The Ross Simmonds Show

Ross Simmonds
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The Ross Simmonds Show

Welcome to The Ross Simmonds Show. A show exploring the different sides of entrepreneurship, how Ross is growing his global marketing agency, building software, raising a family, and attempting to do so much more. On this show, Ross explores what goes into executing with excellence, embracing innovation, marketing at a high level and doing it all with intent of the playing the long game. This show is a proud member of the HubSpot Podcast Network.

  1. How Marketers Can Thrive During Budget Cuts & Downturns

    5 DAYS AGO

    How Marketers Can Thrive During Budget Cuts & Downturns

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross tackles a crucial and timely topic: how marketers can not only survive but thrive during economic downturns. When budgets are slashed and expectations remain sky-high, too many marketers retreat. But as Ross argues, downturns are hidden opportunities for bold, creative, and strategic professionals. You’ll learn why your mindset matters, which marketing mistakes to avoid in a crisis, and most importantly, what you can do right now with limited resources to build brand equity, generate demand, and outmaneuver your competition. Key Takeaways and Insights: Mindset Wins the Long Game The best marketers stay calm and ruthlessly prioritize value. Budget constraints can clarify what really drives results. 🌟 Insight: Constraints don’t kill creativity—they sharpen it. The Three Biggest Mistakes Marketers Make in a Downturn ❌ Cutting brand investment entirely. ❌ Over-investing in high-cost, low-yield paid channels. ❌ Playing it safe and copying competitors. Proven Tactics for Marketing with Zero Budget Repurpose your top-performing historical content. Example reuse: LinkedIn carousels, Reddit posts, YouTube Shorts.  Earn Trust When Paid Clicks Are Too Expensive Invest in podcast appearances, guest posts, and owned content. Use first-party proprietary or curated data to support thought leadership. Double Down on Your Current Customers Strengthen relationships via community, VIP content, and proactive help. Empower your customers to become brand advocates. 🧠 Insight: Word of mouth cannot be budget-cut. Embrace Evergreen Content Create assets that compound over time vs. quick hits. Focus on material that drives long-term ROI. Collaborate for Free Distribution Build co-branded content and share audiences with aligned partners. Example: Ross shares a story about early Snapchat takeovers (“Snap Swaps”). Resources & Tools: 🔗 Distribution.ai 🔗 Foundation Marketing  🔗 HubSpot — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    16 min
  2. How To Get More Leverage & Do More With Less

    5 JUL

    How To Get More Leverage & Do More With Less

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross breaks down the powerful concept of leverage — the secret behind how high-performers achieve 10x results without working 10x harder. Ross introduces the four core types of leverage (People, Capital, Code, and Content) and provides actionable insights, mindset shifts, and examples on how to use them to reclaim your time, scale your impact, and accelerate growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, creator, marketer, or employer, this episode offers a practical framework to help you work smarter and more effectively. Key Takeaways and Insights: Leverage Through People Delegation is key, but do it like a founder, not a manager. Transfer ownership, not just tasks. Empower teams by sharing outcomes and allowing room for creativity. Example: Outsourcing a design task on Fiverr unlocked more value. Ask yourself: What $5/hour work are you holding onto that’s blocking your $1,000/hour work? Leverage Through Code Automation and modern software replace manual workflows. Today, you don’t need a dev team to build tools—AI can generate scripts and automation for you. Built internal apps and CRMs with no/low code tools. Automate tasks through scheduling, reporting, and workflows. Leverage Through Capital Every dollar should buy back time or create compounding value. Use capital to invest, buy access, or convert traffic into sales. Examples: Affiliate programs Investing in dividend stocks or crypto Ad spend on proven funnels Leverage Through Content Content builds trust while you sleep. It is a scalable, reusable asset—blog posts, podcasts, guides, videos. "Create once, distribute forever" is the mantra. Your content is always working—even when you’re not. Resources & Tools: 🔗Create Once, Distribute Forever 🔗ChatGPT 🔗Upwork 🔗Fiverr 🔗N8n - Workflow Automation 🔗HubSpot 🔗Lovable — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    22 min
  3. Fix These B2B Bottlenecks to Unlock Hypergrowth

