distributing content, expecting instant success. However, Ross points out that AI works best when integrated into a thought-out system, whether in audio, video, or written format.

2. Streamlining Content Creation with AI

They explore how ChatGPT can be utilized to generate SOPs for various content formats such as video production. By feeding ChatGPT specific prompts related to content creation workflows, users can efficiently streamline processes and create comprehensive SOPs tailored to their specific needs. This approach not only saves time but also ensures consistency and quality across content production endeavors.

3. Collaboration with AI

They discuss the approach to using AI as a partner rather than a mere task executor and highlight the importance of bouncing ideas off AI and using it as a colleague, encouraging marketers to view AI as a valuable resource in the content creation process.

4. The Power of Communities

They emphasize the significance of being a part of communities to grow and excel professionally. Building connections within communities can help marketers gain insights and knowledge, with AI being one such area where being well-versed can set individuals apart in their careers.

5. Plagiarism and AI

When it comes to plagiarism in the realm of AI, Ross presents two trains of thought. Firstly, conducting plagiarism checks at the end of producing any asset is important. Secondly, acknowledging the ideas AI generates and giving credit where due is crucial, just as one would with human-generated ideas.

6. Amplifying Distribution Strategies

They discuss how content creators often overlook the importance of distribution, celebrating the creation of content without incorporating effective distribution strategies. By understanding how to leverage distribution, organizations can unlock unlimited potential and opportunities for their content.

Resources

Distribution First Episode

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Book Launch - Create Once, Distribute Forever Apr 18, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of his book launch for "Create Once, Distribute Forever." With a behind-the-scenes look at his launch strategy, Ross shares the excitement, challenges, and successes he's encountered. From podcast interviews to social media engagement and lessons learned along the way, Ross leaves no stone unturned. Despite a few hiccups, Ross's gratitude for his community and determination to make a difference resonate deeply

Detailed Breakdown

1. Getting on Podcasts

Ross talks about how he planned and pulled off getting on lots of different podcasts. These podcasts were all about stuff like marketing, business, and how things grow. He explains how he reached out to the people who run the podcasts and why it was super important to do this to let more people know about his book.

2. Making Noise on Social Media

Ross shares how he used social media to make a big deal about his book. He made videos and shared parts of the book to get more people interested. He made sure to spread the word across different social media sites to reach as many people as possible and get them excited about what he had to say about spreading stories.

3. Overcoming Challenges with Transparency

Ross talks about some things that didn't go as planned during his book launch, like messing up with emails. But instead of trying to hide it, Ross was honest about the mistake. He talked openly to his followers about what happened and turned it into a chance to connect even more with them.

Resources

Create Once, Distribute Forever Book - https://rosssimmonds.com/book/

Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Create-Once-Distribute-Forever-Creators/dp/1544541279

Create Once, Distribute Forever Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1-bmDmbjIo&t=59s

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Why I Wrote Create Once Distribute Forever - My New Book Apr 11, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares insights on why he wrote “Create Once, Distribute Forever”. This book serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals and businesses striving to effectively distribute their stories and engage with their target audience. In this episode Ross provides a glimpse into the Create Once, Distribute Forever sections and how it can help you master content distribution. Don't miss the opportunity to read "Create Once, Distribute Forever" for a deeper dive into enhancing your content distribution efforts.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Distribution 101

In this section, Ross provides a comprehensive overview of distribution, explaining its fundamental principles and importance in modern marketing. Through clear definitions and illustrative examples, readers gain a solid understanding of distribution's role in amplifying content reach and engagement.

2. Why Many Don't Embrace Distribution

Addressing common obstacles to effective distribution, Ross offers practical insights to help readers overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of their content.

3. Promoting Your Content

Ross dives into the crucial aspect of content promotion, emphasizing the significance of actively amplifying one's creations. He encourages the readers to confidently promote their content across various channels, understanding that strategic amplification is key to achieving broader impact and recognition.

4. The Sherlock Homeboy Method: Reverse Engineering Content Market Fit

Introducing a systematic approach to content distribution, Ross presents the "Sherlock Homeboy Method" for reverse engineering content market fit. Through a blend of detective work and strategic thinking, readers learn how to align their content with audience preferences and identify optimal distribution channels for maximum impact.

5. Tactical Insights: Remixing and Republishing

This section delves into actionable tactics for content distribution, focusing on the transformative potential of remixing and republishing strategies. By exploring practical techniques for repurposing content across different platforms, readers discover how to extend the lifespan of their creations and reach new audiences effectively.

6. Channel-Specific Distribution Strategies

Offering a tailored approach to content distribution, this section provides in-depth guides for leveraging specific distribution channels. Readers gain valuable insights into optimizing their content for diverse platforms, empowering them to implement targeted distribution strategies that resonate with their audience and goals.

Resources

Create Once, Distribute Forever Book - https://rosssimmonds.com/book/

Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Create-Once-Distribute-Forever-Creators/dp/1544541279

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Vince Nero On Marketing At Buzzstream, Digital PR, Link Building, and SEO Apr 09, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Vince Nero, the Director of Content Marketing at Buzzstream. They talked about evolving landscape of digital PR, link building, and SEO and provides valuable insights into the world of digital marketing, emphasizing the importance of digital PR and link building in content marketing strategies. This episode highlights the need for personalized outreach, quality content creation, and staying ahead of the ever-changing landscape of search engines.

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. The Rise of Digital PR

Vince talks about how UK has been ahead of the US in terms of embracing digital PR, attributing it to the size and influence of the market. He also emphasizes that agencies can benefit from real-time monitoring to stay ahead of competition and produce timely and relevant content.

2. The Value of Link Building

Vince and Ross agree on the significance of link building and its impact on search rankings. They discuss the value of quality links, especially for smaller organizations, and how major brands may already have an advantage due to their established brand names. Vince mentions that finding keywords with high link intent and creating exceptional content is key to effective link-building strategies.

3. The Evolution of Search Engines

Vince mentions that search engines, particularly Google, are constantly evolving, which makes it challenging to keep up with their algorithms and ranking factors. However, he advises content creators to focus on producing unique and valuable content that artificial intelligence cannot replicate.

4. AI and Content Creation

The conversation also touches upon AI and content creation, urging content creators to focus on producing unique, valuable content that AI cannot replicate and to draw inspiration from others' work instead of comparison.

Resources Mentioned:

Buzzstream: https://www.buzzstream.com/

BuzzMarker: https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/buzzmarker-for-chrome/

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Marketing Series Part 1: Navigating AI in Marketing Mar 28, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross delves into dynamic conversations with some of the best marketers in the industry — Bryan Casey, Rowan Tonkin, Joel Klettke, and Ronnie Higgins. Ross’ conversations with these seasoned marketing experts are all about strategies, tips, and inspiration.

Detailed Breakdown:

Bryan Casey reflects on the challenge of maintaining quality while considering the integration of AI-generated content into their strategy. He begins by acknowledging a Twitter comment about ChatGPT responses, highlighting his company's commitment to crafting high-quality content through investment in skilled individuals. Bryan expresses skepticism about AI's potential impact on their brand integrity, particularly regarding trust, a core value associated with IBM. Despite initial reluctance, he considers Google's guidelines on helpful content creation, pondering how AI could enhance user experience without compromising quality. Finally, he evaluates the ROI of investing in content, questioning the role of AI compared to their skilled team members in delivering top-notch content.
Rowan Tonkin emphasizes the necessity for marketing leaders to incorporate AI into their annual plans, warning that boards expect this integration for efficiency. He advises clear communication about AI's role and the need for agility in tech contracts and experimentation budgets to adapt to evolving technologies. Tonkin underscores the importance of fostering a culture of agility within the team through transparent communication and sharing insights from industry events to stay adaptable to change.
Joel Klettke discusses the impact of AI on content creation, emphasizing the need to embrace change rather than deny it. He illustrates this with an analogy about shoveling snow, highlighting how AI can streamline processes without compromising quality. Klettke believes that while AI may not replace human creativity, it can significantly accelerate mundane tasks, freeing up time for more strategic work. He envisions AI tools being integrated into various marketing functions, such as analyzing sales calls, repurposing content, and optimizing advertising campaigns. Additionally, he encourages marketers to experiment with AI tools, maintain curiosity, and actively engage with the technology to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape.
Ronnie Higgins outlines his approach to annual initiatives, starting with assessing resources like team and budget. He emphasizes the importance of conducting a risk assessment and aligning strategies with product roadmaps. Gathering inputs from various departments ensures alignment and avoids content becoming a service organization. Keyword research extends beyond SEO tools to consider social value, and ongoing projects involve auditing and building topic clusters to establish topic authority. Overall, the focus is on strategic planning to build authority rather than just ranking.

