We hear a lot these days about project-based organizations vs. product-based organizations. Much of what we do in software is in service of products. Products tend to evolve over time. When we work on projects, we learn from the experience. MORE
Over the years I’ve worked alongside a number of enterprise product managers in many companies. Those who have stood out to me as particularly customer-centric have had two qualities in common. The first quality is about laying foundations and the second is about finishing touches. MORE
There I was, sitting in a packed movie theatre. I waited two years for this sequel and I’ve got enough popcorn and diet soda to last me a full three hours. Fifteen minutes into the movie, the hero and villain are facing off for the first time when a lady bursts into the theater. Trying […]. MORE
Most pricing challenges are not really about pricing but about discounting. In companies with complex products sold through a direct sales channel, product managers continually fight with the sales team over discounts and other concessions. Here’s the trick: Separate pricing from negotiation. MORE
Organizational Awareness: The Leader’s Sixth Sense. In our product management community, we rightly place a great deal of attention on the people who are going to use our products. MORE
During a calorie laden splurge for lunch, I stopped in at the local Five Guys franchise. While waiting for my grilled gut-bomb (which was delicious) I watched the Coke Freestyle machine. It was an illuminating experience. The machines weren’t new to me, having seen a couple in the past, I figured out what I wanted, […]. product management Interfaces research UI/UX MORE
UX copywriting and user testing? It might sound like a new match in the UX design world. But you don’t have to start from scratch when it comes to testing content and microcopy. We, at UX studio , collected three methods that provide more insights than general AB testing. MORE
Revenues are softening, some long term decline is suddenly accelerating, and you are missing plan. Senior management wants to know why, and – more importantly – what are you doing about it. They point their fingers to Product Management to right the ship. The Problem – Product Management has many tools in its bag that […]. PM Tales product management tales MORE
A recent post was around the topic of how long should you stay in a product management role. While there are no hard and fast rules, in my experience, and for me, it seems the answer is 3 years, give or take, before moving on to new challenges, or to be pulled up in rank. […]. product management essentials MORE
Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback?—?online online and offline?—?on MORE
Back in March, I shared a case study about one of the product teams I worked with at Snagajob (now Snag). I’m excited to share another one with you today. This case study is about a team at CarMax that I just finished working with. MORE
From a reader: “Mark, I love your daily LinkedIn posts. Thanks for sharing. I find pricing to be a fascinating topic. Question: In your opinion, who should and who usually drives pricing within (tech) growth companies? Most companies I’ve spoken to, it’s all over the place. MORE
Take Action Today With These Product Management Tips. I love lists, and the Internet loves lists. And I love immediately actionable product management tips that I can start using today to become better at my job. MORE
In B2B, Sales is your #1 customer. No, no, no… Sales is not our customer! They constantly insist that all the deals we lose are due to features, price, or because our literature sucks. It’s like they’ve never heard the phrase: ‘The selling starts when the customer says NO.’. MORE
Your Teams Don’t Talk with Customers Enough?—?Here Here is an Easy Fix Do you ever feel like your teams don’t have the pulse of the market? Like they don’t get enough time with real users/customers? MORE
“Hello Mark, I have a pricing topic you may or may not want to use in a blog. I recently returned from a weekend trip to Denver. I booked the flights using Travelocity, because the cheap Southwest airlines fares are were all gone. I flew United to Denver and returned on Frontier. MORE
Creating your product vision can be difficult when you focus too much on the product. Legendary Harvard Business School marketing professor Theodore Levitt famously said, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole!” MORE
When Brant Cooper typically speaks to innovation practitioners, he usually tells them to “stop innovating”. He says this because they typically fail to define what they mean by the word innovation. MORE
so my investor said that I need a product manager to do our product roadmap?”. When I worked as a product management consultant clients would often talk about “needing a product roadmap ASAP”. MORE
To what extent should a product manager be concerned about the portfolio? Is there a portfolio product manager role? There are portfolio product manager roles, but all product managers share responsibilities for the portfolio. There are things you do to your products for purposes of customer retention and then there are things you do to your products in conjunction with other products to form solutions. MORE
Come Prepared. Make sure you carry out the necessary prep work prior to the sprint planning meeting. Be clear on what you want the sprint to achieve, ensure that the product backlog is appropriately refined (or groomed) , and have its high-priority items ready. MORE
It’s easier to sell products that don’t exist because they can do anything buyers want. Unfortunately, no one makes money selling products you don’t have. Here are three ways to get better at selling products you have and grow revenue faster. MORE
Transparency – (noun), an image, text, or positive transparent photograph printed on transparent plastic or glass, able to be viewed using a projector. If you are as old as I am, you remember printing your powerpoint slides to transparency film to be used on an overhead projector during presentations. It was a dark time. However, […]. product management essentials MORE
