In this episode of the Marketing Spark podcast, Mark Evans sits down with Allyson Letteri to delve into the crucial role of strategic messaging and positioning for startups.  Allyson, the author of "Standout Startup," shares her extensive experience in helping startups navigate the complex landscape of product marketing. She emphasizes how startups often inadvertently become their own first product marketers, highlighting the importance of crafting messages that resonate with their ideal audience to fuel growth. Allyson offers a deep dive into the common pitfalls startups face, such as focusing too heavily on product features instead of benefits and the value they bring to customers. She stresses the significance of understanding your audience and using this knowledge to guide the development of compelling, high-converting content. The conversation covers practical advice on creating a marketing strategy that not only attracts but also retains customers by continuously adapting messaging to reflect product evolution and market dynamics.