Resources:

Listen to Bryan Casey’s full episode - https://foundationinc.co/lab/bryan-casey
Listen to Rowan Tonkin’s full episode - https://foundationinc.co/lab/rowan-tonkin/
Listen to Joel Klettke’s full episode - https://foundationinc.co/lab/joel-klettke/
Listen to Ronnie Higgins’ full episode- https://foundationinc.co/lab/ronnie-higgins
AI Marketing Console - https://ross.gumroad.com/l/ai-console
Foundation Labs - https://foundationinc.co/lab/

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Bryan Casey On Marketing At IBM, Generative AI, Budget Planning & Career Growth Mar 22, 2024

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Bryan Casey, a seasoned marketing expert from IBM, for a captivating conversation on growth, budgeting, and the essence of marketing. Bryan's extensive experience at IBM offers invaluable insights into constructing a robust marketing engine for large-scale brands while navigating personal growth within the dynamic marketing landscape. From aligning marketing strategies with core brand values to positioning initiatives effectively with leadership, Bryan shares practical wisdom and forecasts the future of marketing in the tech industry, providing a roadmap for marketers aiming for excellence.

Detailed Breakdown

Constructing a Marketing Engine - Bryan discusses the foundational aspects of building a marketing engine, emphasizing the alignment of marketing strategies with core brand values. He highlights the importance of authenticity over superficial marketing tactics, drawing on IBM's historical legacy and ongoing innovation as examples.

Personal Growth in Marketing - The conversation shifts to personal growth within a marketing career, with Bryan sharing insights and tips for navigating career paths. Emphasizing continuous learning, adaptability, and curiosity, Bryan's advice resonates with marketers seeking career advancement and growth opportunities.

Positioning Marketing Initiatives with Leadership - Bryan provides a masterclass on effectively communicating marketing strategies to leadership, a critical skill for marketers in large organizations like IBM. He emphasizes the importance of crafting compelling narratives around marketing initiatives and demonstrating their value in terms of business outcomes.

Forecasting the Future of Marketing - Bryan shares his predictions and trends shaping the future of marketing in the tech industry, including the integration of AI and machine learning, and the increasing importance of personalization and customer experience. His insights provide a roadmap for marketers aiming to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving landscape.

Resources

Bryan Casey On Marketing At IBM, Generative AI, Budget Planning & Career Growth - https://foundationinc.co/lab/bryan-casey

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Customer Research: How To Get Closer To Your Audience Faster Than Usual Mar 14, 2024

In this episode of Create Like The Greats, Ross shares a question received from an acquaintance facing a career transition, moving from a familiar industry to a completely new one, necessitating a deep understanding of a novel customer base and industry dynamics. He outlines strategies and techniques employed at Foundation Marketing for effectively onboarding and driving results for clients through comprehensive customer and audience research.

Ross emphasizes the importance of becoming customer-obsessed, offering practical advice on connecting with customers directly through calls, studying competitors, attending industry events, exploring customer reviews, and leveraging resources like newsletters and sales calls. The goal is to rapidly understand and immerse oneself in the new industry, enabling effective storytelling and marketing strategies that resonate with the target audience. The episode serves as a guide for marketers looking to swiftly adapt and succeed in new roles or sectors by prioritizing customer understanding and engagement.

Detailed Breakdown:

Mastering a New Industry: Strategies and Techniques:
Shares strategies used by Foundation Marketing for onboarding fast-growing SaaS companies and successful B2B brands.
Emphasizes the importance of customer obsession and understanding customer needs.
The Power of Customer Obsession in Marketing:
Highlights the significance of customer obsession in marketing.
Stresses the need to understand customers' needs, struggles, and preferences for effective marketing.
Unlocking Customer Insights: Practical Research Tactics:
Recommends practical research tactics for understanding customers, such as conducting interviews and subscribing to industry newsletters.
Advocates for attending relevant events, networking, and building connections in person.
The Essential Role of In-Person Connections and Review Analysis:
Emphasizes the importance of in-person connections, networking, and building relationships in the industry.
Advises analyzing customer reviews on platforms like TrustRadius, G2, and Capterra for valuable insights.
Leveraging Sales and Customer Success Insights:
Recommends engaging with sales calls and customer success teams to gain insights into customer needs and concerns.
Advocates for active participation in sales calls or listening to recordings to align marketing strategies with customer expectations.
Executing and Demonstrating Value Quickly:
Encourages swift action and execution to demonstrate value quickly in new roles or industries.
Urges individuals to become obsessed with understanding customers and share their insights with the entire team

Resources:

Customer Research: How To Get Closer To Your Audience Faster Than Usual - https://rosssimmonds.com/customer-resarch/

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AI Marketing Report: Industry Trends, Data & Research Feb 01, 2024

In this episode, Ross delves into the latest research and insights derived from a survey conducted by the Foundation team. He shares exclusive findings shared with our Foundation Lab subscribers, focusing on content keyword strategies adopted by various organizations. Additionally, he explores the widespread use of AI tools in marketing and the perception of AI-written content. He also discusses the potential impact of AI on future work environments and the importance placed on AI adoption by marketers.

Detailed Breakdown:

The Role of AI in Marketing
Survey reveals that 85% of marketers use AI tools monthly.
Discover how marketers employ AI in content creation, keyword research, social media, email marketing, note-taking, planning, and strategy.
The most popular AI tool identified by all respondents is ChatGPT, followed by Canva.
Comparison: Midjourney vs. DALL-E
Exploring the differences between Midjourney and DALL-E tools.
Midjourney limitations compared to DALL-E.
Only 30% of marketers use AI detection tools in their work.
Perception of AI-written Content
11% of respondents believe AI-written content is superior to human-written content.
Over 60% of respondents recognize the importance of using AI in content creation.
Expectations for increased adoption of DALL-E and Midjourney tools.
Future of AI in Work Environments
More than 50% of respondents express confidence in not being replaced by AI.
Highlighting the potential impact of AI on various industry sectors.
Concerns and Benefits of AI
Discussion on the potential misuse of AI-generated voice technology.
60% of respondents anticipate significant time savings due to AI.
Additional benefits identified include expanded capabilities and improved efficiencies.
Challenges and Views on AI
40% of respondents believe the creative process cannot be automated.
30% doubt AI's ability to develop new products.
40% of organizations lack leaders advocating for increased AI usage.

Resources Mentioned:

- ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

- Canva: https://www.canva.com/

- Midjourney: https://www.imagine.art/

- DALL.E: https://openai.com/research/dall-e

- Jasper: https://jasper.ai/chat?fpr=foundationinc

- ElevenLabs: https://try.elevenlabs.io/fq0h1va54sbh

Read The State of AI in Marketing—Survey Results from Hundreds of Marketers here - https://foundationinc.co/lab/ai-marketing-results/

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How Ahrefs Built A Content Moat On The Back Of SEO, YouTube & Tools Jan 25, 2024

In this episode, Ross explores SEO in digital marketing, focusing on Ahrefs, a $100 million business that has transformed how marketers approach search.

Meet Dmytro Gerasymenko, the visionary behind Ahrefs, as he unveils the core elements that catapulted Ahrefs into a market leader. From brand essence to infrastructural brilliance, get ready for an exclusive peek behind the curtain.

Tim Soulo, the marketing lead at Ahrefs, joins the conversation, spotlighting the latest innovations Ahrefs has up its sleeve. It's not just about features but their relentless pursuit of consistency mingled with bold experimentation.

