Finest-5 Product reads #10
Why so many products are so badly designed, omni-search ...
Good Day!!
As I write the 10th edition, I realized going 0 to 1 was not that tough as I am an expert on execution. But if I need to progress from 1 to 10, I need to ruminate about the amount of value I provide and significant improvements I should make.
At the same time, I feel obligated to you, who find value in this newsletter and motivate me to write every week, as I keep on working toward my goal of adding more value to you. Thank you!!
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Why so many products are so badly designed
HDFC Bank got a 6 months ban on credit card issues against repeated technological outages. So has been many cases ranging from SaaS to planes, where products are just difficult to use. For business leaders to understand what an excellent design is and why it is important is crucial. Continue reading..
Key Takeaways:
You must have accidentally left the mute button on, or off, in a video call.
We forget that a design intuitive to us can simultaneously confuse others.
Businesses need to understand the disparity in design for sale vs design for use.
Designing an omni-search
From Jira to Spotify, search is everywhere. A feature that is constantly under appreciated and at times implemented with limited consideration. A good search not only improves your user experience significantly but also directly relates to engagement on the platform. Continue reading..
Key Takeaways:
Spotify searches 8 distinct entities from song to genre. Imagine 8 input fields.
Users make mistakes like typo or mis-spelling. Fuzzy search should catch that.
We can show results in 3 formats: quick preview, result summary, all results.
4 steps for success with product adoption metrics
It’s so satisfying to launch a product and start looking for early signs of adoption. If there is a challenge, strategies to reform adoption are great to explore. A better understanding of what to measure and when to measure can be very useful before picking the right strategy for the right problem. Continue reading..
Key Takeaways:
You need to examine your own business model, identify which product adoption metrics make the most sense, and set benchmarks based on that information.
Once you’ve identified the product adoption metrics, put a plan in place to track the metrics.
Look at metrics that answer questions around the dimensions: who, what, when, and how long.
How can the Five whys technique make you a better product manager?
Five why technique has been there for sometime. However, using it regularly is something we are not good at. I suggest a reminder of the same here is to refresh the memory and encourage you to pick it up in day2day life. Continue reading...
Key Takeaways:
As broad as the PM role, you will find plenty of places to use the 5 why’s.
Using 5 why can provide clarity and even motivation in tough times.
It becomes muscle memory once you’ve applied it several times.
TEDW — A simple model for asking better questions.
Asking 5-why is helpful for self clarity, but when you go into conversations with stakeholders, asking the right question matters more than anything. It helps you look concerned along with getting the info needed. Keeping an elementary framework handy will go a long way. Continue reading..
Key Takeaways:
Most people do not listen intending to understand; they listen, intending to reply.
The TEDW model provides a prompt in your discussions with your stakeholders.
TEDW stands for: Tell me more, Explain, Describe, Walk me through.
Product of the week: Algolia
My org. has been using Algolia for a while now for all our search initiatives. It is extremely easy to set up, results speed is outstanding, and it requires very little customization. I believe it hits 3 of the most important features if you need to integrate good search in your product.
PS: If you believe something can be improved, feedback is most welcome. Please DM me on twitter.