Better products with fewer features: step-by-step checklist
Hey there,
I've worked in several companies and created many products. However, we never grow as fast as expected.
We were always thinking too big too fast.
Now, I'm just creating products that have 3 features max. It helps to focus on what really matters.
Keep this small checklist in mind to remember how to develop better products with fewer features:
1. More features does not mean more customers.
Each feature added is a trade-off clarity/usefulness.
2. At the MVP/Beta stage, don't try to copy all the features of your competitors.
Many of them are just "Nice-to-have" but not "must-have" features.
Focus on what your users will really use.
3. The big picture
Don't add any features to your product without clearly understanding what benefit it will bring to the product as a whole.
ie: working on a dark mode while you're in beta. It's a waste of time.
4. Avoid being 'the all-in-one solution for {insert here your industry}" from day 1
Keep your vision in mind, and build step by step. Start with a core offering. Iterate down the road.
5. Don't build any feature before talking to your customers.
I trust your judgment. You probably know the market. But until you talked with your customers, all your ideas are just hypotheses that need to be validated.
Rahul Vohra at Superhuman is embracing this concept.
A year ago, every new customer had an onboarding call. This helps them to build a gold mine of user feedback to improve their product. Needless to say that they're the best email client ever made.
6. Falling in the Build Trap is mainly caused by not communicating with your potential users and customers
Avoid that mistake at all costs. Ps: reading her book is a MUST if you want to be a good product Maker.
7. 80% of a product's success is linked with communication
For my side-gig, https://thechecklist.io, I'm focused on understanding what people need, and how to convey the right message.
Thinking about growing before achieving the PMF is the quickest way to lose money
8. At the beginning of your project, you shouldn't be too focused on the # of customers
Rather focus on the NPS {read: if they care about your product or not} and the retention of your customers.
Growing is easier than retaining customers with a bad product.
9. If your customers are not THRILLED about your next feature, don't build it.
Remember: 80% of the features of a product are not used by users.
Focus on the features that people are really using, and turn them into KILLER FEATURES.
10. Start with Data. Think with your guts. Act with your customer's voice.
There are plenty of tools available on the market to track the behavior of users.
Implement one of them from inception is without any doubt the best investment you will make.
11. Lack of budget is a pretext.
Many Analytics SaaS offer free credits to freshly born startups. There is no reason but laziness to not implement one of them.
12. Invest in Good customer relationships.
The closer you are to them, the more they will trust you. Ask them to tell you what they HATE about your product.
Customer success = Key for growth
13. Earn trust. Don't break your promises.
If you say you will develop a feature, do it. And if the promise has to be put on hold, don't come up with a bs excuse. Be honest.
14. Don't try to build everything by yourself.
When you can afford it, implement a SaaS that serves the same purpose.
ie: Don't build an affiliate feature.
It's {normally} not part of your core product. Use any Affiliate software.
15. From experience, a high churn is mainly due to a bad user experience.
One of the best resource to improve quickly your UX is the book "Refactoring UI". 79$ that will save you kk$ down the road
15. KEEP PUSHING.
You've got all the resources to make it. JUST DO IT!
Do you have any advice to make sure to build the right product with the right features?
I'm very curious to know :)
ps: this thread was originally published on my Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ThisIsFranzou
