Tag Archives: product marketing

Populating the Queue When You Can’t Pull the Trigger

In this post, I knew I wanted to talk about preparing content for a product marketing effort. One in which the content had to be ready when someone pulled the trigger.

But I suspected that Google Gemini wouldn’t permit generation of an appropriate “trigger” picture because of Google’s guardrails.

Trigger and others from Republic Pictures. Public Domain.

So I moved in a different direction.

Pulling the trigger

But what’s the trigger?

The trigger to move forward—with a product launch, an event, an unsolicited proposal, hatever.

But if you’re a product marketer, and it’s your product, why can’t you pull the trigger?

Storytelling time.

The date is the date, but what is the date?

Imagen 4.

I was brought into a particular project, where everyone was readying go-to-market content for an executive meeting on a particular date.

Both internal and external content.

Training, FAQs, presentations, videos, blog posts, press releases, email campaigns, landing pages, call scripts, the whole bit.

As it turned out, I authored a bunch of the content myself, and helped on most of the rest.

All of us working toward that executive meeting date.

Finally, the date arrived, and all the content was presented to the executive team, mostly ready to go.

The response?

“Not yet.”

Because at the executive level, the fate of one particular product is relatively minor, compared to the overall scope of the business.

Now what?

Imagen 4.

So was the effort wasted?

  • If the product were eventually launched, then obviously not. The content is already queued. It’s much easier to go back in the queue and update old content than it is to wait until you get the go-ahead and THEN create brand new content. (In three days.)
  • And if the product were never launched…it still may not be a wasted effort. The company will launch new products (unless the company is Rite Aid), and the (sorry for the next two words) lessons learned from the old product can apply to the new one.

Provided you have a repeatable system for going to market (part of your strategy and process documents, or perhaps something less formal if your founder despises process) that you can dust off in the future.

But if you need content for now, or even for later, Bredemarket can create content for tech marketers.

Stop losing prospects! Use Bredemarket content for tech marketers
Content for tech marketers.

For Identity/Biometric Marketing Leaders Only (July 2025 version)

For identity/biometric marketing leaders only!

Make an impact with the biometric product marketing expert.

Make an impact with the biometric product marketing expert.

Bredemarket’s biometric product marketing expertise: https://bredemarket.com/bpme/

Biometric product marketing expert
Biometric product marketing expert.

Discuss your content-proposal-analysis needs with me before your competitors steal your prospects: https://bredemarket.com/mark/

Stop losing prospects! Use Bredemarket content for tech marketers
Content for tech marketers.

(New landing page.)

Expanding Internal Content

(Imagen 4)

This week I’ve been expanding an internal document for a Bredemarket client.

I guess I could call it a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for salespeople, although it contains more than just the FAQs.

Jack Webb (Joe “Just the Facts” Friday). Public Domain.

Why expand it? Because we added new FAQ categories.

  • Easy enough to expand if your document is designed for expansion from the start.
  • And if you include a regular checkpoint (say, quarterly or monthly) to revisit your internal and external content.
  • It’s a lot of maintenance, but it’s worth it in the long run. Do you really want to head into 2026 with Windows 10 installation instructions?

(Right now a lot of you are making notes to scrub Windows 10 from your marketing collateral. Good for you.)

Of course, FAQs aren’t the only content that product marketers create. There are others. 

If you need help creating or maintaining your content, Bredemarket can help.

Stop losing prospects! Use Bredemarket content for tech marketers
Content for tech marketers.

Authenticity, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and Product Marketing: Two Versions

When you’re…um…surfing the web, do you say to yourself, “I really hope I encounter something written by ChatGPT”?

Maybe you want to learn about a particular product and you’re hoping to find a page that begins with the words “in the ever-changing landscape of handheld gaming advances…”

Or you’re dying to read text that could be written by anybody…or by nobody.

Generative AI text is, after all, the “professional” tone.

