Reasonable Product

In this episode, we welcome Jonathan Landau, CEO of Movu, to share his transition journey from CPO to CEO. It's a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities that come with moving from a product-centric role to the helm of a company.Movu is the leading Swiss Marketplace for moving services.Jonathan guides us through the complexities of pricing in a marketplace that demands satisfaction from both buyers and sellers. He sheds light on the importance of understanding not just the lowest price, but the value each party is looking for. The conversation then pivots to customer retention, emphasizing how vital it is to listen to feedback and how it can significantly impact your business's success or failure.But that's not all. Jonathan offers invaluable insights on effective communication with your team and customers, the lessons in leadership learned from managing products, and the critical role of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in steering a company toward its strategic goals.This episode is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to evolve professionally from a product or leadership position into a CEO or general management role. Don't miss out on these lessons from the front lines of business leadership. To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode, we talk with Marie Martens, co-founder of Tally.so, a new and successful form-builder tool. Tally.so has made a big splash, hitting $1.2 million in yearly revenue, attracting 250,000 users, and converting 4,000 of them into paying customers in just three years—all in a very crowded market and without taking any outside investment.The secret sauce? A smart pricing strategy that sets their credo and helps them make very difficult decisions easily. Sometimes against the grain of traditional beliefs. Marie shares how keeping things simple and focusing on delivering great value to free users has been key to their success.Here's what we cover:Choosing to bootstrap gave Tally.so the freedom to shape their pricing the way they wanted.Why avoiding maximizing revenues at all costs actually… maximizes revenue (and margins).The importance of a straightforward, easy-to-understand pricing strategy.How to balance in your pricing model what makes sense for business vs the experience it gives to the userWhy offering a lot for free can set you apart from the competition.The pros and cons of lifetime deals and discounts, and why they often don’t work out well.Effective ways to gather and use feedback from users to improve your product without needing a bigger team.- Tally is the simplest way to create forms, for free. https://tally.soIf you want to know more about Marie and Tally:- Blog: blog.tally.so- Twitter Tally: @Tallyforms- Twitter Marie: @MarieMartensTo stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Let's talk about money in Product Management!!After looking at the lonely life of product managers, and why they are stretched between empowerment and accountability, in this second part of the episode Tanja Lau from Product Academy and Salva look deeper into the implications of salary in the life of product managers.In this episode, we talk with Tanja about:Salary trendsCompensation elements (base salary, bonus, stocks, flexibility...)Negotiation and employability tipsFrom salary gaps to regional and seniority differences, Tanja looks into the vast amount of data she has recently collected during her product salary survey to shed some light on the topic of compensation.But more than numbers, compensation is a complex topic that involves objective setting, work conditions, equity compensation, and most importantly... job satisfaction!Lastly, Tanja gave some tips about salary negotiation and how to become more appealing as a product manager by speaking the right "language" and becoming literate in topics such as finance and decision-making. Some useful links:- The product Academy: www.productacademy.ch- Tanja's Linkedin Profile www.linkedin.com/in/tanjalau- The FULL salary survey https://www.productacademy.ch/product-academy-salary-survey-2023/ - The "Personal side" of Tanja www.tanjalau.comTo stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

We are already 1 month in 2024 and one element seems to be clear. Inflation is there, purchasing power is at its lowest and businesses are readapting to this new world.Of course, product management and pricing are a pivotal topic in this shift and our profession is on the frontline when it comes to keeping products attractive to customers and to price them in a way that is acceptable to buyers and viable for businesses.Subscriptions have been at the core of the success of digital (and less digital) businesses in the last 10 years, but some signals of fatigue are stepping in.Higher churn, and additional "activation friction" are a thing.Do you see the same happening in your company or for your product?In this deep dive, I explore the "subscription fatigue" that we start seeing among consumer AND business customers, and I provide some pragmatic strategies to adapt.Find the full article at: https://salvabocchetti.com/articles/the-dream-of-recurring-revenue-and-the-reality-of-subscription-fatigue/To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode of Reasonable Product, Salva has invited Tanja Lau from Product Academy to explore the multi-dimensional challenges of product management. They discuss the emotional and professional pressures unique to this role, including the complexities of accountability and strategic decision-making. They look at the nuances of empowerment in the workplace, the influence of company culture on a product manager's role, and personal goal setting. They also tackle the industry's sensitive issue of pay gaps in the product industry, offering insightful perspectives on navigating these challenges.Finally, they address the critical issue of salary disparities within the industry, dissecting - thanks to Tanja's extensive survey on the subject -  the factors contributing to pay gaps and offering strategies to overcome themIn part 2 of this interview, they will look deeply at the results of the Salary Survey launched by Tanja and the Product Academy, Salary Trends, Negotiation Tactics and how to balance Job Satisfaction and Financial