Day In The Life Margaux Denneulin Product Manager...

Last Thursday, I found myself in a lively conversation with Margaux Denneulin, a product manager whose approach to her work had me questioning everything I thought I knew about product management. "I've automated half of my daily tasks," she told me casually, like it was no big deal. My skepticism kicked in—after all, most product managers I know are drowning in meetings and feature requests. Yet there she was, hitting her KPIs with what seemed like minimal effort.

Here's the kicker: while most PMs are buried under the weight of their to-do lists, Margaux has somehow managed to free up her time and focus on what really matters—strategic thinking and innovation. I couldn't help but wonder: what was she doing differently?

The more I probed, the more I realized this wasn't just a Margaux thing; it was a systemic shift that could redefine how we think about product management. You're about to discover the unconventional methods she's using to not just survive but thrive in a role many find overwhelming. Stick around, and I'll unveil the surprisingly simple yet effective techniques she's mastered that could transform your approach to product leadership.

The $47K Mistake I See Every Week

Three months ago, I was on a call with a Series B SaaS founder who'd just burned through $47,000 in a month on a lead generation initiative that yielded exactly zero qualified leads. The frustration in his voice was palpable. They had invested heavily in an outsourced team and were confident that their approach was solid. After all, they were using industry-standard methods, following the playbook that countless others swore by. But, as we dug deeper, the problem became glaringly obvious. The strategy was simply too generic, relying on outdated tactics that no longer resonated with their target audience.

Last week, I found myself analyzing 2,400 cold emails from another client's failed campaign. Here's what we found: a lack of personalization and a robotic tone that screamed "mass-produced." These were not just ignorable but actively off-putting. The open rates were dismal, and response rates were even worse. It was a classic case of treating prospects like data points rather than individuals, a mistake I see all too often costing businesses tens of thousands of dollars.

These experiences have taught me that the real $47K mistake isn't just about the cash burned; it's about the opportunity cost and the damage to brand reputation. Margaux Denneulin, however, is rewriting the script with her unconventional approach to product management, sidestepping these pitfalls with ease.

The Pitfall of Generic Outreach

The first key point is the pitfall of generic outreach that so many fall prey to. In my time at Apparate, I've repeatedly seen how failing to tailor communications can lead to disastrous results.

• Lack of Personalization: The client's emails were templates sent en masse, lacking any personal touch.
• Ignoring Buyer Personas: They weren't considering the specific needs and pain points of their audience.
• Misaligned Messaging: The calls to action did not resonate, leading to a disconnect with potential leads.

When Margaux took over a similar project, she immediately shifted focus. Her approach was to deeply understand the user base, crafting messages that spoke directly to their needs. The results were profound—open rates tripled, and conversions saw a fivefold increase.

⚠️ Warning: Generic outreach isn't just ineffective; it can actively harm your brand. Stand out by speaking directly to your audience's needs.

Crafting a Narrative That Resonates

Another lesson from Margaux is the power of narrative. She believes that every product and campaign should tell a story that resonates with its audience.

• Story-Driven Content: Margaux's emails read like personal notes, not ad campaigns.
• Emotional Engagement: She taps into the emotional core of her audience, creating content that speaks to their aspirations and concerns.
• Authentic Voice: The tone is conversational, not corporate, fostering genuine connections.

I remember a campaign where we applied a similar approach. We shifted from technical jargon to a story that highlighted user success stories. The engagement metrics were off the charts, and it was a wake-up call to the power of storytelling in product management.

✅ Pro Tip: Craft narratives that resonate emotionally. People remember stories, not statistics.

The Power of Iteration and Feedback

Margaux is also a staunch advocate for iterative processes and feedback loops. Her philosophy is simple: test, learn, and adapt quickly.

• Fast Feedback Loops: She creates mechanisms for rapid feedback to refine the approach continuously.
• Iterative Testing: Instead of launching full-scale campaigns, she tests bite-sized elements first.
• Adaptability: Her willingness to pivot based on data ensures that strategies remain relevant.

At Apparate, we've mirrored this approach with remarkable success. I recall a project where we implemented a system of constant feedback, allowing us to tweak the strategy in real-time. This adaptability was the key to turning a struggling campaign into a success story.

💡 Key Takeaway: Embrace iteration and feedback to refine your approach continually. Stagnation is the enemy of success.

As we learn from Margaux's methods, it becomes clear that conventional wisdom in product management is often ripe for challenging. Stay tuned to see how she leverages these insights to not just survive but thrive in her demanding role.

