Christina Harker, PhD’s Post

Your Startup Growth Phase challenge: Balancing Power Users and Newcomers The hardest part of a product's journey? Definitely the growth phase. It’s that tricky middle ground where you need to keep your power users hooked (because, let’s face it, retention is king) while also making new users happy with features that might not even benefit your old-timers. Here’s what’s worked for me: 1. Start by Assessing Users and Product Type: - **Hardcore Products:** These are for the die-hard users. They don’t need things to be easier—they love the complexity. - **Softcore Products:** These should be usable by anyone. Features need to cater to a wide audience without overcomplicating things. 2. Shipping the Right Features: - For **softcore products** (where everyone should be able to use all functions), I lean towards shipping features aimed at new users, it has proven to drive growth more. But here's the catch: you need to keep a certain level of complexity. If you go too far in making things simple, you risk losing the product’s core essence. Balancing these aspects is key. It’s about driving growth without sacrificing what makes your product special to your loyal users. #ProductManagement #GrowthStrategy #UserRetention #ProductDevelopment ---

Cracking the Code: How to Build Products Users Love! 🚀 Ever wondered what makes a startup soar while others struggle to take off? 🤔 Here's a secret sauce that could change everything! Imagine a founder who sees every user interaction as a golden opportunity. This isn't just about building a product, it's about building a relationship. A meaningful, two-way conversation that keeps the user's needs at the heart of every decision. 💬 🔑 The Best Founders: 1.Engage Continuously: Always keep the conversation going. Understand what users truly want by asking open-ended questions. 2.Look Beyond Borders: Use networks and communities to find real users beyond your immediate circle. 3.Solve Problems, Not Features: Focus on the pain points users face, not just the fancy features. 4.Build with Purpose: Use user feedback to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that hits the mark. 5.Create Trust: Be open, transparent, and genuine. Make users feel heard and valued. It's a simple yet powerful approach: Engage, Listen, Build, Repeat. That's the mantra to create something truly remarkable. 🙌 Remember, when you build with users, you build for success! #StartupSuccess #UserFirst #CustomerLove #ProductDevelopment #BuildingTrust #EntrepreneurMindset #GrowthHacking

Building a successful startup starts with finding that magical fit between your product and the market. Wouldn't you like to hit the bullseye with your product? Here are four essential strategies to ensure your offering perfectly aligns with market needs: Number 3 is CRUCIAL! 🎯 Dive Deep into Customer Research: Get to know your audience inside out, and gather feedback to understand their pain points and desires. 🎯 Iterate Like There's No Tomorrow: Embrace an agile approach to development, constantly testing and refining your product based on real-world feedback. 🎯 Seek Validation from Early Adopters: Win over those adventurous early adopters who are eager to try new solutions, and learn from their experiences to fine-tune your offering. 🎯 Track Metrics Like a Pro: Define clear metrics to measure user engagement, satisfaction, and retention, giving you valuable insights into how well your product resonates with the market. How do you determine product/market fit? Let us know in the comments 👇 #productmarketfit

Building a product is like raising a child. It's a wild ride full of sleepless nights, endless energy drinks, and unconditional love. But, unlike a child, your product won't have a baby album and that's where documentation comes in. Imagine that your product is on the rise to maturity, users are going crazy, and then... a competitor disrupts your hit single. Turns out, you never documented anything about that product. How embarrassing and costly is that? Documentation isn't just for tech nerds; it's for anyone who wants to avoid product amnesia. It's like having a clear record - you can predict the future, learn from the past, and avoid making the same mistakes over and over. So, how do you get started? - Document your product's mission and purpose. - Document the needs and desires of your target audience. - Document your product's roadmap. - Document any changes and improvements. - Document the wisdom gained from your experiences. - Document everything that has to do with the product. Remember, your product's journey is more than just a collection of facts - it's a living, breathing entity that can guide you and your team to success. And that's it! Can I know your thoughts on product documentation? #Linkedin #ProductManagers #TechStartups #Founders #VVWITHMAO PC: Pinterest

I know you want to build the shiny thing. But for the love of all that is your time and financial runway, think twice before you do. Ok that might be a bit dramatic, but hear me out. Yesterday I met with an early stage founder who is just starting to generate revenue, huge heck yes we have a signal! They have a problem though... Churn. In our chat I got a sense of where they're at, and in true fashion they have big feature goals (it's exciting to add in the new!), but it was clear that the foundational user experience pieces need love first. I'll add, this founder is also a developer so it's easy for them to build new features, but that's why prioritization is key. Yes you can build, but is it the right thing to build? Will it move the needle? Will it address key friction points? Is it the best use of your time and "dollars"? Even though you can build it your time still ='s dollars. My reco: ▫ Assess why churn is happening (beyond that which is expected) via a few usability tests, ensure users can easily get their "jobs" done ▫ Speak with users who have churned to understand why ▫ Review findings against what you think should be done ▫ Update your upcoming sprints and roadmap accordingly Talking to your customers and understanding their goals along your product development journey ensures you're building a product that meets their needs. Was this story helpful? Let me know below 🙏 #ProductStrategy #ProductRoadmap #FractionalProduct ________________ Not sure where to start? I help startups craft their product strategies, and build informed products. Reach out or schedule a free 30-min discovery call from the “Let's work together! 🚀” link in my profile. 

