Revisiting the Hits: Foundation Favourites from the Last 200 Weeks
Ross Simmonds
CEO @ Foundation & Distribution.ai | Putting “Marketing” Back Into Content Marketing | I love -> Content Distribution, Reddit, Growth & SaaS
Welcome to Volume 200 ??
On this very special anniversary edition, we’re kicking things off with some words from the man who started it all: Ross Simmonds.
“We started at 001. Now we're at 200.
Over the last few years, we've officially published 200 round-ups that share insight into the things shaping B2B and marketing as a whole. We've covered everything from some of the most important acquisitions in SaaS to the rise of AI and its impact on our space. It's been quite the ride.?
Thank you for being subscribed, and I hope the next 200 are better than the last.?
Today, we're going to take a moment to look back at some of the best pieces we've shared over the years, and I'm hopeful that you get some value from this look back into our archives. It's possible that in this 200th email, you'll come across a piece of content that not only resonates with you but can help you unblock or unlock a new area of your business or thinking at large.”?
Thanks, Ross. And here’s to 200 more.?
In this week’s newsletter, we cover:?
Let’s get into it.
?? Get Your Copy of Create Once, Distribute Forever ??
It’s time to get a head start on that summer reading list — Ross’s new book, Create Once, Distribute Forever, is officially available. He’s been preaching the value of content distribution for years across social media, podcasts, and the speaking circuit.?
These days, how and where you distribute your work is more important than the work itself if you want to make an impact — amazing products and extraordinary ideas are no longer enough.?
Distribution is the missing piece in many SaaS marketing engines, even those at the enterprise level. That’s why Ross put this book together.
Create Once, Distribute Forever is about how to build a sustainable, long-term marketing strategy and ensure as many people see your content as possible. With real-world examples, helpful checklists, and a step-by-step playbook for crafting your own distribution plan, you don’t want to miss this!
Ready to radically transform your content distribution strategy? Order the book today.
B2B SAAS NEWS
Revisiting the Hits: Foundation Favorites from the Last 200 Weeks
It was 1999 — just over 25 years ago — when Smash Mouth said these prophetic words: “The years start coming, and they don’t stop coming.”
The Foundation team has updated you and other B2B marketers with the latest insights from tech and beyond for 4 years (3.835 if you’re picky). 46 months. 200 weeks. That’s 200 newsletters, 200+ company and strategy breakdowns, and countless more blog posts.?
Just think: When Ross first kicked off this newsletter, Twitter was still Twitter, Google SERPs were largely devoid of Reddit and Quora threads, and generative AI was still in the early adopter stage.?
Naturally, none of that is true anymore. Still, if there’s one thing we need to keep in mind, it’s that the years don’t stop coming; and those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it — even in eternally optimistic and forward-facing industries like tech.?
With this in mind, we decided to look through the Foundation Lab’s archive to bring back some of the best insights you may have missed, from the greatest hits to the hidden gems. Give them a bookmark and make your way through them. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Best-in-class SaaS company breakdowns:?
Next-level B2B marketing strategy analysis:
The latest insights on generative AI for marketers:
There’s plenty more where that came from in the Foundation Lab and still more to come as we move into the next 200 weeks.?
Happy reading!
?? New Podcast Alert: The Impact of AI on Marketers ??
To celebrate the 200th newsletter, it’s only right that we discuss the technology that will impact marketers most over the coming 200 weeks and beyond: artificial intelligence.?
In the latest episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Joe Glover from The Marketing Meetup for a check-in on the status of AI in marketing. Both agree that these tools serve to augment the human element, not replace it.?
Here’s how they see AI’s role in the marketing game:?
Check out the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and take your AI abilities to the next level!??
?? What’s the Latest in B2B SaaS This Week? ??
领英推荐
??? Organize to Excel — Bring Your Content Together in Planable ???
If you’re still of the mindset that you can plan your entire marketing operation in a spreadsheet, this one’s for you.?
Planable is a collaboration platform that drives all of your content distribution efforts through an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. It’s a digital command center where you and your team can create, plan, review, and approve all your awesome marketing content.?
And Planable isn’t just for social media. It helps you optimize your workflows for blogs, newsletters, press releases, briefs — every asset in your content portfolio!
With a dedicated workspace for each brand or client, you'll experience a faster, smoother workflow that helps your team work together like never before.
Because Planable loves organized content. And so should you.?
Bring all your content together today. Try Planable for free.
?? This Week’s Brain Food ??
At 200 editions, the Foundation Newsletter is nearly four years old. I’ve been a Foundationite for more than half of them and have written over 50 of the editions.?
Writing newsletters, breakdowns, blog posts, and research assets for the Foundation Lab has been a truly formative experience for me — as a marketer, a writer, and a person. It’s sappy, I know, but true.?
Scouring the web for stories and social posts from some of the leading publications in the industry is an invaluable education. Not only do you learn about all sorts of amazing products and technologies from major companies, but you learn how the thought leaders in these segments communicate. The goal of conversion is always top of mind.??
Not all of the learning experiences are so straightforward or glamorous, though. Many of the most important lessons come at inopportune times (often preceded by a minor panic attack). Thanfully, those are fewer and far between these days.?
For that, I have to thank the amazing team that brings the newsletters, blogs, breakdowns, and everything else to life — week in and week out:?
Last but not least, thanks to you for sticking with us and making this newsletter possible. I have a feeling the next 200 are going to be something special!
?? Introducing Foundation’s AI Marketing Console ??
A few years ago, if someone said that mastering a single SaaS tool could save you 500+ work hours every year, make you a better creator, and increase your chances of landing a leadership position, you’d probably laugh them out of the room. Well, no one’s laughing now.?
Generative AI is projected to add billions of dollars to the marketing industry in productivity savings alone, and the vast majority of professionals in our industry are incorporating AI this year.?
Like all emerging technologies, there’s a huge advantage to moving quickly. Experimentation and research are key to building the skills you need to stay ahead. Unfortunately, these are also time-intensive processes.
That’s why we’re excited to announce the release of the AI Marketing Console.?
With the AI Marketing Console, you get an arsenal of 130+ battle-tested ChatGPT prompts to help you create everything from landing pages and email drip campaigns to reports and customer research.?
Plus, you’ll get exclusive access to the following:?
If you want more information on why we’ve created this offering, check out this video from Ross!
??Twitter/X Thread of the Week
??? LinkedIn Post of the Week
???? Nice Finds You Should Binge
?? Job Postings Worth Checking Out
Looking for a new opportunity? Here’s a round-up of some exciting job openings in the B2B SaaS space.?
?? What We’re Wired into This Week
Coastline — Geoffroy
Congratulations on reaching your 200th newsletter edition, a significant milestone. What do you believe has been the most impactful trend in B2B marketing over the past year?
Sales and Marketing at CBF Labels
3 个月Congrats on hitting the 200th newsletter milestone
Top Ecommerce Email Marketer & Agency Owner | We’ve sent over 1 billion emails for our clients resulting in $200+ million in email attributable revenue.
3 个月Congrats on the milestone, man. I'll check out the newsletter, thanks for the heads up, Ross.
Congratulations on reaching the 200th edition! It's a great achievement.
It's great to see a focus on sharing insights from the Foundation Lab and staying updated on B2B news.