The B2B Product Manager Magazine September 2018 is now available. A product vision is just as valuable to product, marketing and sales teams as it is to customers because it keeps the focus on customer value. MORE
How much would you be willing to pay for a burger? Image Credit: Jonathan Harford. Think about it for just a moment: just exactly what goes into making a good hamburger? We’re basically talking about three sets of ingredients: a burger (of course), a bun, and a collection of toppings. MORE
Product management and product marketing professionals shouldn’t tell marketing teams how to generate leads; they should focus on problems in product growth and let marketing design the appropriate campaigns. Confusion about roles and responsibilities exists in most organizations. MORE
Employing user personas is a subject I already addressed on this blog , as this technique of mapping out the needs of your audience is an essential tool in product development. MORE
Seth Godin on Making Software Seth Godin spoke at Business of Software Conference USA last year to share some of the many lessons that he has learned in his 33 years in the software industry. You can watch the talk or read a transcript here. This year, Business of Software Conference USA is in Boston,… Product Marketing Community Product Management Resources Feedback research Usability Design Communication Innovation Product Strategy B2B B2C Software MORE
The single biggest reason for reactive product decisions is the absence of a cohesive top-down strategy that articulates where you’re going, how you’ll get there and why you’ll succeed – articulated in terms of customer value. The Playbook: In many organizations, a strategy is nothing more than a set of goals like revenue, profitability, customer retention, etc., with a few accompanying objectives like “greater customer focus.” MORE
I’ve written before about what product management is and what it is not. In summary, product management should focus on the needs of the market, not just a single customer—and they should focus primarily on problems, not solutions. MORE
By Bruce McCarthy – I was completely wrong about the Business of Software conference. Friend and Co-Founder of Sense and Respond Press, Josh Seiden, told me it was great, but when I went the first time last year I think I was expecting an event for the CFOs and financial analysts of large companies all… Product Marketing MORE
The Product Bistro
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
Revenues are softening, some long term decline is suddenly accelerating, and you are missing plan. Senior management wants to know why, and – more importantly – what are you doing about it. They point their fingers to Product Management to right the ship. The Problem – Product Management has many tools in its bag that […]. PM Tales product management tales
Proficientz – Product Management University
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
The B2B Product Manager Magazine September 2018 is now available. A product vision is just as valuable to product, marketing and sales teams as it is to customers because it keeps the focus on customer value.
Roman Pichler
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018
Come Prepared. Make sure you carry out the necessary prep work prior to the sprint planning meeting. Be clear on what you want the sprint to achieve, ensure that the product backlog is appropriately refined (or groomed) , and have its high-priority items ready.
bpma ProductHub
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
Seth Godin on Making Software Seth Godin spoke at Business of Software Conference USA last year to share some of the many lessons that he has learned in his 33 years in the software industry. You can watch the talk or read a transcript here. This year, Business of Software Conference USA is in Boston,… Product Marketing Community Product Management Resources Feedback research Usability Design Communication Innovation Product Strategy B2B B2C Software
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PM Hardcore
SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
Take Action Today With These Product Management Tips. I love lists, and the Internet loves lists. And I love immediately actionable product management tips that I can start using today to become better at my job.
Nir Eyal
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018
There I was, sitting in a packed movie theatre. I waited two years for this sequel and I’ve got enough popcorn and diet soda to last me a full three hours. Fifteen minutes into the movie, the hero and villain are facing off for the first time when a lady bursts into the theater. Trying […].
bpma ProductHub
SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
By Bruce McCarthy – I was completely wrong about the Business of Software conference. Friend and Co-Founder of Sense and Respond Press, Josh Seiden, told me it was great, but when I went the first time last year I think I was expecting an event for the CFOs and financial analysts of large companies all… Product Marketing
Product Management Lessons from the Trenches
SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
Your Teams Don’t Talk with Customers Enough?—?Here Here is an Easy Fix Do you ever feel like your teams don’t have the pulse of the market? Like they don’t get enough time with real users/customers?
The Product Bistro
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
During a calorie laden splurge for lunch, I stopped in at the local Five Guys franchise. While waiting for my grilled gut-bomb (which was delicious) I watched the Coke Freestyle machine. It was an illuminating experience. The machines weren’t new to me, having seen a couple in the past, I figured out what I wanted, […]. product management Interfaces research UI/UX
Product Talk
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Back in March, I shared a case study about one of the product teams I worked with at Snagajob (now Snag). I’m excited to share another one with you today. This case study is about a team at CarMax that I just finished working with.