Rewards.Some useful links:- The product Academy: www.productacademy.ch- Tanja's Linkedin Profile www.linkedin.com/in/tanjalau- The FULL salary survey https://www.productacademy.ch/product-academy-salary-survey-2023/ - The "Personal side" of Tanja www.tanjalau.comTo stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Stop looking at the prices of your competitors!Setting prices based on competitors means you're letting them dictate your pricing strategy. Instead, why not ask your customers what they're willing to pay?In this podcast, we look at the double-edged sword of pricing intelligence and why an obsession with competitors' prices can set you far from value-based pricing.Forgetting about your competitors sounds scary, isn’t it? Yes it is, and by the way I’m not saying you should completely ignore competition. However, taking the right distance and “playing a different battle” is key in protecting your margins and customer base. The major pitfalls of looking at your competitors are:Lack of Superior Insight: They don’t necessarily know better than you.What's True for Your Competitors Isn't Necessarily True for You.Focusing on Price Over Value.Overlooking Customer Perceptions.Lack of Differentiation.To transition from competitor-driven pricing to value-based pricing, you have some secret weapons that we analyze in detail in this article. This includes:Strong Customer Segmentation.Looking for “Competition Creeps” and Unmet Needs.Asking Your Customers (Yes, you can ask prices to your customers!)Leveraging Pricing as a DifferentiatorListen to the podcast now and stop getting obsessed with your competitors. Start being obsessed with your customers!Have a look at the full article here https://salvabocchetti.com/articles/stop-getting-obsessed-with-your-competitors-prices-start-being-obsessed-with-your-customers/To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

This is the second episode of a special Podcast with Büşra, dedicated to leveling up Product Manager's skills.Ready to unlock the potential of your product management? Tune in for a profound conversation with our guest, Büşra, who will guide us through the best frameworks that can empower product managers to make a real impact. We'll focus on the power of North Star Metrics and Impact Mapping, two essential tools used by product teams to measure impact and translate value into revenue.Little bonus... Büşra and Salva make sure that this, as usual, a pragmatic and "100% no BS talk"!Our journey with Büşra takes us deeper into North Star Metrics, a key concept that needs careful definition and testing. We'll discuss why it's vital for a North Star Metric to be specific and measurable and shed light on its effectiveness. As we pivot towards Impact Mapping, prepare to get a grasp of this visual toolkit that aligns teams and charts a roadmap to business goals. We'll also delve into the skill set every product manager needs to succeed. From understanding data and market insights to identifying user needs and taking the initiative in collaboration, we'll explore how these skills underpin successful strategies. And remember - taking risks and putting theory into practice is key. You can contact Büşra Coşkuner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busra-coskuner/To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Ever thought of leveling up your product management game? In this conversation, Salva hosts Büşra, an experienced product manager, and product leadership coach, as they explore the multifaceted world of product management and leadership. Together, they unravel the challenges faced by aspiring and mid-to-senior level product managers and discuss strategies to thrive in this dynamic field.The conversation begins by acknowledging the prevalence of job transitions among individuals seeking coaching. They address the crucial question of whether people seek coaching primarily to advance their careers or to excel in their current roles, ultimately highlighting the diversity of needs in the product management community.As we debunk the myth that product managers are the sole decision-makers, Bushra emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset, properly testing ideas, and prioritizing communication skills, curiosity, and continuous learning. Büşra shares her insights into coaching different segments of product managers, from aspiring beginners to seasoned professionals. She reveals the distinct challenges each group faces, whether it's acquiring specific skills, tackling strategic thinking, or navigating their career paths.She shares indispensable insights from her workshops and courses, aiming to arm product managers with the essential tools and knowledge to thrive in their roles. We also delve into career progression and the potential of transitioning into higher roles, given the right hooks. Rule of thumb? Showcase prior experiences that demonstrate a sound understanding of product management.The conversation also delves into the critical issue of information overload in the age of social media. Büşra and Salva emphasize the importance of distinguishing valuable, hands-on knowledge from generic advice and cookie-cutter wisdom. They urge listeners to be discerning when it comes to the sources of information and encourage seeking real-world experiences shared by practitioners.This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion for product managers and leaders at all career stages. It serves as a reminder that success in product management involves not only mastering frameworks but also critically assessing the quality of information in an ever-evolving field.This is Part 1 of the talk with  Büşra - Part 2 deals with the Tools needed to Taking your Product Management carrer to the Next Level You can contact Büşra Coşkuner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busra-coskuner/To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode of Reasonable Product, Salva has invited Marcel Schneider (Product Manager at Huggy Studio) to deep dive into the world of No-Code development and its pivotal role in product management. They explore how No-Code empowers product managers to rapidly bring their ideas to life, focusing on high-priority tasks while reducing the time and effort spent on development.Marcel provides a foundational