"Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User's Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product and Scaling a Magical Experience: 4 Lessons from Airbnb's Brian Chesky"

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Jun 30, 2023

3 min read

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"Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User's Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product and Scaling a Magical Experience: 4 Lessons from Airbnb's Brian Chesky"

Introduction:

In today's competitive business landscape, understanding the needs and experiences of users is crucial for the success of any product or service. This article explores the concept of "dogfooding," which involves using your own product to gain insights and improve its usability. Additionally, we will delve into lessons from Brian Chesky, the co-founder of Airbnb, on how to scale a magical user experience. By combining these two perspectives, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of user-centric design and the strategies to create exceptional experiences.

Dogfooding and Gaining Customer Empathy:

Dogfooding, or using your own product as a customer, allows you to identify blind spots and gain valuable insights into the user experience. It forces you to see the product from the user's perspective, helping you understand the challenges and pitfalls they may encounter. Often, when we become too close to our own products, we overlook issues that may be obvious to an outsider. By regularly signing up for your own service and experiencing it as a new user, you can stay up-to-date on the user experience and continuously improve your product.

Having customer empathy is crucial in product development. It involves putting yourself in the shoes of the users and seeing the product from their point of view. This perspective is essential in catering to a diverse user base and ensuring that no one is left out of the equation. Our perspectives are often limited by our own experiences, but dogfooding allows us to step outside our comfort zones and consider how our products impact people who are different from us.

Lessons from Airbnb's Brian Chesky:

Brian Chesky, the co-founder of Airbnb, shares valuable lessons on scaling a magical user experience. He emphasizes the importance of starting small and hand-serving customers to truly understand their needs. By spending time with users, you can gain valuable insights that shape the roadmap of your product. The more you interact with users, the clearer the picture becomes, enabling you to create a product that resonates with them.

Chesky also highlights the significance of designing an exceptional experience that goes beyond expectations. While a 5-star experience may meet the basic requirements, it is not enough to generate word-of-mouth recommendations. By aiming for an 11-star experience, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, you can create a memorable and share-worthy experience that captivates users.

Additionally, Chesky encourages entrepreneurs to take advantage of the time before scaling. The early stages of a company offer the most room for innovation and experimentation. By being small and nimble, you can make significant leaps and changes to your product. This is the time to explore and iterate, laying the foundation for future success.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Regularly sign up for your own service as a new user to gain fresh insights and identify blind spots. This will help you stay updated on the user experience and continuously improve your product.
  • 2. Spend quality time with your users to truly understand their needs and preferences. This can involve meeting them in person or engaging in meaningful conversations. The insights gained from these interactions will shape the roadmap of your product.
  • 3. Aim to create an exceptional and memorable experience for your users. Push the boundaries of what is expected and strive for an 11-star experience. This will generate positive word-of-mouth recommendations and set your product apart from competitors.

Conclusion:

By combining the concept of dogfooding and the lessons from Brian Chesky, we can see the importance of putting the user at the center of product development. Understanding the user's perspective, addressing their needs, and creating exceptional experiences are key to success. Regularly immersing ourselves in the user's shoes and continuously iterating based on their feedback will result in a product that resonates with them. Remember, scaling a magical user experience starts small and requires a deep understanding of your users' desires.

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