----

Here's what we've packed into this must-listen episode:

Ahrefs Uncovered: From a powerful suite of SEO tools to generating a staggering $858,000 in monthly organic traffic with their free offerings, discover the strategy that put Ahrefs on the map.

Content & YouTube Mastery: With over 21 million YouTube views and content in multiple languages, Ahrefs sets the bar for content marketing. Unearth the secrets of their content strategy that speaks volumes across the globe.

Culture of Experimentation: Dive into Ahrefs' unique culture, where experimentation and bootstrapping are the norms. Hear straight from Tim Soulo about their innovative spirit that fuels growth and learning.

Strategic Market Moves: Witness how Ahrefs uses its products to tell compelling stories, and how strategic decisions like shutting down their 16,000-member Facebook group align with their scaling ambitions.

Key Insights:

Ahrefs is not just a tool, it's an empowerment engine for marketers and content creators.
Their free tools aren't just free; they're traffic magnets and insight goldmines.
Consistency and high-value assets are the pillars of Ahrefs' content success.
Embracing experimentation and a product-led mindset isn't a choice; it's a necessity for growth.
Their commitment to education is not just admirable; it's transformative.

Resources mentioned:

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Why Unscalable Content Is The Future Of SEO Today Jan 21, 2024

In this episode, Ross discusses the importance of unscalable content for brands looking to stand out in search engine results. He explores how AI can be used to create a large quantity of mediocre content but emphasizes the need for marketers to prioritize quality and human creativity in their content strategies. Ross suggests that brands should invest in creating unique and labor-intensive content assets that cannot be easily replicated by AI-driven competitors.

Key Discussion Points:

- Unscalable content is crucial for brands that want to rise to the top of search engine results.

- The prevalence of mediocre content online

- The opportunity for marketers to differentiate themselves from AI-driven content engines

- Many brands are producing mediocre content due to a lack of knowledge on how to use AI effectively.

- AI can be used to create a large quantity of content, but it often lacks creativity and quality.

- The importance of unscalable and laborious content creation. Marketers should prioritize investing in content assets that are difficult for competitors to replicate overnight.

- Examples of unscalable content strategies

- Unscalable content strategies require more effort and resources, but they ultimately pay off in the long run.

Read Ross’ latest blog post “Why Creating Unscalable Content Amidst The Rise Of AI Is The Right Move” here

Resource Links:

AI Marketing Console

AI Marketing Results Blog Post

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30+ ChatGPT Prompts For Marketers To Steal Jan 13, 2024

In this episode, Ross explores the power of ChatGPT to enhance your content creation process. He shares 30 prompts that can inspire engaging content and increase productivity.

Key Takeaways:

1. ChatGPT's ability to adopt the persona of any author can assist in writing content inspired by their unique style.

2. Utilize ChatGPT to generate a list of 20 titles, but be aware that creating all the accompanying content within seconds may be challenging.

3. Leverage ChatGPT to develop content that drives sales, such as creating posts answering frequently asked questions about your service.

4. Use ChatGPT to generate ideas that stimulate engagement, like sparking a debate on controversial topics such as pineapple on pizza.

5. Combine different topics with ChatGPT, allowing it to find parallels and create fresh content ideas.

6. Explore ChatGPT as a brainstorming technique for social media content creation.

7. Take advantage of ChatGPT's content analysis and trend prediction abilities to create proactive social media content.

8. Generate listicles effortlessly with ChatGPT, creating top 10 tips and tricks lists for your product or service.

9. Leverage seasonal content to inspire ChatGPT and generate relevant and timely content ideas.

Resources and Tools:

- AI Marketing Console

- ChatGPT

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Predictions For 2024: What We Can All Expect [AI, Will Smith, Super Bowl, Lay Offs & More] Jan 11, 2024

In this episode, Ross, founder and CEO of Foundation, discusses various topics ranging from the inner workings of great creators to his thoughts on upcoming trends and predictions in the business and marketing world. He also provides insights into specific areas such as AI content creation, movie trailers, marketing conferences, and personal goals for the year.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Apple's Continuous Success:

- Apple is predicted to ride a wave of success without facing any major issues in the coming years.

- More acquisitions of B2B tools across different industries and organizations can be expected.

2. SaaS Stocks:

- SaaS (Software as a Service) stocks are anticipated to reach all-time highs.

3. AI Content Creation:

- AI-powered content generation will gain prominence in achieving content excellence.

4. Movie Trailers:

- Movie trailers will be launched on platforms like X and will have the potential to go viral on Reddit and Instagram.

5. Marketing Conferences:

- A marketing conference will pioneer a groundbreaking achievement that no other conference has done before.

- The first Super Bowl ad created using AI will be showcased.

6. Box Office Success:

- The movie "Bad Boys 4" is projected to earn over $600,000,000 at the box office.

- Mister Beach, a relevant figure, will unveil something new, potentially elevating his status to that of a billionaire.

7. Diversification and Personal Goals:

- Ross discusses plans to diversify by investing in new businesses and launching new ventures.

- However, his primary focus for the year will be on execution and delivering excellence.

Resource Links:

- Foundation - https://foundationinc.co/

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My Favorite New Years Habit: A Year Compass Jan 02, 2024

In this episode, Ross discusses the importance of New Year's resolutions and introduces the YearCompass as a useful tool for designing an ideal life. He breaks down some of the questions from the Year Compass and encourages listeners to incorporate them into their own end-of-year reflection ritual.

As the new year approaches, take the time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the future using the YearCompass. By answering thought-provoking questions and embracing the reflective process, you can gain a clearer understanding of your accomplishments, challenges, and aspirations. Remember to dream big and create a personal wish that drives your actions in the year ahead. Let this be the year you design your ideal life through self-reflection and meaningful resolutions.

Discussion Breakdown:

1. Introduction

- Ross discusses the value of New Year's resolutions and the YearCompass tool.

2. Using the Year Compass

- Ross emphasizes the need for an open mind, pen/pencil, and honesty in using the YearCompass.

- Provides an overview of the questions and topics covered in the YearCompass.

3. Reflections on the past year

- Lists the three greatest accomplishments from the previous year.

- Discusses the actions taken and the individuals who helped achieve those accomplishments.

- Reflects on the three biggest challenges faced and what was learned through overcoming them.

4. Dreaming big for the year ahead

- The YearCompass encourages readers to dare to dream big for the upcoming year.

- Describes the concept of "magical triplets" and encourages listeners to describe things in sets of three.

- Explores more interesting reflections beyond traditional vision or wishes.

5. Secret wish for the next year

- Encourages listeners to create a secret wish for themselves for the next year.

- Emphasizes the importance of putting a date on the wish.

Key Takeaways:

- New Year's resolutions are a positive way to start the year.

- The YearCompass is a helpful tool for designing one's ideal life.

- Reflection on past accomplishments and challenges can provide valuable insights and personal growth.

- Dreaming big and setting goals in sets of three can be a powerful exercise.

- Creating a secret wish with a specific date can be a motivating and actionable goal-setting strategy.

Resources Mentioned:

- YearCompass

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The Strategy Bankrate Used to Build a $76.3M SEO Moat Dec 23, 2023

In this episode, we explore how Bankrate, a leading finance website, has successfully generated millions of monthly organic visits. By investing in high-value content and emphasizing expertise, Bankrate has established itself as an authority in the financial industry. We delve into the history of Bankrate, its content strategy, and the impact it has had on their success.

Discussion Breakdown:

1. The Importance of Expertise in Content

- Bankrate's emphasis on demonstrating expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness in their published content.

- Trusting a brand that is written by actual experts.

2. History of Bankrate

- Bank Rate Monitor founded by Robert K. Heady in 1976.

- Transition towards the internet with the establishment of Bankrate.com in 1996.

- Bankrate's IPO in 2011 and subsequent acquisition by Red Ventures in 2017.

3. Content Strategy and Results

- Bankrate's focus on creating valuable content and becoming an authority in the finance industry.

- The mortgage rate piece that drives over 1.3 million monthly organic visits to their website.

- Satisfying search queries to capture a wide audience.

4. Investing in Content and SEO

- Strategically investing in content and SEO for business success.

- The importance of backlinks to boost website credibility and visibility.

