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Repurpose your top-performing historical content.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