Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User’s Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product

Dogfooding: How Putting Yourself in the User’s Shoes Changes the Way You See Your Product

In the world of product development, it's easy to get so caught up in the intricacies of building and improving our products that we forget what it's like to be a new user. We become blind to the issues that might be obvious to an outsider. This is where the concept of "dogfooding" comes into play. Dogfooding refers to the practice of using your own product as a way to gain insight into its flaws and improve it from the user's perspective.

When you dogfood your own product, you experience it in a real, practical, everyday sense. This allows you to uncover blind spots that you may not have noticed before and gain valuable insights into how to address them. By putting yourself in the shoes of your users, you can better understand the challenges they face and make your product more user-friendly.

A common pitfall that many product developers fall into is forgetting what it's like to start using their own products for the first time. We often assume that everyone has the same knowledge and understanding that we do, which leads us to overlook issues that may be obvious to new users. To combat this, it is important to periodically sign up for your own service using a brand new account. This will help you stay up-to-date on the user experience and serve as a reminder that there is always more to learn and improve.

By experiencing your product as a new user, you can identify the pitfalls and challenges that people run into. Is the product easy to navigate? Are there any confusing features or elements? By addressing these issues, you can create a more seamless user experience that keeps people engaged.

Having customer empathy is crucial in the process of dogfooding. It involves putting yourself in the shoes of your users and seeing the product from their point of view. This means looking outside of yourself and your own experiences, without the debugging tools and access to engineers. By doing so, you can gain a global mindset and ensure that your product is inclusive and accessible to people from all walks of life.

It's important to remember that our perspectives are often limited by our own experiences. We may think that the whole world is made up of people just like us, but in reality, it's quite different. Our backgrounds, geographical locations, and daily struggles shape our understanding of the world. Dogfooding allows us to break free from these limitations and see how our products affect people who are different from us.

Incorporating unique ideas or insights, it is crucial to acknowledge the role of community in the journey of product development. Hikari Senju, the founder of Omneky, emphasizes the importance of a supportive network of founders. By attending events and meeting like-minded individuals, Hikari was able to build a strong network that continues to support him to this day. It takes a community to build a successful company, and having a network of fellow founders can provide invaluable guidance, shared learnings, and a sense of camaraderie.

Financial constraints often pose a significant obstacle for aspiring founders. The need for a consistent income can deter individuals from taking the risk of starting their own company. To overcome this, it is crucial to increase access to capital and provide support for those who have the drive and potential to succeed as founders. By enabling more people to take the leap, we can foster innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

In conclusion, dogfooding is a powerful practice that allows us to see our products through the eyes of our users. By experiencing our own products as new users, we can uncover blind spots, address challenges, and create a more inclusive and user-friendly experience. Additionally, building a supportive community and increasing access to capital are vital in fostering innovation and enabling aspiring founders to bring their ideas to life.

Actionable advice:

1. Periodically sign up for your own service using a brand new account to stay up-to-date on the user experience and identify areas for improvement.
2. Cultivate customer empathy by putting yourself in the shoes of your users and seeing the product from their perspective. This will help ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
3. Build a network of fellow founders to provide support, guidance, and shared learnings. Additionally, advocate for increased access to capital to empower more individuals to start their own companies.