AMA: OkCupid Director of Product Marketing, Jane Reynolds on Product Marketing Skills
March 22 @ 10:00AM PT
View AMA Answers
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
Messaging is so important, not only when conveying new features, updates, and opportunities to your customers, but also when getting internal buy-in and gathering resourc...
713 Views
2 requests
What should I do when I don't think that the feedback from my boss is correct and how do I approach it?
I get a lot of critical feedback from my boss and I don't always know what to do with it or how to improve. Sometimes I don't even agree with the feedback.
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
It sounds like the feedback you’re getting may not be constructive, so I encourage you to ask your boss for specific examples, as well as recommendations of how they can ...
441 Views
4 requests
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
I find that people with strong soft skills often have the ability to pick up the hard skills quickly. People who’ve honed their soft skills are proactive about asking the...
446 Views
2 requests
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
It’s so important to understand the lift of the project you’re petitioning to add to the roadmap when approaching the team. If you’re not sure, speak with the stakeholder...
545 Views
2 requests
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
A collaborative attitude is a must. Product marketing is one of the most cross-functional roles in any company, so the ability to work well with colleagues in every verti...
539 Views
2 requests
How important are brand marketing skills for product marketers compared to analytical skills?
There is often a huge emphasis on analytical skills, instead of brand marketing skills, when it comes to product marketing job descriptions.
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
It depends on the role. As Head of Product Marketing at OkCupid, I rely on data and analytics to drive product decisions. But ultimately, my priority is ensuring that our...
903 Views
1 request
What advice do you have for recent graduates that want to go straight into product marketing?
Typically, these roles require 3-5 years of experience and/or an MBA. Are there roles we should target instead that will help transition into product marketing? What qualities do you want to see in young professionals that want to land in product marketing?
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
I started my career in editorial, and didn’t transition over to marketing until about six years ago. I can’t stress enough how important sharp communication and collabora...
996 Views
1 request
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
Clarity is key. With both internal and external comms, I focus on being as clear and concise as possible. And for internal communications, it’s important to make sure you...
615 Views
1 request
How do product marketers make sure they're learning enough varied skills to be a well-rounded professional when scope is an issue?
i.e. working at a large company with minimal scope, focusing on sales enablement but knowing you need experience on the product launch side, other marketing teams covering responsibilities, etc.
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
Reach out to the product marketing network! Sharebird is a great place to start :) And I find that LinkedIn is another helpful resource for connecting with other product ...
460 Views
1 request
How do you recommend working in my soft skills and their importance in the job interview when not directly asked?
I find that interviewers very often focus on the hard skills, but I think it’s the soft skills that can make/break a candidate. I usually try to highlight my soft skills within the context of my “STAR” stories.
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
I agree that soft skills are key, and highlighting them during “STAR” stories is a great way to work them into your interview. You can also share them when expressing you...
504 Views
1 request
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
The voice of the customer should be what drives your decisions as a PMM, and it reaches you through various channels. In some instances for OkCupid, that is completely da...
832 Views
3 requests
Upstart Product Marketing Director, New Products • 3y
First off, congrats! The positive impact that can have on revenue and growth is pretty remarkable. When standing up a new function, I always think broadly to start. For e...
1211 Views
1 request