Key Takeaways:

- Bankrate's success in driving massive organic traffic is attributed to its investment in high-value content and expertise.

- The company's long history and trusted reputation have contributed to its authority in the finance industry.

- Bankrate's focus on satisfying user search queries through valuable content has attracted millions of monthly website visitors.

- Strategic investment in content, SEO, and backlinks can significantly enhance a business's online presence and success.

Resources and Tools Mentioned:

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Marketing Trends That Most Brands Will Miss In 2024 Dec 15, 2023

In this episode, Ross Simmonds discusses the major trends that will shape the future of content marketing and business strategies. He highlights the rise of AI, interactive and engaging content, the power of memes, and the importance of niche content assets.

Ross discusses the transformative changes that have occurred in recent years and predicts the future trends that will shape the way we do business. From the rise of AI to interactive content and the untapped potential of niche channels, Ross offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of marketing and engagement. In this episode, we will explore these trends in detail, uncovering their impact on businesses and highlighting strategies for success.

Summary of Main Topics:

1. The impact of AI on business strategies

2. The rise of interactive and engaging content

3. Leveraging the power of memes in social media

4. The potential of niche content assets

Detailed Breakdown:

1. The Rise of AI in Business

- AI will revolutionize the way businesses operate

- AI enables personalization by allowing the swapping of names and brand names in communications

2. Interactive and Engaging Content

- Increased focus on interactive content for better engagement

- Examples: calculators, quizzes, polls, and immersive experiences

- The connection between interactive content and business roles and responsibilities

3. Harnessing the Power of Memes

- Memes have the potential to spread quickly and generate high returns

- Incorporating memes into social media strategies can unlock amazing results

4. Niche Content Assets as a Valuable Channel

- Underrated and under-invested channels: podcasts, newsletters, Facebook groups, slack communities

- Brands should recognize the potential of niche content assets to reach their target audience

Key Takeaways and Insights:

- AI will revolutionize business strategies by enabling personalized communications.

- Interactive and engaging content, such as quizzes and immersive experiences, will become more prevalent.

- Memes can be a powerful tool for social media marketing and should be incorporated into content strategies.

- Niche content assets like podcasts and newsletters are highly valuable channels that should not be overlooked.

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How Audio AI Is Absolutely Going To Change The World Dec 11, 2023

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross Simmonds explores the growing trend of audio AI and its potential impact on various industries. He discusses the benefits and risks associated with audio-driven AI, including the possibility of deep fake voices, the automation of tasks such as audiobook narration and podcast hosting, and the future of call centers powered by AI.

Audio AI is bound to reshape various industries and our daily lives, effectively challenging the status quo. While there are undeniable benefits to be gained, we must be cautious about the potential risks it poses. Balancing the advantages and disadvantages of audio AI is crucial, ensuring that we harness its power for good while minimizing the potential harm. The future of audio AI is promising, but it also demands careful ethical considerations and responsible implementation.

Detailed Breakdown:

1. Introduction to Audio AI

- Audio AI presents both benefits and risks.

- Hackers can exploit audio AI to replicate voices for malicious purposes.

- The future of voice technology and AI will have far-reaching implications.

2. Potential Impact on Creators

- Authors could bypass traditional publishing processes by using synthetic voices for audiobooks.

- Podcasts could be hosted by AI-driven synthetic voices, reducing human involvement.

3. Interview with PT: Audio AI in the Workplace

- PT discusses the potential of AI-powered voice interviews and call centers.

- Call centers could be fully automated, saving businesses time and money.

- AI can analyze tone and sentiment, enhancing the customer experience.

4. CNN's John Sutter on Audio AI

- John Sutter predicts that audio AI will replace call centers.

- AI-powered conversations have the potential to provide better service.

Key takeaways:

- Audio AI can be used for both positive and negative purposes.

- Authors and podcasters may no longer require human voices for their content.

- AI has the potential to revolutionize call centers and customer service.

Resources mentioned:

- ElevenLabs

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How I Prepare for a Keynote Presentation Dec 01, 2023

In this episode, Ross shares his expertise on preparing and delivering impactful presentations. He emphasizes the importance of identifying a theme, incorporating applicable case studies, research, and data, and personal storytelling to engage the audience. Ross also discusses his approach to planning presentations and creating meaningful connections with the audience.

Ross is a master at content marketing presentations. With his emphasis on applicable case studies, research, and data, combined with personal anecdotes and a well-crafted theme, he captivates audiences ranging from small rooms to massive venues. Through transparency, relatability, and storytelling, Ross connects with audiences and imparts valuable knowledge that truly resonates. By following his tips and techniques, you too can elevate your presentations and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Importance of Theme in Presentations:

- Identifying a clear theme upfront sets the foundation for a successful presentation.

- Ross focuses on three key nuggets: applicable case studies, research, and data to support his theme.

2. Setting the Stage with the Audience:

- Establishing a connection with the audience is crucial to engage and build trust.

- Sharing personal struggles and failures helps break down barriers and foster a sense of relatability.

3. The Power of Personal Storytelling:

- Starting with a personal or unique story captivates the audience and establishes a human connection.

- Ross then links the story back to marketing and incorporates anecdotes from his own experiences and tactics.

4. Planning Presentations for the Future:

- Ross starts planning his presentations for the future by creating blank space in his calendar.

- He focuses on identifying stories and opportunities that are underinvested in among his audience.

- Developing an overarching story and theme helps shape the audience's perception and fosters engagement.

Resources mentioned:

- Foundation Marketing

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The Value Debate: Long Form Content vs Short Form Content Nov 19, 2023

In this episode, Ross explores the ongoing debate between long form and short form content. He emphasizes that the length of the content doesn't determine its value, and instead, the focus should be on delivering quality information quickly. Ross acknowledges the benefits of long form content in generating backlinks, press, and traffic, but emphasizes that it must still provide value. He also highlights the value of short form content and how it can effectively engage users.

Detailed Breakdown:

1. Introduction

- Ross Simmonds discusses the ongoing debate between long-form and short-form content.

2. The value of content length

- Simmonds argues that the length of content doesn't determine its value.

- Quality information delivered quickly is highly valued by users.

3. Long-form content

- Long-form content can generate backlinks, press, and traffic.

4. Short-form content

- Short-form content is also valuable and can engage users effectively.

- Providing good information and putting a smile on their face quickly can lead to rewards.

Key takeaways:

1. Content length does not determine its value; quality information is what matters.

2. Long-form content can generate backlinks, press, and traffic if it delivers value.

3. Short-form content can engage users effectively by providing quick and valuable information.

4. The key is to deliver valuable content quickly and engage users in a meaningful way.

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48 Hours In New York | How I Maximized My Time and Drove Results Nov 12, 2023

In this episode, Ross takes us through his journey of his last 48 hours in New York. He talks about the importance of leveraging AI in marketing and content marketing and how the experience has helped him to learn and grow. He also talks about taking time for solo activities and the opportunity to connect with industry peers and executives from SaaS companies.

Detailed Breakdown

When it comes to life and business, optimizing the time you have is an invaluable skill. Ross Simmonds, the founder of Foundation Marketing, understands the power of this skill. Recently, he returned to Nova Scotia, Canada after spending 48 hours in New York. During this time, he was able to make the most of his time and leverage it for incredible results.

Ross believes that marketers and content marketers need to be thinking about AI as an opportunity to improve their businesses. He believes that AI can help accelerate the rate at which marketers are doing their work.

Ross also believes in the importance of tapping into his own creative energy and finding solo time. He creates space for himself to enjoy a game or go exploring. During his 48 hours in New York, Ross was able to find this time, while still making sure he made the most of his opportunities.

He started his time in New York by attending a restaurant where some of the speakers who were going to be speaking at the event the next night. This gave him the creative fuel he needed to get excited about the opportunity. He then went back to his hotel, got ready, and was ready to rock and roll.

Ross gave his talk at about 4 and spoke directly after Rand Fishkin, a great friend, peer, and colleague. He then went into the happy hour, where he met some more people and was invited to a dinner with a handful of different execs from SaaS companies. After returning to his hotel, Ross woke up the next morning and went back to the event, where he connected with many people and shared his insights about the potential of AI.

