Designing a Better Reading Experience with Matter: How Crocs 3x'd Revenue in 5 Years and the Power of Deep Product Management

Designing a Better Reading Experience with Matter: How Crocs 3x'd Revenue in 5 Years and the Power of Deep Product Management

Introduction:

In a world where reading online has become a complex set of behaviors, from deciding what to read to the act of reading itself, and even what we do with our knowledge afterwards, there is a need for a better reading experience. This is where Matter comes in. Founded by two avid Pocket users, Matter aims to revolutionize the way we consume and engage with content online. By focusing on needs that won't change, elevating writers as first-class citizens, and providing innovative features, Matter is shaping the future of reading online.

The Importance of Prioritization and Trust:

One of the challenges with traditional read-it-later apps is the lack of smarts built into them. They often don't assist with prioritization, resurfacing, or decay. However, Matter understands the importance of focusing on the needs that won't change. In a world where attention is scarce and the supply of great content continues to rise, it is crucial to make good decisions about what to read. Trust plays a significant role in this decision-making process, and Matter recognizes the value of curating content and elevating writers as trusted sources. By providing good curation, Matter helps users discover hidden gems that are often overlooked by engagement-based algorithms.

Balancing New and Evergreen Content:

While the bias towards new content is understandable, Matter believes that the balance is tilted too heavily in favor of what's new. The team at Matter acknowledges that 99.99% of the best content ever produced was not written in the past week. To address this, Matter aims to serve as a counterweight, delivering both new and evergreen content in a relevant and manageable way. This approach ensures that users have access to a diverse range of content that is not solely driven by what's trending in the news.

Enhancing the Reading Experience:

Matter recognizes that reading on email platforms is not always ideal. To address this, they have incorporated features like audio highlights and minimaps. Audio highlights allow users to highlight sections of an article while listening, making it even easier to engage with the content. Additionally, minimaps provide users with a miniaturized version of an article, allowing for quick scanning and navigation. These features draw inspiration from video games and code editors, enhancing the reading experience on both mobile and desktop web.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Prioritize Trust: When deciding what to read, place trust as a top priority. Look for platforms that elevate writers as trusted sources and provide good curation to help you discover valuable content that may be overlooked by engagement-based algorithms.

• 2. Embrace Evergreen Content: While staying up-to-date with new content is important, don't neglect the wealth of evergreen content available. Seek platforms that provide a balance between new and evergreen content, ensuring a diverse range of valuable reading materials.

• 3. Enhance the Reading Experience: Explore platforms that offer innovative features to enhance your reading experience. Look for options that provide audio highlights, minimaps, and other tools that make reading more enjoyable and convenient.

Conclusion:

In a world where reading online has become a multi-faceted experience, platforms like Matter are redefining how we engage with content. By prioritizing trust, embracing evergreen content, and enhancing the reading experience, we can make the most of our time invested in reading. Whether it's staying informed, seeking knowledge, or simply enjoying the thrill of discovering new ideas, a better reading experience is within reach.

(Note: The content has been combined and rephrased to create a cohesive long-form article.)