Product Game Plan

How are you crafting irresistible product pitches?

Securing funding for your product isn't just about having a great idea. It's about telling a compelling story that resonates with stakeholders and decision-makers. As product managers, we often get caught up in the technical details and forget the power of narrative. But here's the truth: a well-crafted story can make all the difference in getting your project green-lit. In my latest podcast episode, I break down the art of creating a persuasive business case. I share strategies for synthesizing customer feedback, market data, and revenue impact into a cohesive narrative that captures attention and drives action. Key takeaways include: * How to structure your pitch for maximum impact * The importance of quantifying problems and solutions * Techniques for weaving in customer stories and contextual examples * Ways to clearly communicate your resource needs and timeline Remember, your stakeholders weren't present for all those customer interviews and data analysis sessions. It's your job to bring that information to life and make a compelling case for investment. Does your funding pitch have stack-ranked user problems and aligned stakeholder solutions? If not, this episode will give you the tools to create one that does. VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide [https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true] Check out my programs and workshops [http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/]  ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding.  Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations.  All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed]  Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/] Email:  info@listen-evolve-inspire.com [info@listen-evolve-inspire.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Does your team have efficient productivity touchpoint communication?

As product managers, we often focus on the technical aspects of our role, but it's the soft skills that can make or break our success. In this episode of Product Game Plan, I share a recent experience that highlights the critical importance of communication touchpoints for productivity in enterprise product management. I discuss how a simple check-in with a team member revealed a misalignment in expectations, leading to unnecessary stress and potential burnout. This situation underscores the value of open communication and the need for regular updates, especially in fast-paced environments where priorities can shift quickly. Key Insights on Communication and Productivity * How to identify and address communication gaps that can impact team productivity * The importance of resetting expectations across teams and stakeholders * Strategies for maintaining open lines of communication in a busy work environment * Ways to leverage modern communication tools for swift updates and realignment I discuss examples that illustrate how proactive communication can prevent misunderstandings, reduce stress, and improve overall team efficiency. By implementing these strategies, you can create a more balanced and productive work environment for your team. "Managing expectations should be carefully planned between business stakeholders and external customers and their users." VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide [https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true] Check out my programs and workshops [http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/]  ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding.  Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations.  All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed]  Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/] Email:  info@listen-evolve-inspire.com [info@listen-evolve-inspire.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Power of Human Connection in Building Thriving Business Ecosystems

In this episode of the Product Game Plan, I share insights from my recent European event that highlight the importance of maintaining strong relationships with customers and partners. We'll explore how these connections can drive product quality, foster loyalty, and ultimately lead to business growth. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Discover why product quality should be your top priority * Learn the value of human loyalty in business relationships * Understand the power of continuous engagement with users * Explore strategies for creating effective customer and partner advisory forums * Gain insights on building processes that support future strategies BEST MOMENTS When you scale up, practice will smooth the edges of your unpracticed self." "It is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress." "Goals win you the game, but systems keep you in the game. So fall in love with the cycle of continuous improvement." VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide [https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true] Check out my programs and workshops [http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/]  ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding.  Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations.  All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed]  Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/] Email:  info@listen-evolve-inspire.com [info@listen-evolve-inspire.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to forge exceptional customer relationships

Building strong customer relationships is the cornerstone of any successful product strategy. As product managers, we often focus on features and functionality, but the real magic happens when we connect with our users on a deeper level. I've discovered that forging meaningful connections with customers falls into two distinct categories: those we're just getting to know and those we've built a rapport with over time. Let's explore strategies for both scenarios. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cultivating New Customer Relationships When approaching new customers or users, preparation is key. Before any interaction, I make it a priority to: * Research their company, industry, and specific use cases * Analyze their purchase history and support tickets * Identify key stakeholders and decision-makers This groundwork allows me to enter conversations with context and demonstrate genuine interest in their business. THE POWER OF FOLLOW-THROUGH Regardless of the relationship stage, following up on commitments is non-negotiable. After every meaningful interaction: * Summarize key points and action items * Set clear expectations for next steps * Deliver on promises, no matter how small This consistency builds trust and shows customers that their input is valued and acted upon. DM me in my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed], ask me anything! BEST MOMENTS “Let them know that the evolution of your product relies on honest and constructive feedback from users like them.” “Building rich relationships with your various stakeholders, especially your users, will transform you into an expert, shape you into a trusted resource, and actuate the accuracy of your knowledge toward your business's objectives for your customers.” “If you listen to and solve problems for a broad base of your customers, your investments will become aligned with your business intentions.” “You may need to carry the conversation with some users. Remind them that you asked for the meeting so that you could listen to their experiences, even if the feedback is not favorable. VALUABLE RESOURCES My free customer baseline guide [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1DkBV8uXrf8PkbRbPjy12NNZ4alfTIyWa] + bonuses My free tips [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1DkBV8uXrf8PkbRbPjy12NNZ4alfTIyWa] for conducting customer feedback sessions Check out my programs and workshops [http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/]  ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding. Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations. All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed]  Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/] Email: info@listen-evolve-inspire.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

3 Essentials for your funding pitch

Before I ever book a meeting with my management to ask for funding, lay out a strategy for my product's needs, or ask for sponsorship, I make sure what I'm asking for is grounded in reality.  Therefore, you will need an accurate and believable pitch. Precise prioritization of what should be in your pitch requires real user data, which means you need a broad enough sampling of user feedback to prove out the story for your pitch. Anything less than hard facts will only embarrass you and risk your credibility. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. The first thing I always do is seek out enough information from end users. 2. Here's a pro tip: I always ask my users to prioritize what's most important to them before concluding each feedback session. Doing so will reinforce the accuracy of your foundational data 3. The second action I take is sharing the summarized, prioritized user feedback with my business peers 4. The second action output will include summaries of prioritized user feedback and business priorities, which were mapped using user data.  5. My third action is to share the business output with my stakeholders. This output is aimed at making informed decisions based on a combination of prioritized user and business needs. 6. The stakeholder analysis's output should include details of resources, effort scoping, timelines, and budget requirements. I like to summarize these details into points within the overall product program pitch DM me in my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed], ask me anything! BEST MOMENTS “When I prepare for a pitch, I need to anticipate the questions and possible push-back moments from what I'm presenting. The pitch needs to make sense right away to the new listeners.” “The priorities of what I'm asking for must be rock-solid, or I won't get the business to invest in my strategy.” VALUABLE RESOURCES My free guide [https://listen-evolve-inspire.lp.page/4-strategies-for-securing-product-funding?test=true] Check out my programs and workshops [http://www.listen-evolve-inspire.com/]  ABOUT THE HOST Heather has had more than 25 years of experience working with 1000s of customers and securing hundreds of millions of product funding.  Early in her career, she was successful at rapidly growing start-up organizations, and over the past 15+ years she has a record of aligning diverse teams to deliver value for customers and strategies for organizations.  All through having a focus on solving customer needs to achieve business outcomes. CONNECT & CONTACT Visit my community on Mighty Networks [https://listen-evolve-inspire.mn.co/spaces/10359244/feed]  Find me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsmith/] Email:  info@listen-evolve-inspire.com [info@listen-evolve-inspire.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.