Ross' 48 hours in New York demonstrates the power of leveraging your time and optimizing it for both results and recharging your own creativity. By taking time to tap into his own creative energy, he was able to make the most of the opportunity. His mission of sharing insights about AI was a success, and he was able to make some great connections. By understanding the power of optimizing his time, Ross was able to both get recharged and energized, and leave a lasting impact in New York.

• Leveraging AI in Marketing and Content Marketing:

- AI can be used to accelerate the rate of work.

- Need to think about AI as an opportunity across the full spectrum of the business.

• Solo Time for Recharging and Refreshing:

- Enjoys having solo time to take it all in.

• Connecting with Industry Peers:

- Saw speakers who were going to the event the next night.

- Spoke directly after Rand Fishkin.

- Went to a dinner with execs from SaaS companies.

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Marketing Frameworks For B2B | AARRR Pirate Metrics + B2B Buyers Journey | Marketing Mental Models Nov 02, 2023

In this episode, Ross dives into the mental frameworks used in marketing, focusing on the Pirate Metrics (AARRR) approach including acquisition, activation, retention, and referral. They also discuss mental models, the awareness and consideration stages of buying, and strategies for closing sales and delighting customers.

Detailed Breakdown:

Marketing is a complex and ever-evolving field and it can be hard to keep up with the latest strategies. That's why it's important to understand the mental frameworks and strategies that successful marketers use to stay ahead of the game and get maximum results. One such framework is AARRR Pirate Metrics, which was coined by 500 Startups founder Dave McClure. This framework breaks down marketing into five key components – acquisition, activation, retention, referral, and revenue – to help marketers understand how to drive maximum value for their businesses.

Acquisition is the strategy and efforts you use to bring customers to your website. Activation involves getting a user to have a positive experience with your offering. Retention is about measuring whether people are coming back, while referral focuses on encouraging satisfied customers to refer new customers. All of these components must work together for the best possible results. For example, SaaS marketers can employ pricing optimization and cross selling to maximize revenue.

A mental model is also important when it comes to effective marketing. It is an overarching term for any concept, framework, or worldview that you use to revisit in your mind. This concept of mental models helps marketers to think more holistically and understand the bigger picture. Another important concept in marketing is the awareness-consideration-closing funnel. In the awareness stage, potential customers become aware of their problem, then in the consideration stage, companies need to provide web presence to help prospects evaluate their solutions, before finally helping them make a choice in the closing stage.

To help customers in all stages of the funnel, marketers need to produce content such as blog posts, social media posts, white papers, and YouTube videos to provide value. It all comes down to helping customers be successful and delighting them by putting a smile on their face and keeping them retained.

By understanding and mastering Pirate Metrics and Mental frameworks, you can develop an effective marketing strategy that will help you get the most value for your business.

Resources & Tools:

- Dave McClure, 500 Startups Founder

- Pricing Optimization

- Cross-selling

- Call to Action

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Personal Research and Development: How to Use R&D to Accelerate Your Growth Oct 26, 2023

I have invested in Personal and Professional Research and Development since the beginning of my career and then some. And I still do to this day.

Investing in Research and Development is something that the biggest companies in the world has a budget for and in my opinion, so should you. On today's episode, I share just a few of the ways I've invested in Research and Development as an entrepreneur, parent, and more.

From books, to courses, to mentoring, I share how you can utilize some of these Research and Development tactics to accelerate you to reach your goals and create a life that you consider great.

The $950M Loom Acquisition - 3 Lessons + 1 Thought Oct 19, 2023

The $950M Loom Acquisition Episode

In this episode, Ross Simmonds dives into the incredible success story of Loom. He shares 3 simple ideas that he has taken away from Loom as a marketer, and talks about their ability to adjust their value prop to match customer needs. He also provides his insights into the importance of focusing on niche companies in regards to investing goals.

Episodes Mentioned In the Show

Chase Dimond, The Man Building a Multi Million Dollar Brand on Social Media (https://open.spotify.com/episode/6anH1pazExrRaX5X8cwN8C?si=e5CoPbGfQ4SYStENIr22Xg)
Deathbed Regrets I Don't Want to Have (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CEWUe6fYWAAwVAuKeFr6V?si=UXxkaMlZTX6ItgngLcXPSg)
Tamara Dworetz, Leading Creative Genius as a Conductor (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kKB6yqqN6ZWXBjbr1pFci?si=bRhVE1CATeiJ35ZpbqD_sQ)
Circle of Control vs. Circle of Concern (https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Tjx0jlmEYlgfqfKjfrrBN?si=l1nULNWOQx2VB8ZI4lVc1Q)
Be an Absolute Monster w/Dr. Julie Gurner, Executive Performance Coach (https://open.spotify.com/episode/76tGKoNTJqKOESRr88FKlH?si=Nmz9c49ORQSC7eRnaOQRZQ)
The Missing Link: How Music Is the Solution to the Mental Health Crisis w/Chris Boardman (https://open.spotify.com/episode/15Y44wpQBPUewxsRmt1Okb?si=rpeyi7VwRq22RzQsQQl7BA)

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Be An Absolute Monster w/ Dr. Julie Gurner, Executive Performance Coach Aug 24, 2023

We say it all the time on this show. We are help to help you build a life that you consider great. And , what better way to begin initiating that life by having a conversation with executive, performance coach, Dr. Julie Gurner.

We talk about being "war-torn veterans" on Twitter, Hi vs. Low leverage action items, having No Plan B, and even her farm. It goes without saying but Dr. Julie (Twitter: @drgurner) has an interesting perspective on many topics that some of the top executives in the world struggle with. And she even has a strong opinion on the power of the life partner you choose to marry...or don't choose to marry.

The Missing Link: How Music Is the Solution to the Mental Health Crisis with Chris Boardman Aug 17, 2023

On this episode, I have a chat with Chris Boardman, a music industry giant in his own right.

We talk about his project, The Missing Link, the power that music has had through his and others' life transitions, and the way artificial intelligence may impact the music listening experience.

About Chris Boardman:

Beginning his career in the film, television and recording industry in 1974, Chris Boardman has consistently worked at the top echelon of the entertainment industry. He has received an Academy Award nomination for “The Color Purple”, 6 Emmy Awards, 13 Emmy nominations, ASCAP and BMI film awards and multiple platinum records for his work with such iconic artists as Quincy Jones, David Foster, Steven Speilberg, Julie Andrews, Shirley MacLaine, Barbara Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch and Josh Groban.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Everything You Need to Know About Distribution Aug 10, 2023

On this episode, I share some of the various ways that you can distribute and share your content online. Though you may be sharing your content, there are still so many platforms and strategies that many people don't think about using to share their content.

I dive into distribution and some of the (seemingly) small things you can do to keep your content top of mind. From Reddit, email lists, newsletters, LinkedIn, Slack communities and more, I share ways to find your audience and get your content to them in a meaningful way.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Artificial Intelligence: The Intersection of Technology and Content Aug 03, 2023

One thing that I talk about often is the intersection of technology and content...in the case of this episode: Artificial Intelligence.

In this episode, I share what impact AI can have on all of us. Not just our careers but our everyday lives.

You can find the link to AI Ross here >>> https://twitter.com/foundationincco/status/1683821288819654658?s=46&t=irATAyz5mBSZy-v2YYh31w

Creating Marketing Strategies that Educate Engage Entertain Empower Jul 27, 2023

Today’s episode, which is part of a segment that I call Journal Entries, I want to share some snippets about this information that I have curated from internal and external research and how you can use this information as you grow your brand, company, or simply in your own content marketing career.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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How I Took A Month Long Workcation Jul 20, 2023

In this episode, I share how I took a month long workcation as the CEO of Foundation. Taking a vacation can be challenging, especially when people on your team are depending on you to answer various questions, provide approvals, etc.

So how did I do this successfully?

Between the power of documentation, efficient time management, a change (advantage) with the time zone change, and some self-awareness, I am so glad I did.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Networking for Introverts Jul 13, 2023

The most frequently asked questions that come up when I talk to people about being shy is >>>

How do you navigate through networking events?