    28 JUN

    Fix These B2B Bottlenecks to Unlock Hypergrowth

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross unpacks the silent bottlenecks that are stalling high-potential B2B companies, regardless of their size or success. Drawing from years of experience working with startups to publicly traded enterprises, Ross highlights the most overlooked internal barriers to growth and, more importantly, how to eliminate them. You’ll walk away with actionable advice and frameworks to optimize your messaging, sales cycle, onboarding flow, content strategy, and team alignment, all aimed at transforming friction into momentum. Key Takeaways and Insights: Common B2B Bottlenecks Misaligned Messaging Speaking to investors instead of customers is a fatal UX misstep. Use real customer language on homepages and in sales materials. Focus on emotional resonance and clarity, not buzzwords. Apply the AIDA framework: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. Bloated Revenue Process Long, complicated sales cycles add friction, not value. Reduce approvals and handoffs—especially for low-ticket SaaS products. Make buying intuitive: include pricing, live demos, streamlined decks. 🛠Quick fixes: Add a self-serve option. Implement interactive product demos. Weak Onboarding & Lack of Quick Wins Onboarding should feel like success, not a setup chore. Deliver fast value: think checklists, 48-hour wins, and proactive outreach. High delight in the first week = low churn in the future. 🙌 Practical Tip: Use Loom videos and personalized templates to improve onboarding experience. Lack of Content Distribution “It's not the content industry. It’s the content marketing industry.” Great content often goes unseen due to weak promos. Break down and repurpose one asset across multiple platforms. Internal Team Silos Misalignment between sales, marketing, and success leads to a broken customer journey. Growth should be a team sport centered around shared KPIs. Everyone should obsess over customer outcomes and revenue. 🧩 Solution: Create a growth squad that spans multiple departments and reviews customer journeys collectively. Ross’s 3-Step Audit Framework IMPACT – What’s costing us the most right now? URGENCY – What needs to be fixed immediately? EASE – What's a quick win we could implement this week? Resources & Tools: 🔗 Create Once, Distribute Forever by Ross Simmonds 🔗 Distribution.ai 🔗 HubSpot 🔗 Loom — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    19 min
  4. The Loneliness of Leadership: Founders, You're Not Alone

    21 JUN

    The Loneliness of Leadership: Founders, You're Not Alone

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross ​dives deep into a topic that many leaders shy away from: the loneliness of leadership. He opens up about his experiences as a solo founder, the mental and emotional burden that comes with leading organizations, and how success can bring unexpected isolation. More importantly, Ross offers practical and powerful advice on how leaders can build resilience, create support systems, and avoid common traps that lead to burnout and self-doubt. If you’ve ever felt alone at the top, this is the reminder you didn’t know you needed. Key Takeaways and Insights: The Quiet Weight of Foundership Leadership is often glamorized from the outside, but behind closed doors, it can be emotionally and mentally taxing. Founders are expected to always be “on” — delivering, solving, and showing up, even during personal lows. “Being a founder is a gift, but it’s also one of the loneliest jobs.” What Makes Leadership So Isolating It’s not physical solitude, but the responsibility that isolates leaders. You make decisions that shape careers — sometimes lives — and often have no one to share the burden with. The Trap of Self-Containment One of the biggest mistakes is trying to carry everything alone. Delegating responsibility and building trust with team members can alleviate this loneliness. Four Reasons Leaders Feel Isolated 🧠 Information Asymmetry  Leaders have a different view of company data, performance, and risks. Transparency can reduce the burden and build empathy. ❤️ Emotional Labor Leaders are expected to remain steady and optimistic, even when they're struggling inside. Emotional resilience is important, but suppressing emotion leads to burnout. 🧍‍♂️ Identity Tied to Business Outcomes When your self-worth becomes linked to business success, every failure feels personal. 👥 Shrinking Circle of Trust As you succeed, your peer group shrinks — making honesty and vulnerability harder. How to Fix It: Four Strategies 👫 Build a True Inner Circle  Join peer groups like: EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) Hampton Or start a group chat with like-minded entrepreneurs. Find two kinds of mentors: Someone ahead of you to guide you. Someone behind you to keep you pushing forward. 🔄 Intentional Reflection  Use journaling, podcasting, or downtime to process your emotions and gain clarity. Create space to think beyond day-to-day operations. 🌪️ Thoughtfully Include Your Team in Pressure Transparency ≠ emotional dumping. Share relevant challenges and strategically invite collaboration. Avoid transferring overwhelming anxiety to junior team members. 🧠 Work With a Coach or Therapist  Coaches help with clarity and accountability. Therapy can help unpack the deeper emotional toll of leadership. From Loneliness to Connection Celebrate wins publicly to avoid harboring joy alone. Share successes with your team, friends, and family. “You shift from performing to living.” Final Reflections: You’re Not Alone Loneliness is common but not permanent. “You can go further with people, with honesty, and with emotional openness.” Wise closing quote: “He who wears the crown must bear the weight — but not alone.” Resources & Tools: 🔗EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization) 🔗YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) 🔗Hampton 🔗Ross Simmons Show Archive — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    26 min
  5. Generative Engine Optimization & the Power of Memory