Common MVP Mistakes That Drain Time and Money Spent weeks building an MVP only to realize you’ve wasted time and money? You’re not alone. Here are some facts that might save you from making costly mistakes: Why do so many MVPs fail to launch on time? Many founders focus on perfecting every feature instead of getting a basic version out quickly. Remember, MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. Stick to solving one core problem. Can I skip market research if I’m confident about my idea? Never. Skipping market research is a surefire way to build something nobody wants. Validate before you build – every time. Should we build a custom tech stack for our MVP? Not at first. Start with proven, scalable tools. Custom solutions come later when you’ve validated your idea. When should I start gathering user feedback? Right away! The sooner you hear from real users, the faster you’ll know if you’re on the right path. Early feedback saves months of wasted effort. Mistakes happen, but you can avoid these common ones and get your MVP to market faster. Focus on what's essential and test early. 💡 #MVPDevelopment #StartupMistakes #FailFast #ProductLaunch

One crucial factor often spells the difference between success and failure of a business is understanding the needs, challenges, and pain points of our end users : Understanding End Users 💹📈 Pinpointing the True Problem: Guessing doesn't help. Dive into the market, engage with your potential users, and unveil the real challenges they face. It's like crafting a puzzle – you need all the right pieces to see the full picture.🔬 Uncover Those Use Cases: Your users are unique, and so are their needs. Take the time & understand the daily grind of your audience. It's these use cases that light the path to creating solutions that truly make a difference in their lives.💼 Embrace Challenges as Opportunities: Challenges aren't roadblocks; they're opportunities in disguise. Listen to your users when they share their struggles – it's your chance to innovate, solve problems, and come out on top.🕹️ Scaling with a User-Centric Approach: Picture this: instead of chasing customers, they come to you because your product seamlessly fits into their lives. That's the magic of understanding your users. It's not just about scaling; it's about scaling with a community that believes in what you've built.⚖️ Commit to putting your end users at the forefront of everything you do to build products that not only meet market needs but also exceed expectations. #UserCentricity #ProductDevelopment #UserFirst #StartupAdventure

🚨 The Risk of Launching a Half-Functional Product Launching a product that’s not fully functional can be a recipe for disaster. While startups and companies may feel the pressure to launch quickly, releasing an incomplete product can lead to serious issues: User Frustration – When users encounter bugs or missing features, it damages their experience and satisfaction. Loss of Trust – Trust is hard to build but easy to lose. A flawed product can make customers think twice about using your service again. Brand Damage – A bad first impression can stick, harming your brand reputation in the long run. A strong, well-tested product is key to building lasting relationships with your users. It’s better to take the time to get it right than to rush something incomplete. What’s your take on balancing speed and quality in product launches? #ProductDevelopment #CustomerTrust #BrandReputation #UserExperience #StartupTips

Most founders get this wrong: 'Like' isn’t what keeps users coming back. 2 years ago, I thought I cracked the code to building good products. ⚠(Spoiler Alert: I was wrong.)  I believed: - If users like my product, it’s enough. - Solving inconveniences makes a good product. - Positive feedback = success. But I quickly learned a harsh truth: - Likes ≠ Necessity. - Solving small issues doesn’t create a “must-have” product. - Positive feedback ≠ long-term success or retention. That’s when I knew I had to pivot. So, how do you ensure your product is a ‘must-have’? Here’s what I learned: 1. Measure Product Retention If users keep coming back without constant reminders, that’s a good sign. Track retention—loyalty matters more than likes. 2. Identify Real Pain Points Are you solving a problem that’s truly painful for users? Not just an inconvenience, but a genuine challenge that disrupts their day. 3. Look for User Advocacy Do customers recommend you to others? If your product turns users into advocates, you’ve hit the jackpot. 4. Conduct Market Research Understand your competitors and market trends. This will show you what makes your product stand out—and what to improve. 5. Ask the Right Questions “How essential is our product to you?” “What would happen if you stopped using it tomorrow?” If you’re unsure where your product stands, don’t worry. It means there’s room to iterate and improve. P.S. Would your users care if your product disappeared tomorrow? If not, it’s time to rethink your approach. *** 👋. I'm Othmane, your guide from 'nice' to 'must-have' products. Tap the 🔔 to get notified when I post 💙 Follow me for more. #Startups #Product #Founders #ProductManagement  #Business #Growth

...which is why digging deep, even before a product is built, is essential. People don't actually know what they want. If they did, they'd most likely found it already. They might be aware that they have a problem, but rarely are they aware of root causes. Our job is then to properly sit down with people, whether in person or on a call, and really try and understand what they're going through. How they work. What problems they face. How those problems impact their work, their clients, their organisation - and beyond. This needs to be a proper conversation, not a form, not a chat, not an email exchange. This also has to be repeated, over and over and over again a hundred times. Then, and only then, do you have some kind of basis for building "a product". Ultimately, people don't buy products - they buy solutions to their own problems. The problem for us building and selling products is that our problem is how to get you to buy our products. It's kinda upside down.