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 fast-paced world of product development, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of building something new. We pour our blood, sweat, and tears into creating a product that we believe will revolutionize the market. But sometimes, in our quest for innovation, we forget one crucial element: the user.

Enter dogfooding. No, it's not a strange dietary trend for canines. Dogfooding is the practice of using your own product as a way to understand and empathize with your users. It's about stepping into their shoes and experiencing your product the way they do.

When we dogfood, we gain a greater understanding of the problems with our product and, more importantly, we gain insight into how to solve them. It's easy to overlook issues when we're so close to our creation. We forget what it's like to be a new user, to navigate the product with fresh eyes.

A common pitfall we encounter is the assumption that everyone has the same knowledge and understanding that we do. We forget that not everyone is as well-versed in our product as we are. To combat this, I encourage you to sign up for your service again, using a brand new account. Do this every few months to stay up-to-date on the user experience and remind yourself that there's always more to learn and improve.

By putting ourselves in the shoes of our users, we gain customer empathy. We see the product from their point of view, without the debugging tools and access to engineers. It's about looking outside ourselves and truly understanding how our product affects people who may not have the same resources or technology that we do.

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the world is just like us. But in reality, our perspectives are limited by our own experiences. We need to break out of our bubble and see the world through different lenses. Dogfooding gives us that opportunity.

But how does this tie in with the expert network market? Well, the expert network market has experienced tremendous growth, reaching a staggering $1.3 billion in total revenues for 2019. These networks serve the financial industry, catering to hedge funds, private equity firms, asset managers, banks, and consultants.

In a market as specialized as expert networks, it's crucial to have a global mindset. We can't assume that our users are all the same or have the same needs. By dogfooding, we can gain insights into how our products affect people from diverse backgrounds and industries. We can understand the challenges they face and tailor our offerings to better serve their needs.

So, how can we incorporate dogfooding into our product development process? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Regularly use your own product with fresh eyes. Sign up for a new account and experience the product as a new user would. Take note of any pain points or areas for improvement.

2. Seek feedback from users outside of your immediate circle. Reach out to customers from different industries or backgrounds and ask for their honest opinions. This will give you a broader understanding of how your product is perceived.

3. Conduct user testing with real users. Observe how they interact with your product and pay attention to any struggles or confusion they may encounter. This will help you identify areas where your product can be optimized for a better user experience.

In conclusion, dogfooding is a powerful practice that allows us to truly understand our users and build better products. By stepping into their shoes, we gain valuable insights and empathy that can drive innovation and customer satisfaction. Incorporate dogfooding into your product development process and see the transformative impact it can have.