understanding of what No-Code truly is, and concrete examples of the most powerful no-code tools out there. Most importantly, he also provides practical examples of when No-code is NOT the way to go.Marcel and Salva discuss various scenarios where No-Code proves to be a game-changer for Product Managers, emphasizing its effectiveness in the early stages of product development. They underline the importance of testing ideas, even before considering development, to validate their viability in the market.He highlights No-Code as a powerful tool, emphasizing that it's not just for non-technical individuals but can also benefit seasoned developers looking to streamline their processes.One of the key takeaways is the necessity for product managers to prioritize their core responsibilities, avoiding the temptation of becoming deep into No-Code development. Marcel advises that while No-Code is a valuable resource, it should be used as a superpower to enhance productivity rather than a rabbit hole that consumes precious time.The conversation also touches upon the future of No-Code, with Marcel expressing his belief that the integration of No-Code and AI will open up new possibilities. He envisions No-Code as a gateway for non-technical individuals to access AI technologies, thereby accelerating innovation across various domains.Marcel's practical insights and real-world examples, such as the success story of a specialist using No-Code to scale content creation for SEO, serve as valuable illustrations of how No-Code can be harnessed effectively.Listen to the full episode to:🚀 Dive into No-Code development's potential.🔑 Learn how to prioritize core tasks while No-Code handles the technical heavy lifting.🧪 Understand which no-code tool is helpful for what🦸‍♂️ Learn to use No-Code as a superpower, not a time sink.🔮 Explore the future: No-Code and AI integration for innovation acceleration.You can contact Marcel - through Linkedin, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-schneider-149209222/- through Huggy Studio at https://www.huggystudio.com/Here are some of the resources we mentioned in the Podcast:- No-Code tools for early product validation: https://salvabocchetti.com/no-code-tools-for-early-product-validation/- HuggyStudio guide to No-Code Tools https://www.huggystudio.com/blog-article/the-best-no-code-platforms-and-toolsTo stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode, I had the chance to discuss with Alexandra Vera about being a Product Manager in different countries and cultures. Alexandra Vera is Head of Product at Carfax, and was previously VP of Product at Autotrader Canada.  She has been living and working in Product functions in 4 different countries and 3 different continents. Also, she's been working in product and with remote and international teams for the past 20 years. As such, she has first-hand experience with what it takes to work through different cultures, and what are the common traits of great product managers.Alexandra believes that there are still a lot of opportunities for product managers, even in the current job market. There will be plenty of opportunities for those who are adaptable. We covered in detail a number of topics, includingThe current tech and product job market, and what is changing for product  peopleWhy some tech companies overinvested during COVID, and what will stay after the pandemic-driven digital boomHow AI will make Product managers' life easier... Why soft skills are the number 1 trait of great product managers, and why it is going to be even more the case in the futureHow "non traditionally tech" companies will over time become larger product manager employersThe differences (and commonalities) between product management practices in Barcelona and Canada, And how the future of work will involve product managers and product leaders being more skilled at managing teams through different culturesSome practical tips to be successful in a product management interviewYou can contact Alexandra through Linkedin, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexaveragurdiel/To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

2023 seems to be a special year for the Tech job market. Layoffs made the headlines already in January, and several companies have followed this trend since. But is it really so? Is the tech market stuck? What does it take in 2023 to be a great Product leader, and to be noticed by recruiters? In this Podcast, I spoke with Doug Bates, director at Intelligent People, a boutique recruitment agency specializing in Product leadership positions.Doug is optimistic about the current job market for product people, and he sees the same or higher number of job offers for the top candidates. Yet, product professionals have to know how to "sell themselves", with a recruiter receiving hundreds of CVs per day. We spoke about candidate employability, selling yourself as a product, and how negotiating your next salary.Doug has plenty of great advice for hiring managers as well, to make the right hiring choices, and to business leaders and CEOs about the right moment to hire a CPO. We also discussed what is turning off the best product people in the market and how a solid product organization that reports to… product leaders is key to attracting talent.You can find all the material that Doug mentioned in the Podcast here https://www.intelligentpeople.co.uk/And you can contact Doug via email at DougBates@intelligentpeople.co.ukTo stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this Reasonable Product Interview, I had the pleasure of having Cliff des Ligneris talk about 2 sided marketplace.Cliff is Product Lead at GetYourGuide and has been running product at several marketplaces in the past including at Doodle, Car4You, and now at Get your Guide.We spoke about two-sided Marketplaces and why they are hard to build, (the “cold start problem) - but also why they’re a great business once you’re in. As Cliff said, there is not really you can do to make it easier, besides the fact that “sometimes you have to cheat. You have to find the chat code to create one so that the other side. Because you can’t do both at the same time, it’s just impossible”. Cliff also shared some concrete tips and experience doing this kind of “cheating” to bootstrap a marketplace against an established incumbent.We went on discussing how to create the right team setup for a marketplace business, and why this will have to change over time anyway. Finally, we spoke about being a PM in Europe vs in the US. In Europe, there are just fewer people to look at in terms of best practices, which requires PMs and aspiring PMs to be even more proactive in grabbing the skills and way of thinking that you need to be a great PM.Cliff shared with us what he gives as “PM tools” to his new hires, and what he expects from them to get “up to speed”. The most important piece of advice from Cliff to become a PM?  “think twice before you you actually decide you want to be a PM, it’s hard!”To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Netflix has been historically very tolerant of a practice called “accounts sharing” practices, aka paying customers sharing their usernames and password with other users. Good times are now over, and Netflix believes it’s now time that each user starts to pay his own subscriptions. This change has been recently communicated by the company and has been largely relayed by the press.What is the impact of this move on the product, on the user experience, and on the economics? Does it actually make as sense as it may look at a first glance? Was this change really thought off, or just rushed? Time will tell. In this podcast, we will see why this is much more than "enforcing" a legit usage question. And why it comes with huge implications on prices, "free to paid" conversion journey, customer segmentation, and UX.In this podcast, I will try to go through the different implications of this move, based on my experience in the subscription businesses. To be clear, I do respect and share Netflix's willingness to monetize its users a lot. At the same time, I will argue that the path they’re taking seems somehow inspired by the rush and could have unexpected consequences on their own product positioning.As a final note to product management practitioners: there is still too much attention spent on frameworks, delivery, and agile topics. Pricing is a core element of product that too often gets neglected. To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Whether setting up OKR, monitoring your “product health” or just running experiments, there are countless reasons why, as a product professional, you should measure what you do and set goals. In this Podcast, we go through the 4 most dangerous mistakes product managers and other business leaders do while creating measures and KPIs: Relying on “relative changes” measures instead of absolute valuesHaving too complex measuresCreating “Frankenstein or fake metrics”Forgetting to set up ownership and ritualsWe discuss how these errors can have a cascading effect on the decision-making process, and what are some simple ways to set up sound and consistent metrics.To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Hi and welcome to Reasonable Product. I know, Doing product can be hard. But it shouldn't necessarily be so! My name is Salva Bocchetti. I have been working in the Tech industry for the past 20 years serving different product leadership roles. I've felt this pain myself and that's why I preach a reasonable approach to doing product. An approach that goes beyond frameworks and trends, that brings concrete value to the organizations, and that lets product people enjoy their work. That’s why in this podcast series I talk about technology, organization, and product management, in a way that resonates with product and with business leaders. Every couple of weeks I bring a fresh perspective to make your journey in Product Management easier and more rewarding. This podcast consists of two different kinds of content:In the Reasonable Interviews, I interview product thought leaders and executives. The leaders that share their perspectives here have strong opinions and points of view, which I am sure will help you get your own opinion and help you look beyond the buzzwords and blur. Each Reasonable Deep-Dive provides an in-depth perspective on a key aspect of product management. If you’re interested in getting a deeper understanding of what it means to be “product-led”, to run a modern product organization or just to get some actionable advice to make your product management life easier, Deep Dives are for you!Some of the Deep Dives are also available as written content on reasonableproduct.com, so that you can have them always handy and use them almost like a guide in your modern product management journey. And if you’re like most of us, busy and trying to fit the maximum in your days, this podcast will come with you in the car, during your commute, while working out, or during a lunch break. So just click on “follow this podcast” now on whatever streaming platform you’re using.And see you soon!To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Low Hanging Fruits is an expression we all hear too often. Let me say it straight: I have a big issue with this expression. This is the enemy of every Product Manager, or at least of every Product Manager worth his salt. In this podcast, I am putting together a set of thoughts and real-life examples I collected on this topic over the years. I have witnessed too many ill-fated decisions in good part taken due to a broken prioritization that builds on the myth of low-hanging fruits. For many people working in product management, this is just daily business. The consequence is simple: bad business decisions, negative impact on the product and frustrated teams.Listen to this podcast to understand why working by the pressure of Low Hanging Fruits is a lose-lose game, why you they usually end up being neither "low hanging" nor "tasty", and some concrete tips to avoid this trap.To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

I see more and more people talking about  “Technical Debt”.  While this is nothing new,  it is indeed interesting to see Tech Debt becoming a subject even outside of the “usual circles” of techies. In this Podcast we will go through the concept of Tech Debt in a way that is understandable to Business and Product Leaders. More importantly, we will discuss why Product Debt is the real enemy and what you can do to avoid it. To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com