    14 JUN

    Generative Engine Optimization & the Power of Memory

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross dives deep into a major paradigm shift happening in search—Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). As AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and others increasingly influence how we discover information, traditional SEO practices rooted in rankings, backlinks, and page authority are rapidly becoming outdated. Ross unpacks how memory, personalization, and context are reshaping discoverability and what brands and marketers must do to stay competitive in this new era. From building real author entities to creating multi-format content experiences, you'll learn actionable strategies for future-proofing your content marketing and search approach. Whether you're a seasoned SEO or an emerging content leader, this episode will give you the tools to thrive in the age of personalized AI-driven information retrieval. Key Takeaways and Insights: What Is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)? Definition of GEO: Moving from link-based to conversation-based discovery. GEO Article: What’s Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & How To Do It  The Role of Memory in Personalized Search Results How LLMs use your search history, preferences, and identity Personalized SERPs: Millions of versions, no single truth Memory as a Ranking Factor Context-rich responses over one-size-fits-all answers SEO is no longer about just ranking for a keyword How to Win at GEO: Key Strategies Author Entities & Digital Trust Build real author bios with online presence Credibility signals influence LLM citations Use Industry Language with Authority Avoid watered-down content Lean into jargon and technical terms your audience uses Cite Quotes, Data & Sources LLMs favor content with references and expert opinions Credibility boosts visibility Embrace Redundant Modalities Create Once, Distribute Forever Repurpose content across Reddit, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, Quora, Threads Digital PR & Thought Leadership How top brands are getting cited by LLMs and publications Brand building = Visibility in AI answers The New Fundamentals Technical optimization still matters, but now include: Distribution Trust Authority LLM Memorability Resources & Tools: 🔗 GEO Article by Ross: Generative Engine Optimization 🔗 Book: Create Once, Distribute Forever by Ross Simmonds 🔗 Distribution.ai 🔗 Foundation Marketing — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    23 min
  6. Distribution Strategy 101

