High top-line revenue is a vanity metric if it doesn't translate to profit. By setting a high margin target (e.g., 80%+) and enforcing it through pricing and cost management, you ensure the business is sane and profitable, not just busy.

Founders often feel guilty about raising prices. Reframe this: sustainable profit margins are what allow your business to survive and continue serving customers. Without profitability, the business fails and everyone loses. It's a matter of ensuring longevity, not greed.

To convince a CEO of a brand's value, ask one simple question: 'Do we have pricing power?' This metric—the ability to raise prices at or above inflation without losing demand—cuts through marketing jargon. It is the most direct, tangible indicator of brand health that resonates with finance-focused leadership.

Product-led models create deep loyalty and organic demand, providing a stable business foundation. Marketing-led models can scale faster but risk high customer churn and rising acquisition costs if the product doesn't resonate, leading to business volatility. An ideal approach blends both strategies for sustainable scale.

Product marketers often struggle to prove direct ROI. By influencing pricing strategy, they can make a tangible and measurable impact on revenue and ARR. Pricing is a form of value communication—a core PMM competency—making it a natural area for them to lead and demonstrate their contribution to the bottom line.

Most businesses mistakenly focus their marketing strategy solely on growth (lead generation). A complete strategy must also encompass brand strategy (messaging, positioning) and customer experience strategy (retention, referrals) to create a sustainable system.

Instead of choosing between Product-Led Growth (PLG) and Sales-Led Growth (SLG), companies should treat them as a portfolio. Test both motions and continuously invest where you see incremental ROI, rather than treating them as mutually exclusive strategies.

Marketing plans often fail because they are created in a vacuum. A robust marketing strategy must be built upon the company's core business strategy, including its vision, values, and business model, to ensure it supports overall objectives like growth targets.

Escape the trap of chasing top-line revenue. Instead, make contribution margin (revenue minus COGS, ad spend, and discounts) your primary success metric. This provides a truer picture of business health and aligns the entire organization around profitable, sustainable growth rather than vanity metrics.