When the CEO asks the product marketers to write just like the competitors, it’s possible that you could write exactly like the competitors by using the exact same generative AI tool (ChatGPT, because everybody uses it) and the exact same prompts to get the exact same content. This brands you as a respected member of the industry.

But whatever you do, act professionally.

Don’t randomly blow off steam like I just did.

Don’t loudly proclaim silly antiquated thoughts like “a bot should never write the first draft.”

In fact, forget that you read any of this.

Because I’m going to have it rewritten with a professional tone.

Because while your readers claim that they want to read authentic text rather than AI-generated text, they don’t know what’s good for them.

So I’m going to rewrite this the way it’s supposed to be done…with one exception. I’m going to use Google Gemini rather than ChatGPT. I know I’ll get in trouble for doing it this way.

But the text below is what readers WANT to read…right?

Navigating AI in Product Marketing: Authenticity vs. Efficiency

The increasing prevalence of generative AI in content creation presents a critical challenge for product marketers: balancing the pursuit of efficiency with the imperative of authenticity. While AI tools offer significant advantages in content generation, their widespread adoption raises questions about brand differentiation and genuine engagement.

A common misconception is that a “professional tone” inherently aligns with the output of generative AI. However, relying solely on AI, particularly popular platforms like ChatGPT, can lead to generic content that lacks unique brand voice and fails to resonate deeply with target audiences. When product marketing teams are tasked with mirroring competitor messaging, using the same AI tools and prompts as competitors can result in indistinguishable content, ultimately eroding a brand’s distinct identity within the industry.

This scenario underscores a fundamental tension: while consumers often express a preference for authentic, human-generated content, the demand for high-volume, rapid content creation pushes marketers towards AI solutions. The challenge lies in strategically integrating AI without compromising the unique elements that define a brand’s communication.

Product marketers are encouraged to consider the following:

  • Strategic AI Implementation: Instead of viewing AI as a complete content solution, leverage it for specific tasks that enhance efficiency without sacrificing originality. This could include initial research, data synthesis, or generating diverse content formats that human marketers can then refine and personalize.
  • Prioritizing Distinctive Brand Voice: Invest in developing a clear and consistent brand voice that transcends generic AI output. This involves defining unique terminology, storytelling approaches, and a tone that reflects the brand’s values and personality.
  • Authenticity and Connection: While AI can streamline content production, fostering genuine connections with audiences still requires human insight and empathy. Focus on creating content that addresses real customer needs, shares authentic brand stories, and encourages meaningful interaction.

The objective for product marketers is not to abandon AI, but to wield it judiciously. By understanding its capabilities and limitations, and by consciously prioritizing authenticity and unique brand expression, marketers can leverage AI as a powerful tool to enhance their efforts without sacrificing the crucial human element that drives true engagement.

Do you believe the future of product marketing lies in a complete embrace of AI, or a more nuanced integration that prioritizes human oversight and authentic brand voice?

For Identity/Biometric Marketing Leaders Only

(This is the old version of this post. See the new version from July 8 with improved algorithmic landing page-ability.)

For identity/biometric marketing leaders only!

Make an impact with the biometric product marketing expert.

Make an impact with the biometric product marketing expert.

Bredemarket’s biometric product marketing expertise: https://bredemarket.com/bpme/

Biometric product marketing expert
Biometric product marketing expert.

Discuss your content-proposal-analysis needs with me before your competitors steal your prospects: https://bredemarket.com/cpa/

CPA
Bredemarket’s “CPA.”

In the Distance

Part of Ubiquity Via Focus is knowing whom to EXCLUDE from your focus.

If my former friends’ focus is elsewhere, my focus won’t impede on theirs.

In the distance.

If you are focused on identity/biometric and technology product marketng, here is What I Do: https://bredemarket.com/what-i-do/

If their focus is elsewhere, my focus won’t impede.

Wanna Know a “Why” Secret About Bredemarket’s TPRM Content?

(The picture is only from Imagen 3. I’ve been using it since January, as you will see.)

Here’s a “why” question: why does Bredemarket write the things it writes about?

