r/ProductMarketing

Hey!
So basically I’ve launched this pet furniture luxury brand, it’s an untapped niche in the country where I’ve started it. This is my third month.

Second month was 10x the rev of the first month so the products are validated. However I was completely dependent on paid ads, and with meta’s performance this month things are looking down.
Profit is decreasing since ads take up a big portion of the costs, and not bringing in enough customers.

I’m thinking I need to start organic, but I currently can’t finance shoots/video content.
However I’m good with AI, but I have 0 creative direction skills. So I was thinking about doing reels/content with higgsfield. Organic marketing.

My issue here is I’m still building the skill, I struggle to find ideas of how to make a proper video or what should its contents consist of. Additionally, I’ve been finding it difficult to create proper videos using higgsfield something always glitches out.

I wanted to hear insights on whether you think this is a right direction? Or would it be better to make a marketing agency handle this, though it would cost me a fortune, but if the roi balances it out it could work.

If anyone is willing to help me out with a couple of ideas/insights on this, that would be very much appreciated!

I've been giving multiple interviews and somehow I always get rejected in the final round where it's usually between me and another candidate. I have a feeling it's the questions about "why" that I'm not answering really well. For example why product marketing? Why company? X and what is my long-term career plan? I'm looking for some help and guidance on how to answer these type of questions while being truthful but knowing that I really don't know what I want to do long-term.

In the last interview I thought I gave a pretty good answer about why company x and why product marketing, but the interviewer who is a VP told me that you can get that at any other company and in any other role. So I'm looking for tips on how to personalize and make the answer less generic.

Back to Product Marketing after one year away.

I left a director level PMM role where I was leading three people and responsible for my own work out put. Had to leave the company after my boss, who I loved, and who promoted me was fired. They moved me to the product org. The boss they moved me under was an horrible, toxic, unsupportive lump of corporate bureaucracy with no experience. Literally a CPA running a team called “operational excellence” within in a product org. um ok?

I had to leave the role because of that manager. It took a huge toll on my mental health. I was threatened to be fired every few weeks. Fuck.

Learned that I don’t necessarily want to have manager responsibility. It’s so much more work. Mentoring has a place in my heart but I don’t think it’s for me right now. I have kids and a super busy home life.

Left the toxic job when a close friend of mine got me an interview for a partnership manager role in the 5 year old start-up he worked at. All the cool “vibes” and a dope product on the surface.
The start up world… how quick I forgot - it’s full of whiplash.

Partnerships? Well, that didn’t last and had no legs to begin with. 3 different roles in my first year. I asked for a raise once I was “head of product-led sales”. Oh, no can do they said, maybe after 6 months and hit your number. First thing go hire, train, and manage 5 BDRs. You have a $1M quota btw. Good luck!

I was working so hard and really trying but just not going to ramp AND hit a $1M closed won target starting mid year. The fuck? When I asked my boss about how we could go forward, I said I wanted to be an IC. They knew I don’t have experience running a BDR team but I do have experience as an AE. If you want me to close business that’s a better place for me. They said, let us think about it over the weekend to see where we can find a place for you. I was let go the following week.

I didn’t freak out, I knew it wasn’t the place for me. I started outbounding to all the companies I wanted to work for. My move was to message teammates on LinkedIn and ask their opinion on the company/ role telling them I wanted to apply. My hit rate was surprisingly good.

Got through to 8 completely cold contacts
Had 5 conversations, which each turned into 5 internal referrals
1 converted to an interview

2 previous close contacts turned into referrals
Both converted into interview processes
1 of the previous contacts turn into an offer, which I accepted

57 days later I’m employed again.
Director level (but as an IC) for a mid sized PE SaaS firm. The best part is the comp package came out great! An increase of $35k base salary and a 20% annual bonus.

Times are tough of here. You’re not alone. I’ve been laid off before so I knew what to expect in some ways. Sharing this for anyone who needs help, inspiration, or just to vent in the comments.