Why Most PMMs Overpay for Tools They Don't Need
I paid $52K for 4 'best-in-class' PMM tools. I used 15% of their features. Here's why PMMs overpay and how to stop.
When to Consolidate Your PMM Stack: Warning Signs
I ignored 8 warning signs that our PMM stack needed consolidation for 18 months. By the time I consolidated, tool sprawl had cost us $240K in hidden inefficiency.
The Hidden Costs of Free Tools for Product Marketing
Our 'free' Google Docs and Sheets PMM stack cost $0 in licenses and $180,000 in time annually. Here's what free tools actually cost.
Evaluating Consolidated PMM Platforms: What to Look For
I evaluated consolidated PMM platforms using the same criteria I used for point solutions. Then I realized I was measuring the wrong things. Here's what actually matters.
Migrating from Manual Processes to PMM Platforms
I spent 3 months migrating from spreadsheets and Google Docs to a consolidated PMM platform. The hardest part wasn't the migration—it was unlearning manual workflows.
Project Management for PMM: Generic Tools vs. PMM-Specific
I evaluated 8 project management tools for PMM work. Then I realized PMM doesn't need project management—we need launch and campaign coordination.
Building Battlecards: Manual PowerPoint vs. Automated Platforms
I spent 8 hours rebuilding battle cards in PowerPoint every quarter. Then I paid $18K for Klue to automate it. The automated battle cards were worse than my manual ones.
J'ai arrêté d'utiliser Klue et créé mon propre système
Après 18 mois à payer 18 000€ par an pour Klue, j'ai construit un système d'intelligence compétitive qui coûte 200€ par mois. Voici pourquoi et comment.
Messaging Frameworks: Specialized Tools vs. Documents
I paid $8K for a messaging platform to manage our frameworks. Six months later, I was still rebuilding everything in Google Docs because the tool made messaging more complex, not simpler.
The Real Cost of PMM Tool Sprawl: A 12-Month Breakdown
I tracked every hour my PMM team spent managing our 8-tool stack for 12 months. The results were shocking: $240K in hidden costs beyond the $62K we paid for licenses.
ProductBoard vs. Aha vs. Notion for Product Roadmapping
We paid $16K for ProductBoard to manage product roadmapping. Then I realized PMM doesn't own the roadmap—we just need to align launches and messaging with it.
Customer Research Platforms: Dovetail vs. Gong vs. Spreadsheets
I paid $12K for Gong and $8K for Dovetail to scale customer research. One year later, I was still manually synthesizing insights in spreadsheets.
Why We Stopped Using Klue and Built Our Own System
After 18 months with Klue, we cancelled and built our own competitive intelligence system. Six months later, I realized we'd 'built our own' by choosing a consolidated platform instead.
Choosing Competitive Intelligence Tools: What Actually Matters
I evaluated 12 competitive intelligence platforms using a 40-criteria scorecard. Then I realized I was measuring the wrong things.
Product Marketing Tool Stack: All-in-One vs. Best-of-Breed
I built the 'perfect' best-of-breed PMM stack: 8 specialized tools, $62K annually. Then I calculated how much time I spent integrating them. The answer was depressing.
Win/Loss Analysis Tools vs. Manual Interview Programs
I spent $14K on a win/loss analysis platform. Six months later, I had 200 data points and zero actionable insights. Here's what actually works.
Customer Research Platforms: Gong vs. UserTesting vs. Manual Interviews
I spent $45K on Gong and UserTesting to scale customer research. A year later, manual interviews still provided better insights. Here's why automation doesn't replace conversation.
Launch Management: Asana vs. Monday vs. Spreadsheets
We paid $10K for Asana to manage product launches. Three launches later, we were back in spreadsheets. Here's what actually works for launch management.
Why I Ditched the $15K Messaging Framework Tool
I paid $15K for a messaging framework platform that promised to streamline our positioning. Three months later, we went back to Google Docs. Here's why specialized tools often overcomplicate simple problems.
Notion vs. Confluence vs. Google Docs for Product Marketing
I migrated our PMM docs from Google Drive to Notion to Confluence and back to Notion in 18 months. Here's what I learned about documentation tools versus documentation strategy.
Product Analytics for PMMs: Mixpanel vs. Amplitude vs. Spreadsheets
I spent $32K on Amplitude to understand product usage. Then realized I was analyzing data that didn't change our positioning. Here's what PMMs actually need from product analytics.
Sales Enablement Platforms: Highspot vs. Seismic vs. Google Docs
We paid $22K for Highspot. Sales reps still couldn't find the right content. Here's what I learned about sales enablement platforms versus actual enablement.
We Spent $30K on Battlecard Software (And Went Back to Google Slides)
After 14 months with automated battlecard software, we cancelled and went back to manual Google Slides. The automated version was more comprehensive but less useful.
Do You Really Need a Dedicated Competitive Intelligence Platform?
I convinced my boss to buy Klue. Six months later, I convinced her to cancel it. Here's why dedicated competitive intelligence platforms are the wrong solution for most PMM teams.
Competitive Intelligence Tools: Klue vs. Crayon vs. Manual Tracking
I was paying $18K annually for Klue when I realized most competitive intelligence platforms solve the wrong problem. Here's what actually matters.
I Evaluated 8 Competitive Intelligence Tools (Here's What I Learned)
After spending 6 weeks testing Klue, Crayon, Kompyte, and 5 others, I learned that most PMMs don't need a $40K competitive intelligence platform. Here's what you actually need.