@the_russ_dude@buffer Hey Russ! Ross here, one of Buffer's Advocacy managers. I just looked into your email. We have some additional reasons why that request is a bit tricky. I'll follow up via email and explain in a bit more detail. I'd feel frustrated too.
See that bottom number? We ticked over $22.6M ARR *during* our @buffer All Hands call. We hit one big milestone at the Retreat, and we hit this one while in our All Hands. I guess there's something to this collaboration thing. 😉
Wow, we did it! We have officially achieved a new all-time-high ARR at Buffer 🎉
Our previous all-time-high was $22,384,598 on February 6, 2020. Today, our ARR stands at $22,395,427.
This milestone has been 5 years in the making for us, and it's going to take a little time to sink in for me personally!
From our previous peak, we dropped 20% in ARR over 4 years to a low of $17,879,503 on January 7, 2024. It was a very nerve-racking situation to experience, and it took a monumental effort combining thoughtful strategy and diligent execution to turn it around.
What I'm most proud of, is that the team here today is largely made up of people who dug in or joined to support Buffer as we worked through our most challenging chapter as a company. 51% of the team (38 of 74) experienced the last all-time-high on February 6, 2020. A further 27 folks joined us during our decline. This means that 91% of the current team joined before our recent growth phase that began in January 2024 .
Each and every person at Buffer played a role in us reaching this new all-time-high ARR milestone. And it makes me very energized to think about what this team, having been through this experience, can build from here.
We're now officially in uncharted territory as a company. We have, by definition, never been here. I'm excited to keep going and see where this leads! And I think that defines this moment quite perfectly, because I believe that the way we'll discover how far we can take this company is by continuing to uncover our own path.
I’m incredibly grateful for a workplace that makes this time possible. Türkiye 2025 was unforgettable. I’m already looking forward to when we do it again in 2026! Until then—feeling charged up for a great year ahead at Buffer! 🙌 🚀 (8/8)
🛠️ Cross-team collaboration: I make it a point to connect with teammates I don’t usually work with. Retreat gives space for serendipitous conversations and fresh insights. It helps me see challenges through a wider lens. (5/8)
🤗 Gratitude session: One of Buffer’s core values is “Show Gratitude.” At the end of retreat, we take time to share thanks and personal reflections. There is never enough time for everyone to share, so it ends up spilling over into Slack afterwards. (7/8)
📖 Personal story groups: On retreat, we're paired up 3-4 other teammates from across the company. We meet over dinner and share life stories. It's one of my favorite retreat traditions, and I love leaving the week knowing a few others on a deeper level. (4/8)
My sixth Buffer retreat is in the books! We’re a remote team, but there’s something magical about gathering in person. These retreats fuel clarity, connection, and energy for the year ahead. This year in Türkiye was no exception. 🌍 (1/8)
💻 Team-Wide Support: At retreat, everyone—from Engineers to PMs to our CEO—dives into the customer support inbox. It’s powerful to watch our whole company learn from and support our customers together. (3/8)
Buffer has always believed in investing in time together—one week a year to gather our global team. I return from each retreat with fresh alignment and inspiration.
Here are 5 of my favorite highlights from this year’s time together: (2/8)
📣 Busting a Customer Support Myth!
Let’s clear something up: Customer support is NOT just about answering questions.
After years at Buffer, I’ve seen firsthand that the best support teams don’t just react—they anticipate, prevent, and improve the entire customer experience.
One of my 2025 commitments is to pick up an instrument and practice regularly. I've landed on bass guitar as something I'd like to learn! Does anyone have any particular resources (online or written) you found helpful? 🎸
Introducing Streaks in Buffer 🪴 Post at least once a week to build your streak – miss a week and it resets.
I've found from experience that consistency in social posting leads to compounding benefits. And our data reflects this: a 10-week posting streak can lead to 5x more likes, comments and reposts than remaining inconsistent.
Streaks is a gentle nudge to keep you on track. Check out your Buffer account to see your current streak (we're counting from the beginning of the year).