Several reasons:

  • To promote Bredemarket’s services so that you meet with me and buy them.
  • To educate about Bredemarket’s target industries of identity/biometrics, technology, and Inland Empire business.
  • To dive into specific topics that interest me, such as deepfakes, HiveLLM, identity assurance levels, IMEI uniqueness, and Leonardo Garcia Venegas (the guy with the REAL ID that was real).
  • Because I feel like it.

And then there are really specific reasons such as this one.

In late January I first wrote about third-party risk management (TPRM) and have continued to do so since.

Why?

TPRM firm 1

Because at that time, a TPRM firm had a need for content marketing and product marketing services, and Bredemarket started consulting for the firm.

I was very busy for 2 1/2 months, and the firm was happy with my work. And I got to dive into TPRM issues in great detail:

  • The incredibly large number of third parties that a vendor deals with…possibly numbering into the hundreds. If hundreds of third parties have YOUR data, and just ONE of those third parties is breached, bad things can happen.
  • The delicate balance between automated and manual work. News flash: if you look at my prior employers, you will see that I’ve dealt with this issue for over 30 years.
  • Organizational process maturity. News flash: I used to work for Motorola.
  • All the NIST standards related to TPRM, including NIST’s discussion of FARM (Frame, Assess, Respond, and Monitor). News flash: I’ve known NIST standards for many years.
  • Other relevant standards such as SOC 2. News flash: identity verification firms deal with SOC 2 also.
  • Fourth-party, fifth-party, and other risks. News flash: anyone that was around when AIDS emerged already knows about nth-party risk.

But for internal reasons that I can’t disclose (NDA, you know), the firm had to end my contract.

Never mind, I thought. I had amassed an incredible 75 days of TPRM experience—or about the same time that it takes for a BAD TPRM vendor to complete an assessment. 

But how could I use this?

TPRM firm 2

Why not put my vast experience to use with another TPRM firm? (Honoring the first firm’s NDA, of course.)

So I applied for a product marketing position with another TPRM firm, highlighting my TPRM consulting experience.

The company decided to move forward with other candidates.

The firm had another product marketing opening, so I applied again.

The company decided to move forward with other candidates.

Even if this company had a third position, I couldn’t apply for it because of its “maximum 2 applications in 60 days” rule.

TPRM firm 3

Luckily for me, another TPRM firm had a product marketing opening. TPRM is active; the identity/biometrics industry isn’t hiring this many product marketers.

  • So I applied on Monday, June 2 and received an email confirmation:
  • And received a detailed email on Tuesday, June 3 outlining the firm’s hiring process.
  • And received a third email on Wednesday, June 4:

“Thank you for your application for the Senior Product Marketing Manager position at REDACTED. We really appreciate your interest in joining our company and we want to thank you for the time and energy you invested in your application to us.

“We received a large number of applications, and after carefully reviewing all of them, unfortunately, we have to inform you that this time we won’t be able to invite you to the next round of our hiring process.

“Due to the high number of applications, we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback to your application at this early stage of the process.

“Again, we really appreciated your application and we would welcome you to apply to REDACTED in the future. Be sure to keep up to date with future roles at REDACTED by following us on LinkedIn and our other social channels. 

“We wish you all the best in your job search.”

Unfortunately, I apparently did not have “impressive credentials.” Oh well.

TPRM firm 4?

What now?

If nothing else, I will continue to write about TPRM and the issues I listed above.

Well, if any TPRM firm wants to contract with Bredemarket, schedule a meeting: https://bredemarket.com/cpa/

And if any TPRM firm wants to use my technology experience and hire me as a full-time product marketer, contact my personal LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbredehoft

I’m motivated to help your firm succeed, and make your competitors regret passing on me.

Sadly, despite my delusions of grandeur and expositor syndrome (to be addressed in a future Bredemarket blog post), I don’t think any TPRM CMOs are quaking in their boots and fearfully crying, “We missed out on Bredehoft, and now he’s going to work for the enemy and crush us!”

