7 Messaging Principles Every PMM Should Know w/Collin Mayjack | GoFundMe

On the show today, I have Collin Mayjack, Principle Product Marketing Manager at GoFundMe.Before joining GoFundMe, Collin worked in product marketing at Oncue and Dataro and is the creator of Holy Shift.//In our conversation, we cover:00:00 – Intro: Welcome Collin Mayjack to the show01:33 – From pastor to product marketer: Translating complexity into clarity03:53 – Why side projects make you a better writer and messenger06:17 – The origin of Collin’s 7 messaging principles08:32 – #1: Clear is better than clever (and why most messaging fails here)09:57 – #2: Differentiate or die—how to bring product strengths to the surface10:55 – #3: Jargon is the enemy—cut through corporate fluff11:25 – #4: You can’t say it all—focus on what matters most12:24 – #5: Customers do care about features (with a twist)14:21 – #6: Talk to your champion like a human15:50 – #7: Good messaging flows from good positioning18:22 – Bonus: The best messaging is clear and clever—but clarity wins19:17 – How Collin tests messaging without fancy tools (and why he goes rogue)20:44 – Partnering with PMs to pitch new features to real customers21:43 – Using customer reactions to validate and refine messaging22:37 – Real-world naming feedback: letting customers vote live23:31 – Testing messaging in startups vs. larger companies24:49 – Scrappy tactics: using social, email, and founders to test ideas26:00 – How to choose the right customers for feedback26:58 – The politics of advisory boards and enterprise obsession28:11 – The PMM cheat code: bring the story, get invited to the table29:04 – Balancing product messaging with SEO and brand voice30:33 – Winning influence by starting with positioning, not copy31:31 – Using Emma Stratton’s VBF framework to earn trust and traction33:01 – The “mild sauce” effect: how messaging evolves through compromise33:59 – The power of pen-to-paper: why the strategist shapes the outcome35:45 – Influence, humility, and the politics of feedback36:43 – Why being likable matters more than being right38:10 – How Collin enables the sales team with clear, human messaging39:21 – “Tuesdays with Enablement”: internal sessions that drive adoption40:14 – How Collin builds 30-second sales stories that actually stick41:43 – The James story: an example of sales messaging that works43:07 – Talk tracks over taglines: why real talk wins43:49 – Being active in Slack and jumping on sales calls to support deals44:55 – Lightning round: One messaging tip you can implement tomorrow46:21 – What is living all about? Collin’s personal reflection47:00 – Where to find Collin and lift him up//👉 Where to find CollinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinmayjack/ Holy Shift Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holy-shift-pod/ 👉 Where to find JoshLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-chronister/ Substack: https://onmessaging.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUdKBktrLJWzNMDS45fh_Bg //🎙️ReferencedAlex Eaton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeaton1/ Mark Huber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markehuber/ Gab Bujold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-bujold/ Zach Messler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmessler/ Anthony Pierri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypierri/ Emma Stratton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-stratton-punchy/