Should the CMO Own Product Marketing?

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Marketing Isn’t Magic—It’s Math (With Better Fonts)

Let’s get one thing straight: marketing isn’t a mystical art practiced by hoodie-wearing wizards who whisper to algorithms under a full moon. It’s not a vibe. It’s not a TikTok dance. And it sure as hell isn’t “just making things go viral.”

Marketing is math. It’s strategy. It’s business. It’s the science of attention, conversion, and retention—dressed up in Helvetica Neue and a killer CTA.

So if your current marketing plan is a vision board, a Canva subscription, and a prayer, buckle up. We’re about to replace your glitter with a growth model.

The Myth of the Marketing Unicorn

Somewhere along the way, we started believing that great marketing is about finding “the one big idea” that will explode your brand into the stratosphere. Spoiler alert: that’s not a strategy, that’s a lottery ticket.

Real marketing isn’t about unicorns. It’s about unit economics. If you can’t tell me your CAC, LTV, and payback period, you’re not a marketer—you’re a magician. And not the good kind. The kind that saws your budget in half and disappears when the board asks for ROI.

Framework: The 3Ms of Marketing That Actually Works

Let’s ditch the fluff and get into a framework that doesn’t require a TED Talk to understand. I call it the 3Ms:

Math: Know your numbers. CAC, LTV, churn, conversion rates. If you can’t measure it, you can’t scale it.
Message: Say something worth hearing. Your brand voice should be clear, consistent, and just edgy enough to make legal nervous.
Mechanics: Build the machine. Funnels, automation, retargeting, email sequences. If your marketing engine is duct-taped together with hope, it’s time for a tune-up.

When you align these three, you stop guessing and start growing. You stop chasing trends and start building traction. You stop being “creative” and start being effective (and yes, you can be both—this isn’t a hostage negotiation).

Case Study: The SaaS Startup That Stopped Chasing Clicks

Let me tell you about a SaaS company I worked with. They were spending $50K/month on paid ads and couldn’t tell me what their CAC was. Their homepage looked like a ransom note written by a UX intern. Their email list was a graveyard of unconfirmed signups and Gmail spam filters.

We did three things:

Rebuilt their funnel with clear CTAs and a single conversion goal per page
Segmented their email list and launched a 5-part onboarding sequence
Cut ad spend by 40% and reallocated to retargeting and content with measurable ROI

Result? CAC dropped by 38%, LTV increased by 22%, and their CEO stopped crying in meetings. Win-win-win.

Marketing Tips You Can Use Before Your Next Coffee Refill

Audit your funnel: If your homepage has 17 CTAs, it’s not a funnel—it’s a buffet. Pick one goal per page.
Know your numbers: If you don’t know your CAC, LTV, and churn rate, stop everything and figure them out. Right now. I’ll wait.
Write like a human: Your copy should sound like a conversation, not a corporate memo from 1997.
Automate the boring stuff: If you’re still manually sending follow-up emails, congratulations—you’re the bottleneck.
Test, don’t guess: A/B testing isn’t just for nerds. It’s for winners. Be a winner.

Truth Bomb: Strategy Beats Hype Every Time

“If your marketing plan relies on going viral, you don’t have a marketing plan—you have a fantasy novel.”

Look, I love a good meme as much as the next CMO. But if your entire growth strategy is “make something cool and hope it spreads,” you’re not building a business—you’re building a bonfire and praying it doesn’t burn down your budget.

Stop Worshipping the Algorithm. Start Serving the Customer.

Too many marketers are out here trying to game the algorithm like it’s a slot machine in Vegas. But here’s the thing: algorithms change. Customers don’t. They still want value, clarity, and a reason to care.

So stop chasing hacks and start building habits. Create content that solves problems. Build funnels that respect attention spans. Send emails that don’t make people want to unsubscribe and report you to the FTC.

Final Word: Marketing Is a Business Function, Not a Birthday Party

Marketing isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the clearest. The most consistent. The most customer-obsessed. And yes, sometimes the funniest—because humor builds trust faster than jargon ever will.

So ditch the glitter, grab a spreadsheet, and start treating your marketing like the revenue engine it is. Because when you combine strategy with execution, and math with message, you don’t just get attention—you get results.

And if you’re still not sure where to start, here’s a good rule of thumb: if your marketing plan can’t be explained on a napkin, it’s probably not a plan—it’s a Pinterest board.

Let’s Build Smarter Marketing Together

If this hit you like a double espresso of truth, good. That means you’re ready to level up. Share this with your team, your boss, or that one friend who still thinks “brand