But I could be wrong.

Too Many Trees in the Forrester?

As far as Forrester is concerned:

“[O]nly a quarter of firms employ a launch process even vaguely approaching best-in-class…”

But I take this with a grain of salt, because Forrester has a product it is marketing.

“We began by introducing attendees to our proprietary Product Marketing And Management (PMM) Model (client login required).”

I’m not a client, so I don’t have a login. But Forrester’s PMM Model appears to cover some important topics.

  • Proposals.
  • Market requirements.
  • Dashboards.
  • Defining your hungry people, although Forrester uses the legacy term target audience. (Hey, I try.)
  • Sales targets.
  • Competitive differentiation.

And that was just the beginning, because Forrester is certainly comprehensive.

Although it sounds like the full Forrester PMM Model process may be completely mystifying and overwhelming if you have no model at all. I know.

Better to start off moving from Level 1 to Level 2 in a maturity model rather than trying to jump to Level 5.

(Imagen 3)

Why Does TPRM Fail? Not Because of the TPRM Software Providers.

For years I have maintained that the difficulties in technology are not because of the technology itself.

Technology can do wonderful things.

The difficulties lie with the need for people to agree to use the technology.

And not beg ignorance by saying “I know nothing.”

(Image of actor John Banner as Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes is public domain.)

Case in point

I just saw an article with the title “TPRM weaknesses emerge as relationship owners fail to report red flags.”

Unlike some clickbait-like article titles, this one from Communications Today succinctly encapsulates the problem up front.

It’s not that the TPRM software is failing to find the red flags. Oh, it finds them!

But the folks at Gartner discovered something:

“A Gartner survey of approximately 900 third-party relationship owners…revealed that while 95% saw a third-party red flag in the past 12 months, only around half of them escalate it to compliance teams.”

Among other things, the relationship owners worry about “the perceived return on investment (ROI) of sharing information.”

And that’s not a software issue. It’s a process issue.

wildebeests on a stairway, young to old, with the oldest wildebeest possessing a trophy
Wildebeest maturity model via Imagen 3.

No amount of coding or AI can fix that.

And this is not unique to the cybersecurity world. Let’s look at facial recognition.

Another case in point

I’ve said this over and over, but for U.S. criminal purposes, facial recognition results should ONLY be used as investigative leads.

It doesn’t matter whether they’re automated results, or if they have been reviewed by a trained forensic face examiner. 

Facial recognition results should only be used as investigative leads.

Sorry for the repetition, but some people aren’t listening.

But it’s not the facial recognition vendors. Bredemarket has worked with numerous facial recognition vendors over the years, and of those who work with law enforcement, ALL of them have emphatically insisted that their software results should only be used as investigative leads.

All of them. Including…that one.

But the vendors have no way to control the actions of customers who feed poor-quality data into their systems, get a result…and immediately run out and get an arrest warrant without collecting corroborating evidence.

And that’s not a software issue. It’s a process issue.

No amount of coding or AI can fix that.

I hope the TPRM folks don’t mind my detour into biometrics, but there’s a good reason for it.

Product marketing for TPRM and facial recognition

Some product marketers, including myself, believe that it’s not enough to educate prospects and customers about your product. You also need to educate them about proper use of the product, including legal and ethical concerns.

If you don’t, your customers will do dumb things in Europe, Illinois, or elsewhere—and blame you when they are caught.

Illinois, land of BIPA. I mean Lincoln.

Be a leader in your industry by doing or saying the right thing.

And now here’s a word from our sponsor.

Not the “CPA” guy again…

Bredemarket has openings

There’s a reason why this post specifically focused on cybersecurity and facial recognition.

If you need product marketing assistance with your product, Bredemarket has two openings. One for a cybersecurity client, and one for a facial recognition client. 

I can offer

  • compelling content creation
  • winning proposal development
  • actionable analysis

If Bredemarket can help your stretched staff, book a free meeting with me: https://bredemarket.com/cpa/

Bredemarket has openings. Imagen 3 again.