Create Like the Greats Ross Simmonds

In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross sits down with Erica Schneider, an experienced editor and founder of the program Cut the Fluff, who shares her journey as an online writer and entrepreneur. Erica provides valuable insights into the world of writing and editing, emphasizing the importance of clear thinking in writing, the impact of AI on copywriting, and the significance of finding balance in work and family life. 

Key Takeaways and Insights
1. Journey to Becoming a Writer
Erica discovered her passion for writing in high school and ventured into SEO blog writing through platforms like Upwork. She persevered and gained valuable experience working as an English teacher in Thailand. This diverse background gave her a unique perspective and a solid foundation for her career in writing.

2. A Path to Good Writing
Good writing is good thinking, but not all thinking is clear thinking. Many writers make the mistake of trying to edit themselves while writing, leading to confusion and poor-quality content. Erica Schneider's expertise lies in helping writers master the art of editing by separating the writing and editing processes. By stressing the importance of clear thinking, she empowers writers to produce high-quality, concise, and engaging content.

3. The Art of the Hook: Writing Engaging Content
Erica shares insights into crafting captivating hooks in writing. By practicing and learning from failures, writers can enhance their ability to create compelling introductions. Erica suggests finding an accountability buddy to review and critique each other's work, a process that helps writers better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Mastering the art of writing effective hooks is essential for capturing readers' attention and encouraging further engagement.

4. AI and Copywriting: Embracing the Future
Erica delves into the impact of AI on the field of copywriting. While AI tools can offer valuable assistance with generating ideas and crafting headlines, Erica emphasizes the importance of personal touch and human creativity in writing. By combining the efficiency of AI tools with their own unique writing style, writers can optimize their content creation process and produce engaging and tailored copy.

Resources
Long to Short - https://long-to-short.com/
Cut the Fluff - https://cut-the-fluff.ck.page/

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Welcome to "Create Like The Greats," where we delve into the burgeoning world of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This episode explores the transformation from traditional SEO to GEO, a necessity in today's AI-driven digital landscape. We examine how the rise of AI search engines is reshaping content creation and digital marketing, offering insights and practical strategies for engaging both human and AI audiences effectively.
Key Insights 

The Evolution from SEO to GEO: Understand the shift from Search Engine Optimization to Generative Engine Optimization, and why it matters.

Foundations of GEO: Discover the origins of GEO, its defining features, and how it differs from traditional SEO.

Strategies for Success: Learn the key strategies that influence AI-driven search engines, including language uniqueness, authoritative content, and the use of citations and statistics.

Practical Applications: Gain insights into how to apply GEO principles depending on the intent of the query—whether informational, navigational, or transactional.

Future of Digital Marketing: Consider the future implications of GEO and how it represents the next step in the evolution of digital content strategy.

Resources 
What’s Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) & How To Do It - https://foundationinc.co/lab/generative-engine-optimization
GEO Targeted: Critiquing the Generative Engine Optimization Research -  https://sandboxseo.com/generative-engine-optimization-experiment/

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In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross Simmonds and Alessandra Colaci of Humans + AI delve into the world of AI and its vast potential in marketing. They explore how AI can elevate productivity and drive innovation in marketing strategies. They discuss various aspects of integrating AI into marketing practices, from harnessing existing data to overcoming resistance. Additionally, they delve into specific applications such as AI in sales, creativity, e-commerce, and content creation. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and embracing its role in shaping the future of marketing.
Detailed Breakdown 
1. Harnessing Existing Data for AI:
Leveraging customer data, use cases, and personas can inform AI-driven decisions, enhancing marketing strategies through valuable insights. Chat GPT facilitates data conversations, enabling analysis and extraction of information based on natural language patterns, thereby improving insights.
2. Sales and AI:
AI tools empower salespeople by enhancing efficiency, identifying the right contacts, and analyzing successful approaches for improved results.
3. Standing Out with AI:
AI-powered marketing serves as a unique differentiator, augmenting human efforts to achieve greater success and productivity. Shifting from repetitive tasks to strategic and creative work is essential. AI can free up time for deeper and more meaningful endeavors.
4. Overcoming Resistance to AI:
Resistance to AI often stems from fear or uncertainty, which can be overcome through education and understanding of its capabilities.
5. AI in Creativity:
AI assists agencies in generating a high volume of creative ideas. Tools like Runway and Mid Journey enable image animation for creative projects. While voice-over tools enable storytelling, meditation audio, and creation of company spokespersons.
6. Mailshake's AI Content Creation:
Mailshake offers AI-powered content creation tools for email marketing, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in outreach and marketing efforts.

Resources:
ChatGPT: chat.openai.com/
Midjourney: midjourney.com/
Runway: runwayml.com/

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In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares insights from his recent interview on the podcast Distribution First, hosted by Justin Simon. They explore how marketers can use AI to enhance distribution strategies, emphasizing its role as an augmentation too rather than a replacement tool. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on plagiarism, the value of communities in career development, and the power of repurposing content for efficient distribution.