    7 JUN

    Distribution Strategy 101

    In this episode, Ross lays down the law on modern content distribution and why "hoping it goes viral" isn't a strategy. He breaks down the five most common mistakes marketers make with distribution, highlights the new reality of reaching audiences in the AI and multi-channel era, and walks you step-by-step through building a powerful, repeatable distribution system that delivers results. If you’ve been creating high-quality content but struggling to get it in front of the right audience, this episode gives you the system, mindset, and framework to turn things around. Key Takeaways and Insights: Hope Is NOT a Strategy Pressing “publish” is not enough to drive content success. Distribution is what transforms good content into great, high-impact content. If no one sees your content, it may as well not exist. 5 Common Distribution Mistakes Publish Once, Then Disappear Celebrate distribution, not just publishing. Implement a content distribution calendar to continuously share and promote assets. Relying on a Single Channel Multi-channel presence is essential to stay top of mind and generate multiple touch points. Don’t stick to just LinkedIn or X — explore YouTube, Reddit, newsletters, Slack groups, and more. Assuming Organic Reach is Guaranteed Social and SEO algorithms don’t owe you visibility. Use rented platforms to build owned ones (e.g., newsletters), and pair organic with smart paid amplification. Not Repurposing Content A blog post should become a LinkedIn carousel, a video, a thread on X, a newsletter, etc. Embrace the mantra: Create Once, Distribute Forever. Failure to Track Performance You can’t optimize what you don’t measure. Use tools like GA4, HubSpot, Ahrefs, etc., to analyze what’s working. How to Build a Real Distribution System Audience & Content Market Fit Research Understand who your audience is, their interests, pain points, and where they hang out online. Go beyond business competitors — study top-performing content in other niches (MrBeast, Yoga with Adriene, etc.) to understand attention mechanics. Create a High-Value Pillar Asset Choose a format (blog post, video, case study, podcast, etc.). This asset will form the nucleus of your distribution efforts. Repurpose & Atomize Break your pillar asset into quotes, clips, carousels, threads, email snippets, and more for long-term promotion. Define Distribution Across PESO Paid (ads, boosts) Earned (press, influencer shares) Shared (social, communities) Owned (newsletter, blog) Measure Everything & Iterate Use data to guide future efforts and content decisions. Recommended tools: Google Analytics 4, HubSpot, Ahrefs, SparkToro, UTM dashboards, and Distribution.AI. Resources & Tools: 🔗 Distribution.ai 🔗 Create Once, Distribute Forever 🔗 HubSpot 🔗 Ahrefs 🔗 Google Analytics 4 🔗SparkToro — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    26 min
  7. The AI Hype Cycle in Marketing

    31 MAY

    The AI Hype Cycle in Marketing

    In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross cuts through the overwhelming noise around AI in marketing to reveal what’s real, what’s useful, and what’s pure hype. From AI-fueled content creation and personalization to ads, analytics, and the dangers of AI deepfakes, Ross shares his honest take on how marketers can harness AI effectively—without losing their creativity (or their jobs). Hint: AI isn’t here to replace great marketers, but it will expose mediocre ones. Whether you’re feeling FOMO about AI tools or tired from constant information overload, this episode offers grounded insights and an actionable roadmap for embracing AI in a sustainable and meaningful way. Key Takeaways and Insights: Understanding the Current AI Hype Cycle AI is at the peak of inflated expectations. Nearly every tool is rushing to add AI capabilities. $10B spent in AI implementation efforts by consulting firms. The opportunity is real—but so is the noise. Content Creation: The Draft, Not the Director Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, Rytr, SEMrush, and HubSpot offer “okay” drafts. Great marketers use AI for first drafts, then add emotion, creativity, and data. AI helps compress content production time significantly. Key quote: “The AI tool is not your creative director.” Repurposing & Distribution at Scale One of the best use cases for AI in content marketing. Turn one podcast into dozens of social assets, short videos, quotes, etc. Old content can be brought back to life using AI. 24/7 brand promotion equals scale and efficiency. AI for Creating Visuals & Ads Tools now allow marketers to generate images and mock ads from product photos. Emerging use case: image creation with tools like ChatGPT’s DALL·E. AI lowers cost and time for creative asset generation. AI-Powered Insights from Data AI can identify behavior trends, segment audiences, and support lead scoring. Automate personalized communications triggered by user behavior. In-depth AI-based customer feedback analysis is now possible. Reminder: "Good data = good AI." Personalization: Right Message, Right Time AI enables highly tailored emails, landing pages, and even video messages. Important: Avoid going too far or getting creepy with data usage. Balance personalization with ethics and relevance. The Fluff: SEO Snake Oil & “Turnkey” Strategies Beware of tools promising 10,000 blog posts and instant rankings. "Hallucination" risk with auto-generated content hurts SEO in the long run. One-click marketing strategy generators? Hard pass. Deepfakes & AI Influencers Increasing use of AI-generated personas to push products deceptively. Danger of consumers being misled by realistic but fake endorsements. The Future of Marketing & AI AI will not replace everyone—but will replace some. “It’s a force multiplier for the great. A replacement for the mediocre.” Use AI to do more, faster—but don’t skip thinking and strategy. To thrive, marketers must master the human elements: storytelling, empathy, strategy, and creativity. Resources & Tools: 🔗Distribution.ai 🔗Japser 🔗ChatGPT 🔗Rytr 🔗HubSpot AI 🔗SEMrush AI Writing Tools — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    22 min
  8. Google AI Mode