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Mind the Product
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
When Brant Cooper typically speaks to innovation practitioners, he usually tells them to “stop innovating”. He says this because they typically fail to define what they mean by the word innovation.
Product Management Lessons from the Trenches
SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback?—?online online and offline?—?on
Proficientz – Product Management University
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018
It’s easier to sell products that don’t exist because they can do anything buyers want. Unfortunately, no one makes money selling products you don’t have. Here are three ways to get better at selling products you have and grow revenue faster.
The Product Bistro
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
Transparency – (noun), an image, text, or positive transparent photograph printed on transparent plastic or glass, able to be viewed using a projector. If you are as old as I am, you remember printing your powerpoint slides to transparency film to be used on an overhead projector during presentations. It was a dark time. However, […]. product management essentials
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Under10 Playbook
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
Most pricing challenges are not really about pricing but about discounting. In companies with complex products sold through a direct sales channel, product managers continually fight with the sales team over discounts and other concessions. Here’s the trick: Separate pricing from negotiation.
Mind the Product
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
so my investor said that I need a product manager to do our product roadmap?”. When I worked as a product management consultant clients would often talk about “needing a product roadmap ASAP”.
Pragmatic Marketing
SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
“Hello Mark, I have a pricing topic you may or may not want to use in a blog. I recently returned from a weekend trip to Denver. I booked the flights using Travelocity, because the cheap Southwest airlines fares are were all gone. I flew United to Denver and returned on Frontier.
Proficientz – Product Management University
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
Creating your product vision can be difficult when you focus too much on the product. Legendary Harvard Business School marketing professor Theodore Levitt famously said, “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole!”
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The Product Bistro
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018
A recent post was around the topic of how long should you stay in a product management role. While there are no hard and fast rules, in my experience, and for me, it seems the answer is 3 years, give or take, before moving on to new challenges, or to be pulled up in rank. […]. product management essentials
Under10 Playbook
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
I’ve written before about what product management is and what it is not. In summary, product management should focus on the needs of the market, not just a single customer—and they should focus primarily on problems, not solutions.
The Accidental Product Manager
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
How much would you be willing to pay for a burger? Image Credit: Jonathan Harford. Think about it for just a moment: just exactly what goes into making a good hamburger? We’re basically talking about three sets of ingredients: a burger (of course), a bun, and a collection of toppings.
Pragmatic Marketing
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
Product management and product marketing professionals shouldn’t tell marketing teams how to generate leads; they should focus on problems in product growth and let marketing design the appropriate campaigns. Confusion about roles and responsibilities exists in most organizations.
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Insights from 300 Technology Product Management Executives and Managers.
Proficientz – Product Management University
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
To what extent should a product manager be concerned about the portfolio? Is there a portfolio product manager role? There are portfolio product manager roles, but all product managers share responsibilities for the portfolio. There are things you do to your products for purposes of customer retention and then there are things you do to your products in conjunction with other products to form solutions.
UX Studio
SEPTEMBER 3, 2018
UX copywriting and user testing? It might sound like a new match in the UX design world. But you don’t have to start from scratch when it comes to testing content and microcopy. We, at UX studio , collected three methods that provide more insights than general AB testing.
Mind the Product
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
Organizational Awareness: The Leader’s Sixth Sense. In our product management community, we rightly place a great deal of attention on the people who are going to use our products.
Craft.io
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
Employing user personas is a subject I already addressed on this blog , as this technique of mapping out the needs of your audience is an essential tool in product development.
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Pragmatic Marketing
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
From a reader: “Mark, I love your daily LinkedIn posts. Thanks for sharing. I find pricing to be a fascinating topic. Question: In your opinion, who should and who usually drives pricing within (tech) growth companies? Most companies I’ve spoken to, it’s all over the place.
Proficientz – Product Management University
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
The single biggest reason for reactive product decisions is the absence of a cohesive top-down strategy that articulates where you’re going, how you’ll get there and why you’ll succeed – articulated in terms of customer value. The Playbook: In many organizations, a strategy is nothing more than a set of goals like revenue, profitability, customer retention, etc., with a few accompanying objectives like “greater customer focus.”
Johanna Rothman
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
We hear a lot these days about project-based organizations vs. product-based organizations. Much of what we do in software is in service of products. Products tend to evolve over time. When we work on projects, we learn from the experience.
Mind the Product
SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
Over the years I’ve worked alongside a number of enterprise product managers in many companies. Those who have stood out to me as particularly customer-centric have had two qualities in common. The first quality is about laying foundations and the second is about finishing touches.
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