Detailed Breakdown 

1. AI as an Augmentation Tool, not a Replacement:
Ross emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than a complete replacement. Many people make the mistake of relying solely on AI-powered tools for creating and distributing content, expecting instant success. However, Ross points out that AI works best when integrated into a thought-out system, whether in audio, video, or written format.

2. Streamlining Content Creation with AI
They explore how ChatGPT can be utilized to generate SOPs for various content formats such as video production. By feeding ChatGPT specific prompts related to content creation workflows, users can efficiently streamline processes and create comprehensive SOPs tailored to their specific needs. This approach not only saves time but also ensures consistency and quality across content production endeavors.

3. Collaboration with AI
They discuss the approach to using AI as a partner rather than a mere task executor and highlight the importance of bouncing ideas off AI and using it as a colleague, encouraging marketers to view AI as a valuable resource in the content creation process.

4. The Power of Communities
They emphasize the significance of being a part of communities to grow and excel professionally. Building connections within communities can help marketers gain insights and knowledge, with AI being one such area where being well-versed can set individuals apart in their careers.

5. Plagiarism and AI
When it comes to plagiarism in the realm of AI, Ross presents two trains of thought. Firstly, conducting plagiarism checks at the end of producing any asset is important. Secondly, acknowledging the ideas AI generates and giving credit where due is crucial, just as one would with human-generated ideas.

6. Amplifying Distribution Strategies
They discuss how content creators often overlook the importance of distribution, celebrating the creation of content without incorporating effective distribution strategies. By understanding how to leverage distribution, organizations can unlock unlimited potential and opportunities for their content.

Resources 
Distribution First Episode

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In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of his book launch for "Create Once, Distribute Forever." With a behind-the-scenes look at his launch strategy, Ross shares the excitement, challenges, and successes he's encountered. From podcast interviews to social media engagement and lessons learned along the way, Ross leaves no stone unturned. Despite a few hiccups, Ross's gratitude for his community and determination to make a difference resonate deeply
Detailed Breakdown 

1. Getting on Podcasts
Ross talks about how he planned and pulled off getting on lots of different podcasts. These podcasts were all about stuff like marketing, business, and how things grow. He explains how he reached out to the people who run the podcasts and why it was super important to do this to let more people know about his book.

2. Making Noise on Social Media
Ross shares how he used social media to make a big deal about his book. He made videos and shared parts of the book to get more people interested. He made sure to spread the word across different social media sites to reach as many people as possible and get them excited about what he had to say about spreading stories.

3. Overcoming Challenges with Transparency
Ross talks about some things that didn't go as planned during his book launch, like messing up with emails. But instead of trying to hide it, Ross was honest about the mistake. He talked openly to his followers about what happened and turned it into a chance to connect even more with them.

Resources 
Create Once, Distribute Forever Book - https://rosssimmonds.com/book/
Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Create-Once-Distribute-Forever-Creators/dp/1544541279
Create Once, Distribute Forever Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1-bmDmbjIo&t=59s

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In this episode of Create Like the Greats, Ross shares insights on why he wrote “Create Once, Distribute Forever”. This book serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals and businesses striving to effectively distribute their stories and engage with their target audience. In this episode Ross provides a glimpse into the Create Once, Distribute Forever sections and how it can help you master content distribution. Don't miss the opportunity to read "Create Once, Distribute Forever" for a deeper dive into enhancing your content distribution efforts.

Detailed Breakdown 

1. Distribution 101
In this section, Ross provides a comprehensive overview of distribution, explaining its fundamental principles and importance in modern marketing. Through clear definitions and illustrative examples, readers gain a solid understanding of distribution's role in amplifying content reach and engagement.

2. Why Many Don't Embrace Distribution
Addressing common obstacles to effective distribution, Ross offers practical insights to help readers overcome these challenges and unlock the full potential of their content.

3. Promoting Your Content
Ross dives into the crucial aspect of content promotion, emphasizing the significance of actively amplifying one's creations. He encourages the readers to confidently promote their content across various channels, understanding that strategic amplification is key to achieving broader impact and recognition.

4. The Sherlock Homeboy Method: Reverse Engineering Content Market Fit
Introducing a systematic approach to content distribution, Ross presents the "Sherlock Homeboy Method" for reverse engineering content market fit. Through a blend of detective work and strategic thinking, readers learn how to align their content with audience preferences and identify optimal distribution channels for maximum impact.

5. Tactical Insights: Remixing and Republishing
This section delves into actionable tactics for content distribution, focusing on the transformative potential of remixing and republishing strategies. By exploring practical techniques for repurposing content across different platforms, readers discover how to extend the lifespan of their creations and reach new audiences effectively.

6. Channel-Specific Distribution Strategies
Offering a tailored approach to content distribution, this section provides in-depth guides for leveraging specific distribution channels. Readers gain valuable insights into optimizing their content for diverse platforms, empowering them to implement targeted distribution strategies that resonate with their audience and goals.

Resources 
Create Once, Distribute Forever Book - https://rosssimmonds.com/book/
Check it out on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Create-Once-Distribute-Forever-Creators/dp/1544541279

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