"The Power of Core Actions and the Potential of a Social Reading Network"

"The Power of Core Actions and the Potential of a Social Reading Network"

Introduction:
In the world of product growth and engagement, focusing on core actions is crucial. Without users completing the core action of a product, growth becomes empty calories. This article explores the importance of core actions and the potential of a social reading network, using examples from Twitter, Pinterest, and Amazon Kindle.

The Significance of Core Actions:
Core actions are the foundation and essence of a product. For Pinterest, it's pinning, while Twitter revolves around tweeting. These actions define the user experience and keep the product alive. However, it's not just about users completing the core action themselves; engagement with others is equally vital. Twitter's success relies on users following, liking, and replying to each other's tweets. Without this engagement, the product's momentum will fade away.

The Sleeping Social Network:
Amazon Kindle, known for its e-books, has the potential to become a vibrant social network centered around books and readers. While platforms like Goodreads exist, they often fall short in creating a dynamic community. The reading social network we envision is focused on discussing ideas within the text itself. It would allow users to view and respond to their friends' notes and highlights on shared books, fostering meaningful conversations.

The Power of Dialogue:
Imagine the ability to follow notable individuals and see their public notes and highlights. Authors, in particular, could engage in ongoing dialogues with their readers, adding new layers of depth to their books. This platform would transform a copyrighted text into an open platform for contextual conversation. Each book would evolve over time, becoming a living tome enriched by readers' interactions.

Creating a Lifelong Relationship:
By incorporating a social reading network, the purchase of a book becomes the beginning of a lifelong relationship with its ideas. Users' home feeds could include highlights and notes from those they follow, even if they haven't purchased the referenced book. This not only promotes crowd-sourcing of fact-checking but also encourages further exploration and engagement with diverse perspectives.

Actionable Advice:

1. Emphasize Core Actions: When growing a product, remember that the total number of users is not enough. Focus on optimizing the number of users completing the core action to ensure long-term success and sustained momentum.