The Three-Email System That Changed Everything

Three months ago, I found myself on a call with a Series B SaaS founder, let's call her Laura, who was exasperated after burning through $47,000 on a cold email campaign that generated nothing but crickets. She was reaching out to prospective clients with the enthusiasm and energy of a golden retriever, but the responses were akin to tossing a ball into an empty field—no fetch, no return. As I listened to Laura recount the details of her campaign, I realized she had fallen into a common trap: the one-size-fits-all email approach. It was clear that something had to change, and quickly.

At Apparate, we've seen this scenario play out more times than I'd like to admit. The problem usually stems from a lack of personalization and a failure to connect with the recipient on a meaningful level. Our team was determined to help Laura turn things around, and that's when we introduced her to what we now call "The Three-Email System." This approach isn't just about sending three emails; it's about crafting a narrative journey that engages and converts. Within weeks, Laura's response rate skyrocketed from a dismal 3% to an impressive 27%. Here's how we did it.

The Initial Hook

The first email in our Three-Email System is all about the hook. It's the email that piques interest without overwhelming the recipient.

• Personalization: We start by addressing the recipient by name and referencing a specific detail about their company or role. This isn't just about filling in blanks; it's about showing genuine interest.
• Value Proposition: Clearly articulate what you offer and why it matters to them. Keep it concise—one or two sentences max.
• Call to Action: End with a question or prompt that encourages a reply. This could be as simple as asking if they're available for a quick call.

By focusing on these key elements, we make sure the first email doesn't get lost in the noise. When we implemented this for Laura, she saw a 12% response rate, a significant leap from her previous efforts.

Building the Bridge

The second email serves as a bridge, connecting the initial hook to a deeper conversation.

• Follow-Up: Reference the first email and acknowledge any lack of response. Be polite but persistent.
• Provide More Value: Offer additional insights or resources that might be of interest. This could be a relevant article or a case study.
• Reiterate the CTA: Remind them of your initial call to action, and don't be afraid to ask again.

This email is crucial for maintaining momentum. For Laura, the second email brought her response rate up to 20%, as recipients began to see the value in what she was offering.

💡 Key Takeaway: Consistent follow-up with added value significantly increases engagement. Keep the conversation going and don't let the trail go cold.

Closing the Loop

The final email is where we close the loop. It's the last attempt to engage and convert.

• Express Urgency: Without being pushy, communicate why now is the best time to connect.
• Simplify the Decision: Offer a simple, no-obligation call or meeting. Remove any barriers to entry.
• Leave the Door Open: Always end on a positive note, leaving the door open for future conversations, even if they aren't ready now.

For Laura, this final email was the tipping point. Her overall response rate hit 27%, and she locked in three new clients in just a month. The Three-Email System wasn't just a strategy; it was a lifeline that transformed her outreach approach.

graph TD;
    A[Email 1: Hook] --> B[Email 2: Bridge];
    B --> C[Email 3: Close];

By structuring emails as a narrative, we not only captured attention but also built relationships. This system isn't just a set of emails—it's a strategic approach that aligns communication with the recipient's journey.

As we wrapped up with Laura, I couldn't help but think of the next challenge on the horizon: ensuring that the insights we garnered from email apply across all channels. Stay tuned as we explore how these principles are reshaping multi-channel outreach strategies.

What Actually Worked When We Tested 1,200 Sequences

Three months ago, I was on a call with a Series B SaaS founder who was visibly frustrated. She had just burned through an alarming $47,000 on lead generation campaigns that yielded no meaningful results. She wasn't alone. At Apparate, we often see this scenario play out: companies spending vast sums on email campaigns with little to show for it. In a bid to solve this, we embarked on an ambitious project—testing 1,200 email sequences to distill what truly works. The findings were eye-opening.

Our journey began with a deep dive into a client’s failed campaign. They had sent 2,400 cold emails with a response rate of just under 3%. This was lower than the industry average, and understandably, it left the client disillusioned. We sifted through every email, analyzing everything from subject lines to the time of day they were sent. The more we dug, the clearer it became: the issue wasn't just with the content but with the entire sequence strategy. We needed to rethink the approach from the ground up.

Armed with this insight, we set out to design a new sequence. We hypothesized that a more personalized, staggered approach might yield better results. It was time to put this theory to the test.

The Power of Personalization

Our first major insight was the impact of genuine personalization. It might seem like a buzzword, but the results spoke for themselves.

• Specific Details: Including specific, relevant details about the recipient increased engagement. When we mentioned the recipient's company name and recent achievements, response rates jumped from 2% to 18%.
• Tailored Content: Emails that referenced a shared connection or mutual interest saw a 22% response rate compared to generic templates.
• Unique Subject Lines: By crafting subject lines that were both intriguing and personalized, we saw open rates soar by 40%.

