Why Being Misunderstood in Product Marketing is Actually Your Superpower

Ever felt like nobody cares about you and your role? You're not alone.

Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) across the board experience this frustration daily. Too often, we’re seen as just another cog in the marketing engine.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Welcome to the next episode of Dying 4 Influence. The weekly newsletter for misunderstood B2B product marketers.

Know how the best PMMs operate in B2B. Get a dose of knowledge to stand tall in a sea of unseasoned marketing.

If you’re a new skellie, you can sign up here and join the misfits.

💡 We Understand We’re Misundertood

Here's the brutal truth: no one gives a shit about Product Marketing. At least…outside of us who are actually doing Product Marketing.

Like the messaging you see on many websites, our roles are shrouded in buzzwords and vague promises.

But we know we’re more than that. In fact, most of us are the linchpin for any successful organization.

Think about it…

Product marketing has the power to shape narratives, create demand, and drive repeatable growth throughout the business.

Yet, why does it often feel like we're screaming into the void?

Here's why:

1. Lack of Visibility

Most of the time, product marketers are operating behind the scenes. You could be the marketing equivalent of Batman, but without visibility, you’re just some scary guy in a cape.

2. Misunderstood Roles

Ever tried explaining your job to a friend and watched their eyes glaze over? Product marketing is continues to be misunderstood, even within our own companies.

3. Overloaded with Jargon

• "Product-market fit,"

• "value proposition,"

• "user personas"

• “go-to-market”

Any of these sound familiar? While these terms make up our world, they can also make us sound like a billboard for buzzwords. And nobody gives a shit about those.

But let’s flip the script. Here’s how I do it:

1. Be Bold, Be Direct

There’s nothing wrong with showering praise over yourself and others. Showcase your victories, even the small ones. Publish a trophy wall of wins, run internal presentations with your leadership, and shout your team's achievements from the rooftops.

2. Tell Stories, Not Features-Functions

People connect with stories, not features. Turn every product into a compelling narratives with similes and events they can relate to. In the right context, even the most mundane feature can change your trajectory.

3. Collaborate and Educate

Don’t be afraid to be the loudest one in the Slack channels. Engage your sales, customer success, and product teams. Show them how product marketing can make their lives easier. Host workshops, share insights from customer calls, and make sure everyone knows how much you appreciate their work.

🎙Featured Episode: Season 2 Finale
_{Why Being Misunderstood in Product Marketing is Actually Your Superpower}

After 29 episodes, we’re closing down our season 2 and we’re taking this opportunity to circle back on why PMMs are misunderstood today in B2B SaaS.

Being misunderstood isn’t the problem, it’s the apathy from colleagues and management regarding our roles and responsibilities.

But we should be proud of being misfits because it’s our uniqueness that can have a real impact on our jobs. All we need is more influence and less apathy. In this episode, we’re going back on why we started the pod, how we’re researching our market, find new episode topics, and a special way on how you can be on the pod for upcoming seasons:

• 💀 Why no one gives a shit about Product Marketing, outside of Product Marketing

• 💀 The key takeaways from this season that every PMM should know

• 💀 Our thoughts on the future of Product Marketing and what’s on the horizon

• 💀 What is the misfit madness and how can you be a special guest

Want to be a guest on our pod?

Check out this post, shoot us a LinkedIn DM at We’re Not Marketers, and we’ll take it from there.

📢 Share the Word

How many of your fellow Product Marketers need to read this? Drop them this newsletter so we can all enjoy the memes.