    24 MAY

    Google AI Mode

    In this special episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross Simmonds explores the monumental changes coming to search, marketing, and SEO in light of Google’s latest announcement at I/O 2025: the launch of AI Mode. Ross delivers a deep dive on the implications of AI-driven, personalized search experiences, task automation, and the end of traditional SEO practices as we know them. Learn how marketers must rethink strategies around intent, trust, authority, and omnichannel presence to stay relevant in a radically transforming digital landscape. Key Takeaways and Insights: Google I/O 2025 & The Birth of AI Mode Google unveils AI Mode, revolutionizing user search experiences Built on Gemini 2.5 (successor to Bard), enabling conversational, multimodal responses The End of the Blue Links Era Traditional SEO (blue link style interface) is being replaced by rich AI responses Blue links are auto-clicked and content is synthesized into a single, AI-curated reply Marketers must transition to understanding content context and intent Rethinking Content Strategy Intent-based content creation is essential Importance of publishing across platforms (e.g., guest posts, syndication) Guest blogging and content distribution regain critical relevance Agentic Capabilities & Task Automation Introduction of “agentic booking” via Google’s Project Marino Users can command Google to complete multi-step tasks like buying tickets or scheduling demos Implications for eCommerce, lead gen, and B2B automation New Business Models: Pay-for-Acquisition Shift from pay-per-click to pay-per-conversion Google may monetize via completed transactions, not ad clicks AI as Analyst: Data Visualization + Summarization AI Mode can generate graphs and compare data on command Removes need for internal teams to do common research or analysis tasks SEO Reimagined: Personalized Search Challenges Search results now depend heavily on user context Traditional SEO tools and ranking metrics may become obsolete Marketers may need to develop hyper-targeted, persona-driven strategies The Rise of Persona-Based Marketing Importance of thinking in micro-audience segments Use industry, geography, and function to craft ultra-specific campaigns Trust, Authority, and Authenticity Matter More Than Ever Google will reward Authoritativeness and Experience (Double E-E-A-T) Original research, author bios, backlinks, media mentions, and reviews are crucial Avoid faking expertise with AI-generated personas/content Where to Shift Budget and Strategy Invest in video content Grow presence on Reddit Emphasize content distribution and repurposing Ungate long-form content to enable AI indexing Resources & Tools: 🔗Google I/O 2025 Announcement 🔗E-E-A-T Guidelines 🔗Distribution.ai — 👋🏾 Let's stay connected — ╰ Subscribe to my channel:  @RossSimmondsTV  ╰ Instagram:  @thecoolestcool   ╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool   ╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds

    18 min
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About

Welcome to The Ross Simmonds Show. A show exploring the different sides of entrepreneurship, how Ross is growing his global marketing agency, building software, raising a family, and attempting to do so much more. On this show, Ross explores what goes into executing with excellence, embracing innovation, marketing at a high level and doing it all with intent of the playing the long game. This show is a proud member of the HubSpot Podcast Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Ross Simmonds
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Foundation Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Ross Simmonds Show

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