Inc. and Fast Company leverage archives for new content projects

Inc. and Fast Company, both publications under Mansueto Ventures, are finding new approaches to their content by revisiting their editorial archives. These archives are no longer just repositories of the past but serve as a starting point for creating content relevant to current reader needs.

Fast Company has recently launched two projects, "Personal Brand Special Report" and "Managing a Personal Brand: Fast Company’s 196-Point Guide for Leaders." Both were inspired by Tom Peters' seminal 1997 cover story, "The Brand Called You," which first introduced the concept of personal branding.

Rather than simply republishing old material, the publications aim to deepen and update original ideas. David Lidsky, head of editorial strategy for Mansueto Ventures, notes that while Peters' article was provocative, it lacked practical tools. The new projects seek to address contemporary needs by offering actionable advice for building and managing personal brands.

Similarly, Inc. is leveraging its historical data. Its Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fastest-growing private companies in America, traces its origins back to the Inc. 100 list in the 1980s. Although the process has evolved from manual tabulation to a fully digital operation with a 10x scale increase, the core mission remains: to identify and highlight the contributions of growth companies to the economy. Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc., recalls the significant transformation while emphasizing the unchanged spirit of discovery.