#209: Content | B2B Content Strategy, Distribution Tactics, and Organic Social with Ross Simmonds, Founder and CEO at Foundation & Distribution.ai
Jan 9, 2025
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Ross Simmonds, Founder & CEO of Foundation, shares his expertise in B2B content marketing. He discusses the importance of prioritizing search as a distribution channel and why social media followers shouldn't be viewed as mere vanity. Ross emphasizes the power of repurposing successful content and leveraging the sales team for effective content distribution. He also highlights how evolving tone and strategy can maximize audience engagement, and shares insights on using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance content creation.
Prioritizing search as a primary distribution channel is essential for B2B marketers to enhance their content reach and effectiveness.
Recycling and repurposing successful content can significantly boost audience engagement and lead generation over time.
Leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT can streamline marketing processes while enhancing creativity and enabling deeper audience engagement.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Marketing Attribution
Marketing attribution is a significant challenge in the B2B space. Traditional methods often struggle to accurately measure performance, leading to confusion about where to allocate marketing budgets. Paramark offers a unique approach that combines marketing mix modeling and incrementality testing, bypassing the need for click attribution. This allows companies to gain clearer insights into their marketing effectiveness and make informed investment decisions.
Effective Content Distribution Strategies
Reusing content is a practical strategy for maximizing audience engagement and leads. By sharing successful posts multiple times, marketers can tap into prior engagements and increase their subscriber base significantly. One example from the podcast illustrated how a previously successful post generated new subscribers months later when reposted, emphasizing the effectiveness of recycling content. This approach counters the fear of seeming repetitive, as it demonstrates that valuable content can resonate with audiences multiple times.
Building an Audience for Your Brand
Establishing a strong audience is essential for successful marketing, particularly in B2B. When marketers create engaging, valuable content, they can significantly grow their followings across platforms like LinkedIn. This audience not only amplifies content reach but also enables brands to drive substantial registrations for events, webinars, or newsletters through organic posts. Consistent engagement with the audience fosters long-term relationships, leading to increased loyalty and potential revenue.
The Role of Social Media in B2B Marketing
Social media, particularly LinkedIn, plays a crucial role in B2B marketing, yet many companies fail to leverage it effectively. Engaging content that adds value to target audiences can greatly improve ROI and foster meaningful connections. Additionally, marketers can enhance their impact by providing educational resources instead of solely promotional content. Platforms like TikTok and Reddit also present opportunities for reaching specific audiences if brands adapt their messaging and strategies accordingly.
Embracing AI and ChatGPT in Content Creation
The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT into marketing workflows can significantly enhance productivity without compromising creativity. Utilizing AI for brainstorming, drafting content, and translating communications allows marketers to focus on strategic tasks and engage more deeply with their audiences. While some critics argue that AI dilutes the artistry of content creation, the benefits of streamlined processes and increased output can be invaluable. Ultimately, adopting AI is about enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them, paving the way for smarter marketing strategies.
Dave is joined by Ross Simmonds. Ross is the Founder & CEO of Foundation, a content marketing agency that strategizes, distributes, and optimizes content for some of the most successful SaaS companies in the world and works as partners for multiple publicly traded cloud companies that have redefined entire industries.
They share lessons they both learned on their content journeys and discuss things like:
Prioritizing search as a distribution channel
Why social followers are not a vanity metric
Using and enabling the sales team for content distribution
How to repurpose your most popular content
Timestamps
(00:00) - - Intro
(01:52) - - Underrated Content Strategy for B2B
(02:07) - - SERP and Mindshare Domination
(02:07) - - ChatGPT and Closing Thoughts
(02:12) - - Search as a Distribution Channel
(02:12) - - Why We're Doubling Down on X
(02:27) - - Adjusting Your Tone with the Times
(02:32) - - Why Followers Aren't a Vanity Metric
(02:33) - - How to Repurpose Popular Organic Social Content
(02:47) - - An Easy Content Distribution Tactic
(02:48) - - The Sales Team as a Distribution Channel
*** This episode of the Exit Five podcast is brought to you by our friends at Paramark. You’ve heard it before – every B2B marketer’s top pain point is marketing attribution. It’s complicated, messy, and too often leads to fights with your CRO over whose lead deserves credit.
That’s where Paramark steps in. Their platform makes it simple to understand what’s driving results (and what isn’t) with tools like marketing mix modeling and incremental testing. No more relying on outdated click attribution or chasing UTM links. Instead, Paramark gives you actionable insights across channels, campaigns, and geographies to help you grow.
Paramark's founder & CEO Pranav has been in your shoes as a B2B marketer. He’s so passionate about solving this problem, he’s offering listeners a free brand assessment. Pranav will personally analyze your brand’s performance and share his insights—an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Slots are limited, so act fast. Head to paramark.com/brand-consult to claim your spot. Trust us, this is worth your time.
***
Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.
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