Right off the bat, I need to apologize for using “Web 2.0″ in the
title. It was a cheap trick to get you to read at least this far, but
it sure seems to have worked. With all of that out of the way, hype
aside, it sure does look like the Internet is changing how a
product manger markets his / her product. Does anyone have any rules
about how this needs to be done?
Since the phrase “Web 2.0″ has been so abused by now, we should
probably take a moment and make sure that we’re all on the same page.
I’m going to define Web 2.0 as simply being a new set of web-based
tools that allow product mangers to build social and business
connections (online), share information both internally and externally,
and collaborate with colleagues and customers (online). Now how do you
use these shiny new tools?
Web 2.0 tools offer product mangers a great way to convince
customers to buy your product. The trick is that unlike traditional
marketing you don’t talk TO your potential customers, instead you try
to get them INVOLVED in a discussion with you. Sounds rather dangerous
doesn’t it?
If you want to be able to talk to your (potential) customers, then
you are going to need a Web 2.0 Wiki or Blog. Next, you are going to
have to start writing – what can you tell people about your product
that they may not already know?
Getting some interesting conversations going with your customer will
start things off. Where things really start to get interesting is when
your customers start to talk to each other. This is where product
mangers can find out what new features customers are really looking for
and what they don’t like about the current product.
In the old days, before Web 2.0 tools came along, product mangers
had to use focus groups and surveys to get feedback from our customers.
Now all we have to do is post a question on the Web and we can get
instant feedback. Ain’t progress grand?
Are you using any Web 2.0 tools to market your product yet? How did
you pick the tools that you are currently using? What has the feedback
from your customers been so far? Leave a comment and let me know what
you are thinking.
The Accidental Product Manager