Product development isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Each business must remember that the process will depend on the research, talent, timing, budget, and constraints unique to your organization. With that in mind, here are a few key tips for success.
Do your research.
Make sure you conduct effective research with a diverse mix of your ideal customers. Though your customers may have similar behavior patterns, consider different demographics, including age range, race, gender, and geography.
Focus on priorities.
Not every feature or solution can be part of the initial launch. You must define the core requirements needed to make your product successful. These priorities are non-negotiable features that solve your customers’ problems directly. Once those have been included, you can fit in the secondary and tertiary features as the budget and timeline allow.
Get feedback early.
Create multiple pathways to gather feedback from your early research participants or find others interested in your product and get their feedback. As your product grows, continue to gain and leverage your users’ feedback to lay the future direction of your product roadmap.
Launch small.
Grandiose launches are a thing of the past. Instead, launch small, test, and then get feedback. Once user feedback has been received and it’s confirmed that you have a killer product ready to scale, then you take your rocket to hyperspace.
Iterate often.
If you use priorities effectively at launch, you should have the next 3-6 months of your product roadmap mapped out. As soon as possible, start iterating and growing your new product to keep your customers happy.