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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Proven Tactics for Marketing with Zero Budget
- Repurpose your top-performing historical content.
- Example reuse: LinkedIn carousels, Reddit posts, YouTube Shorts.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Embrace Evergreen Content
- Create assets that compound over time vs. quick hits.
- Focus on material that drives long-term ROI.
7. 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
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