Is working fractional that secret weapon for in-house PMMs? In this no-holds-barred episode, Eric, Zach, and Gab debate whether product marketers with fractional experience have an edge when they return in-house. We dive into the gritty reality of juggling multiple clients, the mental health rollercoaster of working solo, and why most people don't understand what it truly takes to do it. Tune in for honest insights, soul-crushing reality checks, and maybe a few Mexican oranges along the way. Here's what to expect when listening... The real reason in-house PMMs with fractional experience have better boundaries with their bosses Why fractional PMMs develop stronger time management and communication skills than their in-house peers The surprising statistic about entrepreneurship and mental health (entrepreneurs are 2x more likely to face depression) How building a side hustle while employed gave Zach a "running start" when he got laid off Why hedging your bets with fractional work is smart even if you love your in-house job The brutal reality check: "I don't want to glorify the work...I was up at 4:30 AM doing work just to get ahead" When to know if fractional work is right for you (and who should absolutely avoid it) The truth about those LinkedIn success stories claiming "$20K/month after just 3 months" Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Host Banter 01:00 Episode Topic: Are in-house PMMs more effective with fractional experience? 02:30 Defining Fractional PMM Work 03:45 The Difference Between Client Relationships vs. Boss Relationships 05:58 The Truth About Company "Family" Culture 07:15 Advantages of Fractional Work (Scope Control, Premium Pay) 08:20 Challenges of Pricing Fractional Services 09:05 The Feast or Famine Reality of Fractional Work 10:45 Building a Side Hustle While Working In-House 12:02 Hedging Your Bets in an Uncertain Economy 14:00 Exploring Why People Stay In-House vs. Going Fractional 15:45 Finding Work You Actually Look Forward To 18:12 Key Skills Developed Through Fractional Work 21:00 The Mental Health Challenges of Solo Entrepreneurship 22:15 Book Recommendation: "The Dip" by Seth Godin 23:05 The Statistic on Entrepreneurship and Mental Health Risks Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this spicy episode, CEO & Founder of Foundation Marketing, Ross Simmonds reveals why content without distribution is just expensive digital paperwork. We dive into why product marketers ARE marketers (yes, even SEOs), how to build "content moats" that will still be paying dividends in 2030, and why LLMs will actually make SEO more valuable, not less. Ross drops some truth bombs about AI scraping the internet that might make you reconsider where you're spending your marketing budget. Why product marketing is just one layer of the "marketing onion" (and why that matters) The skills every marketer needs to develop if they want that sweet promotion (and bigger paycheck) Why your marketing strategy shouldn't mindlessly copy Canva's TikTok—even if it's working for them How SEO experts accidentally taught ChatGPT everything it knows (and why Google still matters) The "content moat" strategy that will determine which companies dominate in 2030 Why your CMO should be investing in content and SEO right now (before it's too late) How the rise of AI makes SEO MORE important, not less (despite what LinkedIn gurus say) The uncomfortable truth: if you can't sell your ideas internally, you're in the wrong job How to build "T-shaped" marketing skills (and why you need a capital "I" instead) If you want your content to actually drive results five years from now instead of disappearing into the digital void tomorrow, hit play. Ross reveals the distribution-first mindset that separates marketing that works from marketing that wastes. Show Notes 00:41 Meet Our Guest: Ross Simmonds 03:09 The Evolution of Marketing 05:37 The T-Shaped Marketer 10:03 Distribution First Mindset 14:09 SEO and Product Marketing 18:21 Investing in Content and SEO 24:11 Effective Content Distribution 31:18 Reflecting on Early Challenges 31:58 Embracing AI for Content Distribution 32:39 The Importance of Obsession and Continuous Learning 34:20 Practical Steps to Stay Ahead in AI 36:36 Building and Experimenting with AI Projects 45:55 Sharing Ideas and Overcoming Self-Doubt 49:10 The Power of Experimentation and Content Creation 52:14 Final Thoughts and Future Plans Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are most B2B marketers actually doing customer research wrong? In this episode, Content Lift founder Ryan Paul Gibson reveals why "just talking to customers" isn't enough and why one-third of