How do you navigate corporate events?

How do you attend a conference and stay motivated?

How can you ensure that your time is maximized at these events?

How can you ensure that you’re not that shy person in the corner that doesn’t want to approach people?

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So today, I'm going to share 15 tips on how to navigate events, conferences, networking etc. as a shy person.

Whether it be things you can do before the event on social media, during the event to avoid being awkward and creepy, and even after the event to keep up with all of the people you've met, I'm happy to share these tips that I wish I had when I first started attending events years ago.

Reddit Marketing: How to Make the Most Out of Reddit in 2023 Jul 06, 2023

The best marketers aren't avoiding Reddit as a marketing channel. Instead, they're taking the steps required in 2023 to better understand how to use Reddit to drive traffic, build community and increase revenue.

On this episode, I'll share how I've not only used Reddit to drive results for my business and clients but I've studied what companies like Pact Coffee, Beardbrand, and more have done to win on Reddit.

Keywords Aren't Enough Jun 29, 2023

I'm excited to share one of the most popular keynotes that I have ever given.

In this keynote, I share details about how I spent a lot of my time as a child trying to find Waldo (Wally depending on which part of the world you're in) and how the feeling of satisfaction when I would find Waldo can translate to how to uncover content market fit.

The satisfaction of finding content ideas that are worth pursuing is similar to the satisfaction that I would get finding Waldo.

Keywords Aren't Enough

I say this because a lot of organizations spend too much time and resources relying on keyword research tools and not enough time studying the habits, behaviors, and thinking of their customers.

7 Tips for Creating a Great Life Jun 22, 2023

In this episode, I’m going to share seven simple yet important tips that will help you on your pursuit of creating something great.

It’s a combination of a handful of different ideas I’ve spoken on in the past all brought together in one episode for you to enjoy.

I’m sure that some of these ideas will be messages you’ve heard before and some might be a bit new.

Either way, I hope that this Journal Entry helps you in your pursuit to create a life that you consider great.

Dr. Susan Rogers, A Conversation with a Record Producer & Neuroscientist Jun 15, 2023

Join me today as I speak with Dr. Susan Rogers, professor, neuroscientist, and sound engineer.

Susan Rogers, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist and author of This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You. Prior to her science career Susan was a record producer and engineer, known chiefly for her work with Prince and Barenaked Ladies and she currently teaches for Berklee College of Music.

Susan was Prince’s staff engineer during Prince’s commercial peak and worked on albums like Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, Sign o’ the Times and the Black Album.

But that’s not all Susan is known for. She’s the author of This Is What It Sounds Like. (https://www.thisiswhatitsoundslike.com/) A book that breaks down why you fall in love with music.

She gives real world examples, so you can help identify your “listener type“ and help you appreciate even some “really bad“ music that you probably dismissed as being trash.

You might not realize it but it has more to do with psychology and neuroscience than you think.

This interview is important because in my opinion some of the greatest creators of all time are musicians.

The greatest musicians have created songs, melodies and albums that have been listened to for decades.

And some of them are what Susan describes as Hyper Creatives. A concept that I’m excited to share with you even more in this episode.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Content Chaos: How to Build Your Brand Through Experimentation Jun 08, 2023

In this episode, I share my Keynote presentation that I gave about the power of experimentation to the audience at MozCon, one of the leading SEO conferences in the world.

I’m sure you know, consciously or subconsciously, just how powerful experimentation is.

Experiments have helped us create, cure diseases, invent things like velcro, Pumpkin Spice lattes and more.

So, how can you strategically experiment with your content?

And one myth I want to debunk right now: Experimentation is not just for big brands.

Experiments work for small and medium sized brands as well.

So, whether it’s Reddit, Quora, Slideshare, Quora, or Instagram, I share some of the results of my content experiments in hopes that you too will dive into your own content experiments.

Build. Ship. Learn. Decide.

This framework has fundamentally allowed me to quickly ship ideas, kill ideas, and, most importantly, understand what ideas work well for my business.

Approach Content Like an Investor Jun 01, 2023

In this episode of my journal entries, I share a keynote that I presented at SimilarWeb on one of my favorite topics: Why marketers should think like investors in order to drive content results.

This is one of my favorite things to talk about because I live and breathe this.

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I bought my very first stock in 2008.

I bought the GM stock at a time when I thought, I would definitely get a return on my investment.

I told myself, “it’s GM. Even in the midst of a global recession, GM won’t go bankrupt. That will never happen. It can’t. This brand has been around my entire life.”

Well, GM went bankrupt and I lost everything.

But in this moment I learned something that is very applicable to marketing and investing alike.

And that is that you cannot and should not jump into any market without doing your homework, studying the industry, studying your audience, understanding the game.

You can’t just jump in thinking that you know everything about the market without studying the market.

So, what does studying look like, and how did I recoup from my GM stock investment? Listen to today's episode to learn more.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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How Toast's $12M+ SEO Moat Helped Them Grow During a Pandemic May 25, 2023

On this episode of the Create Like the Greats, we discuss how Toast's $12M+ SEO Moat helped them grow during a pandemic.

We explore their strategies and tactics that enabled them to capture market share in an economic downturn, plus what other companies can learn from their success story.

With these insights into SEO optimization for e-commerce businesses, you'll be able to better understand how search engine rankings work and apply similar principles when developing your own online marketing strategy.

Read more about Toast on our Blog >>> https://foundationinc.co/lab/toast-seo-moat/

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If you are running a SaaS or B2B company and need help executing some of these strategies, head over to foundationinc.co/services to find out more about how you can establish your brand as a trusted expert in your industry.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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How SaaS Brands Can Win in Commoditized Markets May 18, 2023

In this episode of my journal entries, I share one of my most popular presentations. A presentation that I gave to many businesses around the globe and at conferences from coast to coast. In this particular episode, I’m going to be sharing the audio from a webinar I did with the team at Metadata.io about how SaaS brands can win in commoditized markets.

You know. Here’s the biggest problem I see right now in our industry:

Brands have forgotten that Content Marketing is a two word concept.

As such… They’ve shifted their focus to creating content and that’s it.

Content.

And absolutely no marketing.

It’s a shame.

More organizations across SaaS need to be thinking like a media company.

But I won’t stop there…because, I’m sure you’ve heard that.

I go on to say that SaaS brands need to embrace the idea of marketing at its core. Which means companies in the SaaS space need to think holistically about their marketing efforts.

Not just creating blog posts and hitting publish for years on end.

Blog posts should be the tip of the iceberg for your content marketing engine.

A great content engine recognizes opportunities for research, development, press releases, and a great content engine will ultimately lead you to the conversations that you want to have with industry and global leaders.

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Why I Launched A Course On LinkedIn Learning May 12, 2023

It was 8:20PM.

I was just walking out of my kids room after reading them a story called Hair Love for the second time.

I walked down stairs, made a cup of tea and opened my phone. It was an email. An email from someone who worked at LinkedIn.

It turned out that someone at LinkedIn had caught some of my content online and was interested in learning more about whether or not I’d be interested in recording a course for their learning platform – LinkedIn Learning.

A platform where millions of people around the world go to learn about topics like Salesforce, Public Speaking, Accounting, HR and so much more.

In this episode, I share why I ultimately said yes as well as 3 principles that have fundamentally changed the way that I approach my content creation.

Create content that shapes culture.
Content compounds over time.
Distribution rules everything around me.

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course here > https://www.linkedin.com/learning/content-marketing-distribution-strategy/content-distribution-strategies-for-marketers?autoplay=true&u=76863578

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Circle of Control vs. Circle of Concern May 04, 2023

You've heard the boast.

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"I'm too busy to watch TV."

"I'm too busy to stay up to date on the NFL."

"I don't have time to watch Netflix."

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It's really a humble brag. And it's often misguided because the energy spent not "wasting" time usually just shifts to something that is ultimately just as wasteful...like engaging in activities, debates, and relationships that are out of our control.

If we want to be successful, this concept of the Circle of Control vs. the Circle of Concern is something we should focus on.

There are two things that we have in life that we can spend. Money and time.

