Episode Description
Key Takeaways and Insights:
The New B2B Buyer Journey
-Buyers seek personalized answers in Slack groups, Discord, WhatsApp, Reddit, and LLMs.
-LLMs frequently leverage Reddit to inform their responses.
-Influence now happens in communities—not just on your website.
-If you’re not present where conversations happen, you’re invisible at decision time.
Reddit’s Influence on LLMs & AI Search
-Platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini pull insights from Reddit.
-Reddit Answers (Reddit’s native AI tool) is growing rapidly.
-Showing up on Reddit increases your likelihood of influencing AI-generated responses.
-Reddit is now an upstream distribution channel for AI visibility.
The Three Buckets of Modern Organic Growth
-Onsite optimization: technical SEO, structure, and speed.
-Offsite influence: reviews, mentions, and third-party validation.
-Word-of-mouth engines: content and product experiences that spark conversation.
-Sustainable growth requires alignment across all three.
SEO Fundamentals Still Win
-Clean site architecture and clear navigation matter.
-Optimize for real search queries—not internal jargon.
-Remove redundant branding from meta titles.
-Prioritize site speed, mobile-first performance, and backlinks.
Offsite Optimization Beyond Backlinks
-Be included in “best tools” lists and review content.
-Win in comparison threads and niche discussions on Reddit.
-Influence buying decisions where prospects evaluate options.
-Visibility off your domain often matters more than traffic to it.
Word of Mouth as a Growth Flywheel
-Word of mouth was ranked the #1 buying factor in a Winter study.
-Engineer moments that inspire customers to talk.
-Reviews, tweets, blog posts, and Reddit threads compound over time.
-Build systems that generate advocacy—don’t leave it to chance.
Listen, Learn, Leap: The Reddit Framework
-Listen: Audit what customers are saying about you.
-Learn: Identify content trends and cultural norms in subreddits.
-Leap: Create native content that aligns with community expectations.
-Treat Reddit as a long-term investment, not a campaign channel.
Finding Content-Market Fit on Reddit
-Sort subreddit posts by “Top” to uncover engagement patterns.
-Reverse engineer themes that drive upvotes and comments.
-Look for repeated formats: transparent case studies, financial breakdowns, how-tos.
-Validate resonance before scaling your posting cadence.
Niche Down to Win
-Large subreddits are competitive—start in focused communities.
-Every B2B niche likely has an active subreddit.
-Example: Reverse engineering content for r/MSPs led to strong traction.
-Precision beats volume in early-stage Reddit growth.
Create for Reddit Culture
-Blend educational, engaging, entertaining, and empowering content.
-Publish consistently once you understand audience expectations.
-Repetition works—humans gravitate toward familiar story structures.
-If you’ve truly listened, your audience won’t fatigue.
Resources & Tools:
🔗 R/smallbusiness
— 👋🏾 Let's stay connected —
╰ Subscribe to my channel: @RossSimmondsTV
╰ Instagram: @thecoolestcool
╰ Twitter / X: @thecoolestcool
╰ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds