In a recent LinkedIn post, product management expert Melissa Perri highlights a common challenge faced by thought leaders and businesses alike: the gap between widespread content recognition and comprehensive brand awareness. Perri, known for her work on “Escaping the Build Trap,” her popular podcast, and training thousands globally, points out that even with a significant public profile, deeper educational offerings can remain unknown to a substantial portion of her audience.
The Nuance of Brand Awareness Beyond Content Consumption
Perri uses her own experience to illustrate this point, noting that many followers engage with her free content but are unaware of her product school, Product Institute. This observation leads her to a critical insight about the nature of audience engagement. She states:
“What I’m noticing is that content recognition doesn’t automatically translate to full brand awareness.”
This disconnect, as Perri explains, can occur even when a brand or individual has achieved significant milestones, such as best-selling books or a widely followed podcast. The assumption that broad content consumption equates to full awareness of all available resources can lead to missed opportunities.
Bridging the Gap: Intentional Connection and User Understanding
The author argues for a more intentional approach to connecting various facets of a brand or offering. Perri emphasizes that assumptions about what an audience knows can be detrimental, leaving potential value unrealized for both the provider and the consumer. She draws a parallel to product management itself, where teams might assume users understand the full scope of a product’s capabilities when, in reality, users may only be familiar with a single feature or a specific use case.
According to Perri, this situation underscores the need for clarity and direct communication. She poses a direct question to her audience to gauge their familiarity with Product Institute:
“Even when you think your message is getting through, you need to be intentional about connecting the dots. Assumptions about what your audience knows can leave value on the table for both sides.”
Perri further elaborates on this by stating:
“The same thing happens in product management. We assume users understand our full capabilities when they might only know us for one feature or use case.”
The Call for Direct Engagement
To address this awareness gap, Perri concludes her post with a direct inquiry, asking her followers about their knowledge of Product Institute and its offerings. This approach highlights her belief in the power of direct engagement to clarify understanding and to actively inform the audience about the full spectrum of value a brand provides. She asks:
“That’s why I’m asking directly: how familiar are you with Product Institute? Did you know about our courses, or are you just finding out now?”
Perri’s post serves as a valuable case study for professionals and businesses on the importance of not only creating resonant content but also strategically ensuring that the full breadth of their expertise and offerings is understood by their target audience. It’s a reminder that consistent communication and a proactive approach are key to transforming content recognition into holistic brand awareness.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Melissa Perri on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on January 8, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →