At product-first companies, many founders don't have a background in sales or marketing, leading to a common misconception that "marketing" is a dirty word. However, this mindset is wrong, as marketing plays a crucial role in accelerating growth and helping people feel good about making decisions. To create an effective product marketing strategy, it's essential to understand the role of marketing, start creating a plan, and align product and marketing teams. This involves setting clear expectations, telling customers what you've been building, avoiding common mistakes such as overpromising or undercommunicating, and focusing on storytelling that captures people's attention. Ultimately, marketing should help build a bridge to the future by dissecting products to make them accessible to the market. By aligning product and marketing teams, companies can create better outcomes for everyone, including customers.