marketers can't even get access to customers at all. From his days timing how long people take to put cream in coffee to calling customers without permission, Ryan shares guerrilla tactics for getting real insights when your company stands in the way. Tune in for a masterclass in effective customer investigation that goes beyond the junk food advice most marketers are fed: Why most customer interviews produce useless insights that can't guide marketing decisions The 95-5 rule: Why 95% of your market isn't ready to buy (and why that's what marketers should focus on) How one simple purchase decision took Ryan three years to make (and why that destroys most marketing dashboards) Why B2B marketers who can't explain unit economics will always lose budget battles The fundamental difference between B2C and B2B that most founders don't understand How Reddit changed B2B buying decisions forever (and why sales teams haven't caught up) If you've ever tried to make data-driven marketing decisions but got stuck with anecdotes instead of insights, this episode is your lifeline. Ryan shows you how to conduct customer research that actually informs strategy instead of just confirming what you already believe. Hit play to learn investigation techniques that will make your marketing budget work twice as hard. Timestamps: 00:54 Meet Our Guest: Ryan Paul Gibson 01:50 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 02:49 The History and Evolution of Marketing 04:56 Ryan's Journey into B2B Marketing 10:00 Challenges in Product Marketing 14:54 The Importance of Customer Interviews 23:05 Understanding B2B Marketing Dynamics 30:24 Understanding Research Design 30:59 Challenges in Client Engagement 36:09 The Role of AI in Market Research 36:50 Qualitative Research and Thematic Analysis 38:47 Leveraging AI for Faster Insights 41:21 Contextualizing Data with AI 49:51 Effective Customer Conversations 57:02 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Show Notes: "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey Moore (https://www.amazon.ca/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986) Ryan Paul Gibson's "DIY Customer Investigation Guide" (https://www.contentlift.io/how-to-run-customer-interviews) Eisenberg 95-5 Rule Research (https://marketingscience.info/the-955-rule-why-b2b-growth-starts-long-before-the-purchase/#:~:text=This%20concept%2C%20dubbed%20the%2095,not%20yet%20ready%20to%20buy.) Ryan's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-paul-gibson/) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is sounding "enterprise" killing your marketing message? In this episode, conversion copywriter Jessica Malnik joins the crew to expose why the most effective copy isn't about being clever—it's about stealing your customers' exact words. We dive into customer research plays you can use now, why corporate speak is a conversion killer, and how LinkedIn "lunatics" sacrifice credibility for clicks. Tune in for practical tips on creating content that actually converts instead of just sounding smart. What you get when you listen Why product marketers are the "Swiss army knife" of marketing (and why that's a good thing) The surprisingly simple research hack top copywriters use to write enterprise copy that doesn't sound robotic The hidden Reddit goldmine most marketers completely overlook How AI can help you analyze 1,000+ customer comments in minutes (including the exact prompts to use) Why Jessica refuses to work with pre-revenue startups (and what this means for your messaging) The embarrassing LinkedIn trend that's landing marketers on the "LinkedIn Lunatic" subreddit Why "What's in it for them?" trumps creativity every single time The counterintuitive reason why Jessica actually prefers clients with no messaging brief The three types of LinkedIn posts that drive real business (not just vanity metrics) Show Notes 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:47 Jessica Malnick on Product Marketing 03:36 Navigating Copywriting Challenges 08:34 Human Touch in Copywriting 10:08 Using Reddit for Audience Research 11:27 Tools and Techniques for Copywriting 18:34 LinkedIn Strategies for PMMs 23:05 Final Thoughts and Resources 26:16 Conclusion and Sign-Off Why being human in your copy matters more in the age of AI than ever before Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you're tired of building landing pages that follow "best practices" but still fail to convert qualified leads, this episode will change everything. Whether you're a product marketer afraid of paid ads or a demand gen specialist struggling to get PMM buy-in, this episode will help you create pages that actually respect your buyers' intelligence while driving real business results.  