Building the world's most customizable workspace with Ivan Zhao, co-founder of Notion

Building the world's most customizable workspace with Ivan Zhao, co-founder of Notion

In the early days of Notion, Ivan Zhao, co-founder of the company, recognized the importance of connecting with users on a personal level. He spent a significant amount of time replying to users on Twitter, ensuring that they knew there was a human behind Notion. This personal touch not only helped build trust but also allowed the team to gather valuable feedback from users.

One unique approach that Notion took was logging every piece of feedback they received and tagging it for future reference. This allowed them to track common pain points and use the feedback to develop new features. By listening to their users and incorporating their suggestions, Notion was able to continuously improve their product.

About two years ago, Notion reached out to their biggest power users, who were utilizing the platform in ways that the team had never imagined. This move allowed them to form closer working relationships with these users and provide them with the support they needed. This focus on their power users not only helped Notion build a loyal community but also inspired others to explore the full potential of the platform.

One trend that Ivan Zhao has noticed recently is the use of Notion as a tool for startups to raise venture capital. Instead of traditional slide decks, these companies are using Notion to create pitch decks, showcasing their ideas and plans. Notion's versatility as a workspace allows these startups to take notes, share documents, host wikis, and manage projects all in one place, making it a powerful operating system for their businesses.

The concept of Pocket Clubs also aligns with the vision of Notion. Pocket, a popular bookmarking tool, allows users to save articles and blog posts for later reading. Ivan Zhao himself admits to being afflicted with "blogcitis," reading an abundance of blog posts to gain knowledge. He also shares these articles with his wife, sparking discussions after they have both read them.

The idea of a Pocket Club takes this concept a step further. Imagine having a shared reading list each week, consisting of 20 articles, that you can read and discuss over dinner or drinks. This would create an opportunity for meaningful conversations and deeper insights, leveraging the Recommended feature on Pocket. By sharing articles and discussing them with others, we can enhance our understanding and perspectives on various topics.

So, how can we apply these insights to our own lives and work?

• 1. Embrace user feedback: Like Notion, we should actively seek feedback from our users or audience. By listening to their needs and suggestions, we can improve our products or services and build a stronger connection with our community.

• 2. Explore unconventional use cases: Notion's success with startups using it for pitch decks highlights the importance of thinking outside the box. We should constantly challenge ourselves to find new and innovative ways to utilize the tools and resources available to us.

• 3. Foster meaningful discussions: The concept of Pocket Clubs reminds us of the value of engaging in conversations around the content we consume. Whether it's sharing articles with friends or participating in online communities, discussing ideas with others can deepen our understanding and spark new insights.

In conclusion, Notion's journey towards building the world's most customizable workspace showcases the power of user feedback, the exploration of unique use cases, and the importance of fostering meaningful discussions. By incorporating these strategies into our own lives and work, we can create more personalized and impactful experiences. So, let's embrace feedback, think outside the box, and engage in meaningful conversations to unlock our full potential.