Harnessing Emotion in Product Management Marketing

This Reddit post nails an emotion most marketers skip: grief. Instead of shiny jargon, it zooms into the raw truth of product management—loss, frustration, and acceptance.

Marketing analysis

The dark background with white text creates instant contrast and focus. But the real hook? Emotional honesty. Talking about “grief” in a work context stops the scroll and hits deep because it’s rare and real.

Why it works

• Breaks a taboo topic, sparking curiosity.
• Uses emotional storytelling to humanize a technical field.
• Builds empathy and community—“you’re not alone.”
• Makes product managers feel seen (and share it).

Examples

• Buffer’s transparency reports turn company struggles into trust.
• Airbnb’s “Belong anywhere” campaigns tap belonging over booking.
• Basecamp’s posts about work burnout build fierce loyalty.
• Notion’s founder stories about failed launches earn user respect.