This week, we've joined by Tas Bober, growth marketing advisor and Scroll Lab founder. She reveals why the traditional approach to landing pages and sales collateral is fundamentally broken. We're covering: Why most B2B landing pages look identical (and why everyone hates them) How hiding pricing backfires when buyers find wildly different answers on Reddit The simple reason most CTAs fail (and it has nothing to do with the button text) How B2B companies waste countless hours debating stock photos instead of fixing real problems The contrarian approach: Why a good landing page should DECREASE your conversion rate "No one buys pants on the first visit" - Why optimizing for direct conversions is misguided How to build a freelance business: "Back up your backup" and why your career hinges on your network In this episode, Tas explains to the misfits her "champion's business case" framework that replaces manipulative marketing tactics with transparent, value-focused content. She delivers practical wisdom for creating landing pages that treat buyers like adults. Listen for actionable insights on disqualifying bad-fit leads, writing effective CTAs, and building a foundation for freelance success beyond the corporate grind. Timestamps: 02:43 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 03:38 "Product Marketers Are CEOs, Baby" - Why PMMs Run the Show 07:00 The Biggest Red Flags on Landing Pages 09:00 The Champion's Business Case Framework for Landing Pages 12:25 What a Complete Business Case Contains 14:25 Why PMMs Don't Like Paid Ads (But Should) 17:00 Why PMMs Should Be Involved in Campaign Landing Pages 22:00 How to Create Effective CTAs That Actually Convert 27:00 Why Hiding Pricing Information Backfires 31:12 The Truth About B2B Buying Behavior (It's Not What You Think) 37:15 Why Good Landing Pages Decrease Conversion Rates 45:00 How B2B Sales Collateral Overwhelms Buyers 48:03 The MVP Approach to Landing Pages for Resource-Strapped PMMs 54:15 The Problem with Obsessing Over Stock Photography 57:22 How to Build a Successful Solo Consulting Business 01:01:12 Building Your Network as Your Net Worth Show Notes: Tas LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasbober/) Her B2B website and landing page resource hub (https://share.hsforms.com/15UBXzrMjTgqAaYP4FyfrVQokh1r) Tas Website (https://delphiniumsolutions.com/) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ever wonder why most bottom-of-funnel content feels generic and fails to convert? In this episode, content strategy advisor Lashay Lewis drops knowledge bombs on the critical gap between product marketing and content marketing. She breaks down why teams are working in silos, how bottom-funnel content fails when the reader knows more than the writer, and why product marketers are the unsung heroes of effective marketing.  Why the knowledge level of the reader being higher than the writer kills bottom-funnel content conversions The reason most marketing teams fail to create effective bottom-funnel content  "Micro action, macro patience": The mindset shift that can transform your career in 6 months Why most companies operate like high school cliques, and how to break those silos The uncomfortable truth: freelance writers can't create effective technical bottom-funnel content Listen for practical frameworks on cross-team collaboration and real talk on making the scary leap from full-time to fractional success. Timespan: 02:12 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 04:15 Product Marketers as Underutilized Marketing MVPs 06:41 The Problem with Siloed Communication in Marketing Teams 09:12 What is the Bottom of Funnel Gap? 12:03 Why Bottom Funnel Content Fails to Convert 14:53 Questions to Ask Different Teams for Effective Bottom Funnel Content 19:12 Lashay's Journey to Building Bottom Funnel Expertise 24:34 Transitioning from In-House to Consulting 28:06 The Benefits of Leaving In-House for Consulting 31:57 "The Pain of Staying the Same" Mindset 36:41 Building Momentum with "Micro Action, Macro Patience" 40:32 What's Next for Lashay and Where to Find Her Show Notes: Lashay on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashaylewis/) Rob Kaminsky and Anthony Pieri's Product Marketing Content (https://www.fletchpmm.com/best-practices) Exit 5 Podcast Episode featuring Lashay Lewis (https://www.exitfive.com/podcast/drive-revenue-with-bofu-content) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is your win-loss data just expensive fiction written by your sales team? In this episode, Ryan Sorley (ex-Forrester, ex-Gartner) joins the crew