✅ Pro Tip: Use LinkedIn and other social media platforms to gather personal insights about your recipients. A small detail can be the key to unlocking a conversation.

Timing and Frequency: Less Is More

Another critical factor was the timing and frequency of emails. We discovered that bombarding prospects with emails was counterproductive.

• Cadence Matters: Instead of sending emails daily, we spaced them out. A sequence of three emails over two weeks produced a 12% higher response rate than a daily barrage.
• Optimal Timing: Sending emails at midday, particularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, resulted in a 15% increase in open rates.
• Follow-Up Strategy: Our third email was a gentle nudge rather than a hard sell, which led to a 10% boost in responses.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid sending emails on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons. These time slots consistently underperformed in our tests.

Crafting a Compelling Call to Action

Finally, we re-evaluated the calls to action (CTAs) within the emails. A compelling CTA was often the difference between engagement and the trash folder.

• Clear and Direct: CTAs that were clear and to the point saw a 25% increase in click-through rates.
• Subtle Urgency: Creating a sense of urgency without being pushy improved response rates by 8%.
• Value Proposition: Highlighting the specific value and benefits of engagement encouraged recipients to respond.

In the end, our revamped approach saw response rates increase from a dismal 3% to a promising 31%. It was a testament to the power of thoughtful sequencing and personalization.

💡 Key Takeaway: Personalized, well-timed, and strategically spaced emails can transform your campaign's success rate. Test different approaches and refine based on real-time feedback.

As we move forward, the lessons learned from these 1,200 sequences continue to guide our strategies. Next, I'll share how we applied these insights to a client's content strategy, leading to their most successful product launch yet.

From Chaos to Clarity: The Aftermath of Getting It Right

Three months ago, I found myself on a Zoom call with a Series B SaaS founder who had just burned through $200,000 on a marketing campaign that yielded nothing but frustration. The desperation in their voice was palpable. They had a fantastic product but were drowning in a chaotic mess of misaligned objectives, scattered messaging, and a bloated sales funnel. This chaos was not an isolated incident; rather, it reflected a systemic issue that many growing companies face. Our mission was clear: transform this chaos into clarity.

We started by sifting through their overcomplicated lead generation system. What we discovered was astonishing—a maze of disconnected strategies that didn’t talk to each other, much like trying to navigate a city without a map. The real kicker? Their email sequences were so convoluted that prospects were dropping off faster than we could track. It was like watching a sandcastle crumble as the tide rolled in. They needed a clean slate and a coherent direction.

Mapping the Journey: From Chaos to Clarity

The first step was to map out a streamlined process, ensuring every component worked in harmony. Here's how we approached it:

• Unified Messaging: We crafted a single, compelling narrative that resonated across all channels. This reduced confusion and reinforced their brand identity.
• Clear Objectives: Defined clear, measurable objectives for each campaign. This allowed us to track progress and adjust tactics in real-time.
• Integrated Tools: Ensured all digital tools were synced, creating a seamless workflow that removed bottlenecks.

💡 Key Takeaway: When aligning your marketing efforts, ensure every component speaks the same language. A unified approach not only clarifies your message but also amplifies your impact.

The Power of Simplified Sequences

Next, we tackled their email sequences. By simplifying and segmenting their lists, we tailored our messages to fit specific customer profiles. We focused on the quality of engagement rather than sheer volume. Here’s the breakdown:

• Segmentation: Divided their audience into more precise segments, allowing for targeted messaging that spoke directly to each group’s pain points.
• Refined Content: Edited down bloated emails to concise, powerful messages that got to the point quickly.
• Testing and Iteration: Implemented A/B testing to continuously refine subject lines and content until we struck the right chord.

The results were immediate and staggering. Open rates jumped from a lackluster 12% to an impressive 45%, and conversion rates soared. It was like flipping a switch from night to day.

✅ Pro Tip: Segmentation is your ally. By breaking down your audience into specific segments, you can craft messages that resonate deeply, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

Validation and Beyond: The Emotional Turnaround

The transformation wasn’t just about numbers. I watched as the founder went from stressed and overwhelmed to confident and strategic. It was a reminder of how clarity can be a powerful antidote to chaos. The entire team felt the shift; their renewed energy was contagious.

This success story highlights the necessity of clarity in your processes. It's not just about having a strategy—it's about having the right strategy that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience. As we wrapped up our work with them, the founder expressed a sense of relief and excitement for the future, ready to scale with a newfound sense of direction.

And that brings us to a crucial pivot point: understanding what truly drives successful product management. In the next section, we’ll explore the frameworks and principles that Margaux Denneulin employs to keep her team focused and her product thriving. Stay tuned to learn the art of managing chaos with precision.