And it's important that we don't waste our time.

The framework of the Circle of Control vs. the Circle of concern has fundamentally changed the way that I think about life.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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The Man Building a Multi-Million Dollar Media Empire on Social Media, Chase Dimond Apr 21, 2023

On today's episode, I sat with self-proclaimed email marketing nerd, Chase Dimond and we discussed...first and foremost, being a #girldad and what that means as a business owner.

Beyond that, we talked about some of Chase's big goals. Like getting to 1,000,000+ followers on LinkedIn. He shared his strategy which is a combination of 1. Good Content 2. High Volume (of content) and 3. Distribution and Engagement.

I was also so intrigued with Chase's story and humble beginnings which tell the story of him being diagnosed with Crohn's disease and his desire to bring awareness to Crohn's was a launchpad for his personal and career growth.

Chase is currently a Partner at Structured — a top ecommerce marketing agency, where he runs the email team. Since June of 2018, they've helped clients send over a billion emails resulting in over $100 million in email attributable revenue. A few of their clients include Poo~Pourri, Eight Sleep, Mixtiles, and Health-Ade.

But beyond that he runs several incredible social media channels like Daily Copywriting >>> https://twitter.com/dailycopywriter?s=20

Follow Chase on Twitter >>> https://twitter.com/ecomchasedimond?lang=en

Important Links:

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Follow Me on Twitter

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Linchpin by Seth Godin

How to Build a Smart Distribution Engine (with Dave Gerhardt, the Pipeline podcast) Apr 13, 2023

Join me, Ross Simmonds, as I speak as a guest on the Pipeline podcast with host, Dave Gerhardt.

"You have to invest in what works and ask yourself 'how does this link back to our overarching goal?'...and what you'll notice is that one aspect of your niche serves your audience better than the others."

On this episode, I share how to build your content distribution engine in a way that helps your content marketing strategy thrive for the long term. Avoid the tendency to underestimate the opportunities that exist after you hit publish on your content.

Tweets can become blog posts. Blog posts can become podcasts. Podcasts can become videos. Videos can become webinars.

Over the last few years, I've distributed blog posts, videos, podcasts, slides, infographics & more for my own brand & for clients to reach millions of people.

The content I've touched has made the front page of Reddit 7x, combine for more than 1M visitors via social & referral traffic, more than 1.2M views on Slideshare, over 500,000 impressions on Twitter & 40,000 views a month on LinkedIn.

> This doesn't include any of the results that came from paid

> This doesn't consider the ROI from using remarketing

> This didn't come from begging for shares

> This didn't come from a lucky break

It came from having a deep understanding of how to spread stories across multiple channels without coming off as a spammer or someone STARVING for more diverse traffic. This isn't some special skill or talent...

It's something I've trained people how to do at my agency. And it's something that they've gone ahead and trained our clients how to do internally. We actually made a playbook on Distribution. It can be found here: https://training.foundationinc.co/dream

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Create Once Distribute Forever (with Daniel Murray & Emily Fergason, The Marketing Millennials podcast) Apr 06, 2023

Join me, Ross Simmonds, as I spoke as a guest on The Marketing Millennials podcast.

"The truth is that you can create a great piece of content but if it doesn't get in front of the right people, then it's for nothing."

One piece of content can change your life and even your business. And on this episode I share my story, and how it got me into the marketing field. From the movie Boomerang, to studying Marketing at University, the Jetman game on Facebook, and even the beginning of RossSimmonds.com, I share my experience and insight into the power of creating a piece of content and using distribution to keep the momentum.

Create now. Thrive later.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

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Work Hard or Smart? How About Both? Mar 31, 2023

“Work smart not hard.” This is one of those ideas that sounds great on a billboard. Sound perfect in a tweet. And might even get someone a few email subscribers for suggest that it’s the truth. But as much as this is a great catch phrase:

It doesn’t speak to the reality of who gets ahead in life.

People who get ahead work both smart and hard. That’s right. You can do both.

And it’s a combination of both working smart and hard that differentiates the best from the rest.

Take two people with the same intelligence, same circumstances, same privileges and understanding of the world and give them the same amount of hours in a day. These people are just as smart as one another on day one.

These people have access to the same resources. But one person decides that they’re going to work two extra hours every single week without impacting their 8 hours of sleep each night.

There are 52 weeks in a year. In year one, the person who puts in an extra two hours has 104 extra hours of training, learning, execution & perspective.

In year two, that person has 208… In year three, that person has 312..

In year four, that person has more than 400 extra hours of experience under their belt in comparison to the person who they started with.

Who do you think will have the bigger advantage?

Let's talk about it.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How to Navigate a Recession Mar 24, 2023

It’s the great resignation. It’s the great recession. It’s the great reset. It’s the great…

RELAX.

The world is in chaos right now.

On this episode I share how to

How to ride this wave as an individual or employee
How to ride this wave as a company trying to grow

I share how take ownership of your responsibilities, personal and professional growth, managing up the chain, personal growth, and how to cultivate a positive attitude (what we call "bringing the guac" here at Foundation.)

And if you are managing a company, I share the areas where you may want to keep or shift your focus in order to survive a recession or downturn.

Foundation is a team of 30 people and we are thriving. Meet the team, our Foundationites, here.

Important Links:

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Follow Me on Twitter

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Linchpin by Seth Godin

How To Create A Content Marketing Strategy (Where To Start & What To Do) Mar 16, 2023

Your content strategy has to be rooted in deep research.

Specifically, research surrounding the people that you're trying to connect with, which starts with customer research.

You need to think about who it is you're trying to connect with (and sell to). You have to get inside of their head.

Do that by:

Talking to them.

Listening to old sales calls.

Looking through your frequently asked questions.

Diving into the customer support questionnaires and documentation.

What are they talking about?

What problems keep coming up?

You want to dive deep into understanding your customer.

You want to look at review sites and start to reverse engineer the things that your competitors are being talked about as being their biggest benefits. And what are the pain points that people are talking about?

And you’re not going to stop there.

Conduct social research.

Comb through review sites.

Leverage audience intelligence tools.

Reverse engineer social conversations.

Analyze the behaviors of those who follow you on social, those who follow your competitors, the types of content that they're engaging with on different channels, and the ways in which they're interacting with that content.

Because all of this is going to inform how you distribute your content and the stories that you should be telling on social.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Tamara Dworetz, Leading Creative Genius as a Conductor Mar 09, 2023

In this episode, I speak with, conductor, Tamara Dworetz, who is quickly establishing a reputation as a dynamic and electric musical force on the podium.

Tamara talks about the role of a conductor, how she prepares for performing a new piece, as well as the interpersonal skills that a good conductor has to have. We also touch on emotional intelligence, the future of the classical world and how the classical world is changing for the better.

She has conducted the Paris Mozart Orchestra, Boston Pops, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra and Amarillo Symphony, and in the 2022-23 season she will make her debut with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Mankato Symphony and Georgia Philharmonic. This season she will also serve as assistant conductor for Orchestre de Paris and Klaus Mäkelä, Gürzenich Orchestre Cologne a François-Xavier Roth and for the Indianapolis Opera and Scott Schoonover and lead residencies at Boston University School of Music and SUNY Fredonia School of Music.

Tamara was recently selected as 1 of 14 candidates from a worldwide pool in the 2022 La Maestra Conducting Competition and Academy for Women Conductors in Paris, France and placed as a semi-finalist (1/6).

If you would like to connect with Tamara or see one of her concerts, please visit her website here.

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Thank you to WMHT for the utilization of this great interview with Tamara on this episode.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How Psychological Triggers Are Used In Marketing Mar 03, 2023

In this episode, I share how psychology when paired with marketing and communication can be used as a superpower.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How I Built a $270K Freelance Business by 27 (feat. Sterling Smith, Co-Founder of Black Freelancer) Feb 23, 2023

In this episode, I share how I built a $270K Freelance Business by 27. I also share the conversation I had with Sterling Smith, the Co-Founder of Black Freelancer, a future-of-work marketplace helping Fortune 1000 businesses hire diverse talent. Whether it's through public speaking, attending events, joining a community, or building in public, this episode provides you with insights on how you can build your freelance business as well.