to expose the hard truth about buyer research. From ripped jeans costing deals to bootstrapping a business while juggling kids and payroll, Ryan doesn't hold back on his journey from corporate misery to specialized success. Oh, and we uncovered the stupidly simple reason most product marketers fail at research. Tune in for honest laughs, real insights, and maybe a wake-up call about your "data." In this episode, we're covering: How to run a solo business when you have kids and bills to pay The "Taylor Swift Squad" theory of business growth Why most buyer research is just wishful thinking with fancy graphs The Powder Blue Taurus Moment: when Ryan knew corporate life was BS Why writing a business plan is a complete waste of time for solopreneurs How Ryan went from 0 to 100 clients with ZERO salespeople Check out his new book Blindspots on Amazon too! Timestamps: 01:00 Introducing Ryan Sorley, Win-Loss Research Expert 02:36 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 04:15 Ryan's Take on Product Marketing as Research 06:45 The Importance of Intentional Research 10:00 The "Superpower" of Win-Loss Analysis 12:34 The HubSpot Ripped Jeans Story 17:15 Ryan's Entrepreneurial Journey 19:00 The NJ Turnpike Moment: When Ryan Knew Corporate Life Wasn't for Him 21:00 How Ryan Discovered the Win-Loss Opportunity 23:45 Ryan's Transition from Gartner to Entrepreneurship 27:00 What's the Minimum Viable Plan for Going Solo? 30:00 The "Squad Life" Approach to Client Relationships 34:00 The Dark Times: Managing Cash Flow and Contractors 39:00 Specialization vs. Generalization in Consulting 42:45 Ryan's New Book: "Blind Spots" (Launch April 1st) 44:30 Closing Remarks and Farewell Show Notes: Ryan's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansorley/) Blindspots on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Blindspots-Ultimate-Building-Win-Loss-Program-ebook/dp/B0DYG9DMWR) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is your message testing just throwing random ingredients into a pot and hoping it tastes good? In this no-holds-barred episode, the boys tackle the chaos of message testing and why most PMMs are doing it wrong. From useless A/B tests with tiny sample sizes to executives demanding "just one more tweak," we dive into what actually works. Tune in for laughs, practical frameworks, and why your mom's cooking method isn't a valid messaging strategy. We're covering: Only 30% of product marketers have ever actually tested a message (and most of them did it wrong) Why A/B testing is the "let's not commit" cop-out of marketing teams The one-variable rule: why testing multiple things at once is destroying your results The critical difference between message testing and A/B testing that most marketers miss How to build a message testing framework that gets leadership buy-in immediately If you've ever sat through a meeting where someone suggested "Let's A/B test it" for a campaign going to 150 people, this episode will either validate your frustration or completely change how you work. Either way, your next messaging project just got a whole lot more effective. Timestamps 01:39 Question: How Many PMMs Actually Test Messages? 02:31 Why A/B Testing Is Often the Wrong Approach 04:00 Statistical Significance and Sample Size Problems 05:58 Testing Text vs. Testing Visuals 06:05 Messaging as Strategy vs. Tactical Implementation   09:01 Differentiating Message Testing from A/B Testing 12:15 The Commitment Problem in Marketing Decision-Making 16:16 How Trade Shows Can Validate Positioning and Messaging 19:45 Message Testing to Define Product Uniqueness 22:00 Eric's Process Misstep: Jumping to Experimentation Too Soon 27:45 The Scientific Method in Message Testing 29:01 The Gumbo Analogy: Why Most Marketing Isn't Replicable 34:15 Isolating Variables in Message Testing 35:36 Building a Strong Hypothesis Framework 38:25 Gab's Message Testing Resources (Message Market Fit) 41:30 The ROI of Message Testing and Business Consequences 44:35 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways Show notes: Victoria Rudi's (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriarudi/) Messaging Frameworks Message Market Fit (https://message-market-fit.com/) - Gab's resource for message testing frameworks and templates. Freckle.io (https://www.freckle.io/) - The Clay alternative talked in the example Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We have a rule here: Never get the same guest twice. Well, we’ve just broken it now because we’re getting Michele Nieberding for the 2nd time! The Director of Product Marketing at Metarouter, the Martech queen and two-time Top 100 PMM, returns to challenge one of the biggest assumptions about product marketers. We dive into the blurred lines between PMM, marketing, and product teams, why some org structures set PMMs up for failure, and how AI is reshaping the role. Plus, Michele drops tactical insights on working with sales, disqualifying bad leads, and scaling impact as a solo PMM. We’ve talked about:  ✅ The launch hamster wheel—why PMMs get stuck in product launches & how to escape it ✅ The red flags: If your PMM team reports to the CRO, run! 