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PMM Files #166 – Exaggerate the Problem Till It Hurts, Clever Pricing You Can't Leave Alone and The Simple Hero


Read Time: 3.8 minutes

Thanks for reading PMM Files. A newsletter where we share five cool product marketing examples we found last week.

Let's get to it...

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The PMM Foundry is a group coaching program for founding and solo PMMs. Each 12-week cohort gives you expert guidance, peer support, and proven frameworks to help you build your function with confidence.

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Example #1 - Exaggerate the Problem Until It Hurts

Fibbler just shared a new explainer video that SLAPs, even if it's clearly AI generated.

It tells an exaggerated story of a marketer who's struggling to show the impact of marketing on pipeline, until Fibbler shows up to save the day.

The video does what a good explainer should:

  • Sets up the problem
  • Explains how the product solves it
  • Shows the pay-off

And because it's using AI, they can go out of their way to make it over the top. For me, it's that over-the-toppness that helps get the point across.

​→ Watch Fibbler's video πŸ‘‹β€‹

Example #2 - Show What a Session Actually Looks Like

Pebble's "how it works" section does a great job showing what a day in the life of using the product looks like.

Most "how it works" sections walk you through features. This one shows how you actually use the tool.

The section is broken into four steps:

  • Start with their interests
  • Follow their curiosity
  • Keep exploring
  • Stay in the loop

By the end, you know exactly what it looks like when your child sits down for a session.

​→ See what a session is like in Pebble​

Example #3 - Clever Pricing You Can't Leave Alone

LeaveMeAlone has an unusual pricing strategy that's pretty clever. In addition to the usual monthly and yearly plans, they have a single-use tier called "Pay Once." It's a paid 7-day pass for $20. No free trial, no free plan.

I actually paid the $20 and unsubscribed from hundreds of lists. As I did, I got looped into a nurture sequence explaining why I'd want to stay.

It had messaging like: "Your inbox clutters up again fast. Give it two months and you're back where you started."

It's a smart way to collect revenue from people with a specific pain who want it solved now, and then introduce more when they have gotten value.

​→ See LeaveMeAlone's pricing page​

Example #4 - The Simple Hero

Acctual's hero is one of those refreshing examples of not trying to overcomplicate things.

Between the hero copy and image, it's easy to understand what the product is: invoicing software.

The copy clearly describes the value: get paid fast while giving clients the flexibility to pay how they want.

They even show transaction fees right in the hero, which addresses a major concern for this type of software: Bank transfer 1%, stablecoin 1%, cards 2.7%.

If only all heroes made things this simple.

​→ Copy Acctual's homepage hero​

Example #5 - Commit to the Segment

Most segment-specific pages are just templates with a few swapped words. Understory shows what it looks like when you commit.

Their site has a dedicated page for every experience business type. Cooking classes, boat tours, festivals. Each one earns its specificity.

For example, the cooking class page opens with "More full classes, less admin, more time for your cooking." Further down: "Running a cooking class is rewarding. Managing one, not so much."

Between the copy and images, this page speaks directly to this particular segment.

​→ See an example of Understory's use case pages​


The Coaching Program for Building Your PMM Function and Career

The PMM Foundry is a group coaching program for founding and solo PMMs.

Those of you doing it on your own, without a mentor, a peer group, or indication that you're β€œdoing things right.”

It’s not another course, or a series of packed webinars.

This is an intimate, 12-week cohort where you and 5-7 other PMMs will go deep on building your product marketing function, establishing core frameworks and processes, and handling the challenges that come with it.

After 12 weeks, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the product marketing function, plus templates and frameworks you’ll feel confident using.

More importantly, you’ll have a safe space to get feedback, workshop ideas, validate your thinking, and connect with other like-minded PMMs in the same situation as you.

The next cohort kicks off the week of September 7th. It’s intentionally kept to a small number of members (5-8), so apply now to secure your spot.

​→ Apply for the September cohort​

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Founding PMM Jobs

I've started a simple job board, focused on curating new Founding PMM job opportunities.

Some highlights from this week:

​Find More Founding PMM Jobs ↗️​


3 More Things

Three articles, posts, or tools you should add to your swipe file.

  1. ​How to Balance Quick Wins vs Bigger Projects - Founding PMMs get pulled in lots of directions. Jason gives some advice for how to think strategically about where you focus.
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  2. ​7 Signs Your Launch Is About to Go Wrong - Aatir Abdul Rauf breaks down the telling signs your launch is about to go off the rails and how to fix it.
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  3. ​A Closed-Lost Re-Engagement Play You Can Steal - Kyle Poyar shares how to take closed-lost deals and turn them into pipeline.

What did you think of this week's edition?

Hit reply and let me know, or leave a quick testimonial. I'd love to hear from you!

See you next Wednesday!

See you next Wednesday!

P.S.

We work with startups and founding PMMs that are trying to build product marketing from zero. If that sounds like you, here are some ways we can help:

  • ​The Jetpack is a library of templates, playbooks, and examples.
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  • ​The Foundry is a group coaching program for founding PMMs.
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  • Want to sponsor our newsletter? Let's chat!​
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​Jason and Aubrey​
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PMM Files πŸ—‚οΈ

Every week, Jason Oakley and Aubrey Chapnick share 5 practical product marketing examples. It's your weekly dose of PMM inspiration and practical advice in less than 3 minutes.

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