About the Guest:

Sterling is passionate about leveraging technology, network, and access to capital to identify the next generation of diverse high-growth startups. Sterling began his career as a Software Engineer, and has worked for several Fortune 100 companies prior to co-founding several companies in Austin, Texas.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How I Made $100K from Public Speaking (and How You Can Do It Too) Feb 16, 2023

Public speaking has taken me all over the world and granted me the opportunity to speak in places that I would not have previously imagined. Beyond this, I have learned ways to land coveted public speaking gigs as well as the compensation that goes along with it.

In this episode, I share with you how I got started and how you can do this too with the right approach.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How Calm Built a $2B Media, Content Marketing, & YouTube SEO Empire Feb 10, 2023

Take a deep breath. In. and out.

What do you do when there is already another major competitor in an already competitive industry?

In this episode, I share what Calm did and is doing to become one of the world’s leading brands in the wellness industry.

Important links and mentions:

Read Foundation’sBlog Post on Calm

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

My 20 Harsh Truths Feb 04, 2023

In this journal entry, I share 20 harsh truths that I've learned throughout my career and life. As I share them, I also provide insight into what they have meant to me as I move forward.

My 20 Harsh Truths:

The world isn't out to get you.
We judge ourselves by our intentions but judge others by their actions.
You're probably much more privileged than you think.
Money matters a lot but it's not everything.
At the end of the day, no one is going to remember your debates one that one silly thing you did online.
You're never going to figure it all out.
Some of your closest friends today could be strangers in 6-12 months.
It's ok to be wrong.
Not everyone is or wants to be your friend.
Sometimes you need to rely on others but not everyone is reliable.
You're probably contributing to the problem more than you think.
Most people complain because they're bored or they want company.
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Avoid it at all costs.
The media has an agenda.
Potential can be great but it can also ruin your life.
Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.
You're not going to be remembered if you don't do anything substantial. So, live a fulfilling life.
Not everything you create is going to be loved by others the same way that you love it.
You can have all of the degrees in the world but still get rejected from a job. So, strive to develop talents and skills that are undeniable.
Sometimes you're going to fail...even when you give 110% And that's ok.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How I Wrote a $1.4M Blog Post Jan 27, 2023

You simply never know where one piece of content will take you. In this episode, I share how one piece of content that I created years ago landed me in a conference room full of C-Suite executives and ultimately changed the trajectory of my entire career.

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How Gusto Went From An Underdog To A $10B Valuation Jan 20, 2023

Life is more fun when you’re the underdog competing against giants.

We all love a good underdog story. In this episode, I share the story of Gusto and how they’ve are creating relevant content that has undoubtedly led to a $10B valuation.

Important links and mentions:

Blog Post - How Gusto Uses Content to Take on Existing SaaS Giants

Ross Simmonds’ YouTube Channel

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

How Monday.com Rode Their Diversified Marketing Strategy Straight to the Super Bowl Jan 13, 2023

Despite being a young underdog in the project management platform space, monday.com is leveraging high-quality content to compete with big names like Asana, Trello, Notion, and ClickUp. In this episode, I talk about their marketing strategies that led them straight to the Super Bowl.

Important links and mentions:

Monday.com’s Complete Guide to Project Management

Monday.com Ad - Your Team’s Future Depends on Monday.com

Monday.com Ad - What Using Monday.com Feels Like

Blog Post - Any Given Monday: How Monday.com Rode Their Diversified Marketing Strategy Straight to the Superbowl

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Will AI/ChatGPT Actually Take My Job? Jan 06, 2023

The best way to ensure that an AI doesn't take your job is to get a job in childcare.

You think it's a joke.

But it's kinda true. The work that is the most safe right now to not be disrupted is work that has a lot of EQ / non-repetitive tasks associated with them. An AI doesn't know how to deal with a 4 year old who just decided to throw a tantrum because the sky is blue.

It has no idea.

And it definitely doesn't know how to change a diaper.

But here's a few things that an AI can do:

It can come up with 10 blog post titles on any topic you can think of
It can write an email that gets sent to your mailing list (this wasn't written by AI)
It can write a poem or love song about your favorite brand
It can create a beautiful piece of art (subjective)
It can design ads that actually convert

And so much more.

I've been spending a lot of time learning about AI for the last few years now but only over the Holidays have I gotten to a point where I'm convinced the market has arrived. The market has arrived for AI tools to have an impact on our industry as marketers. It's here.

I break it all down in this podcast episode.

RESOURCES:

https://foundationinc.co/lab/artificial-intelligence-for-marketers/

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Creating Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions Dec 30, 2022

Many people are on the fence about whether or not they should make New Year's Resolutions. I definitely have some for 2023 and in this episode I discuss how I keep them top of mind throughout the entire year.

My goals for 2023 fall into the following categories:

Wealth
Health
Community
Personal
Relationships
Family

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

7 Productivity Tools to Leverage Your Time Dec 23, 2022

There’s nothing more valuable in life than time. And in this episode, I share my top 7 productivity tools that ultimately put time back into your day so that you can create something great.

My Productivity Tools:

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Adobe’s $500 Billion Unshakeable Moat Dec 15, 2022

How is it even possible to build a tailwind on the wings of a great disruption?

Well, that’s the story of Adobe, a software company that navigated a lot of shifts in the industry but still maintained a loyal core audience. The success story behind Adobe is pretty mind-blowing, especially when you consider that they have been breaking their revenue record every year since 2015.

On this episode, I'll cover the 4 pillars that contributed to Adobe's success.

Their Business Pivot
Their Community Building
Their User Generated Content
Their SEO Strategy

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

Deathbed Regrets I Don’t Want to Have Dec 08, 2022

I want to create cool things…and spend time with cool people. If I can do those two things successfully, I don’t think I’ll have many regrets on my deathbed.

Hear my thoughts on these common deathbed regrets:

I wish I had the courage to live a life that was true to myself. - (3:58)
I wish I had the courage to express my feelings. - (6:40)
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. - (8:15)
I wish I would have let myself be happier. - (10:45)
I wish I didn’t work so hard.- (13:00)

Important links and mentions:

Nurse Reveals the Top 5 Regrets People Make on Their Death Bed

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Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on >>>

How MasterClass Built a $2.8 Billion EdTech Empire in 7 years Dec 02, 2022

Have you ever wondered how MasterClass disrupted the EdTech industry? In this episode, Ross Simmonds unpacks the MasterClass success story and how they went from being just an idea into having the BIGGEST names on board.

Learn about:

The highly effective content marketing strategies that MasterClass applied to attain a valuation of over $2 billion. Ross also covers a unique marketing strategy that you can leverage to stay two steps ahead of your competition.

Timestamps:

Understanding SERPs (Search Engine Results Page) - (8:00)
Injecting Video in SEO Driven Content - (13:55)
Tips for Balancing Inbound and Outbound Marketing (31:47)
How to Capture Attention and Use It to Sell - (44:39)
Leveraging Reactive Storytelling - (46:05)

Important links and mentions:

Foundation Content Marketing Playbook

How to Write for the Web

Join hundreds of content creators, marketers and B2B SAAS brand owners and get content marketing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week >>> https://foundationinc.co/newsletter

Ross Simmonds is the CEO and founder of Foundation, a content marketing agency that partners exclusively with ambitious B2B brands looking to create and distribute content that inspires action and produces sales and leads.

Ross hosts the weekly podcast "Create Like the Greats" and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content marketing.

Follow Ross on

The Beginning Of Create Like The Greats [TRAILER] Nov 02, 2022

Welcome to Create Like The Greats, a new podcast that will host in-depth analysis of some of the greatest creations and creators of all time along with deep-dive conversations on the creative process that went into building companies, brands, stories and more. In each episode, we will dissect a new creation.

The series launches today on the Hubspot Podcast Network, so check it out and give it a listen.

Subscribe to Create Like The Greats via:

Apple Spotify Google Overcast Amazon

Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts -- We know you're going to love it.

Each new episode, will be accompanied with full episode transcripts, show notes, and curated resources that will help you better understand the process that went into the creative and creation process.

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