🏃‍♀️ ✅ How to work with sales without becoming a glorified content marketer ✅ The anti-ICP approach: Why knowing who isn’t a fit is just as important ✅ Feature matrix vs. value selling: When does sales actually need that comparison chart? ✅ AI for PMMs—the right (and wrong) ways to use AI for messaging, content, and research ✅ The rise of VP of Product Marketing—finally, a real PMM career path? ✅ The troubling trend: Why “Director of Growth & PMM” is a dangerous hybrid role ✅ Buffets, bad dating analogies, and how to disqualify bad fits faster than a bad Tinder date 🔊 Stay tuned for Michele’s must-know AI hacks, plus the biggest PMM trends shaping 2024! Timespan: 00:59 Introducing the Guest 02:36 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 04:15 Sales and Marketing Insights 09:45 AI in Product Marketing 20:45 Working with Sales Teams 25:13 Navigating Competitor Analysis 26:19 Disqualifying Bad Fits 28:16 Sales Reps and Disqualification 29:01 The Buffet Analogy 33:27 The Anti-ICP Concept 36:21 Sales and Marketing Alignment 42:40 Future Trends in Product Marketing 48:04 Closing Remarks and Farewell Shownotes: Follow Michelle on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Gong.io (http://Gong.io) (for sales call analysis) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Perplexity AI (for deep research) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Notebook LM (Google AI-powered research tool) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Gamma AI (Instant slide deck generator) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) BuyWords (on-demand copywriting agency) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Keyplay’s ICP Transition Gap (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) AgentGPT (AI agents for research & automation) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Prompt Genie (Optimized AI prompting tool) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-nieberding/) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Product marketers with a sales background often feel like they have a superpower. The opposite is even truer. Kyle Coleman, CMO at Copy.ai (http://Copy.ai), says yes—and he’s got the career journey to back it up. From SDR to marketing exec, Kyle breaks down why sales and marketing are inseparable, how storytelling (not the best product) wins markets, and why staying close to revenue is the key to career growth. Plus, he shares how he personally closed $350K in outbound sales while leading marketing. ✅ Why storytelling—not features—wins markets (just ask Salesforce). ✅ The biggest mistake most product marketers make when trying to prove their impact. ✅ Sales and marketing: two sides of the same coin or completely different beasts? ✅ Why the best PMMs own the revenue conversation. ✅ The "ivory tower" trap that kills product marketing impact. ✅ Kyle’s secret to getting buy-in from execs for category creation (hint: 75+ interviews). ✅ A real-life sales deck fail—and how Kyle fixed it by actually selling. ✅ The #1 piece of career advice for product marketers who want to be CMOs. If you're a product marketer aiming for the CMO seat, this episode is your playbook. 🔥 Timespan: 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:16 Meet the Hosts 00:56 Introducing the Guest: Kyle Coleman 01:53 Are Product Marketers Actually Marketers? 04:18 Sales and Marketing: A Unified Perspective 05:40 Kyle's Journey from SDR to CMO 07:42 The Importance of Staying Close to Revenue 12:10 Internal Buy-In and Category Definition 15:11 Advice for Aspiring CMOs 19:12 Using AI in Marketing Strategy 21:28 AI in Sales Enablement 22:40 Impact Over Quantity 23:57 Real-World Example: Transitioning to Enterprise 25:49 Hiring the Right Product Marketer 30:29 Marketing as a Leadership Function 34:51 Advice for Product Marketing Candidates 39:06 Kyle's Side Projects and Copy AI 41:45 Final Thoughts and Career Growth Tips Show Notes: Kyle's LinkedIn Profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyletcoleman/) Copy.ai (http://Copy.ai) Christopher Lochhead’s "Position Yourself or Be Positioned" Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.