Welcome to the Reasonable Product Podcast! I’m your host, Salva, and today we’re diving into the intricate world of monetizing commodity digital products. I'm thrilled to have Neeraj Singh, the CEO of Neeto and Bigbinary, joining us to discuss this complex and somehow misunderstood topic.

In our discussion, Neeraj and I explored the challenges and strategies behind pricing in the highly competitive digital product space. Neeraj shared fascinating insights from his journey with Neeto, a company that builds a suite of essential software tools for small to medium-sized businesses.

No mystery: scheduling and form solutions are nothing new, actually they're a commodity.  And Neeraj has made his whole pricing strategy around leveraging this competitive space by designing tools to offer just the right features at a price point that's remarkably lower than the market giants.

We also delved into the reasons why customers are switching from established leaders to Neeto, not just for cost savings, but because Neeto often makes complex features more accessible and easier to understand. Neeraj emphasized that their commitment to providing exceptional customer support and continuous product improvement is central to their success.

Throughout our conversation, we touched on the broader industry trends and the philosophy behind Neeto’s approach to pricing. We discussed how Neeraj plans to keep their products affordable without sacrificing quality, and why he believes in charging only when customers derive real value from their services.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in product pricing, particularly in the digital and SaaS industries. Tune in to hear more about Neeraj’s innovative strategies and how Neeto is navigating the competitive landscape of commodity digital products.

You can find the whole Neeto Suit at https://www.neeto.com/

If you'd like to keep in touch with Neeraj, here you go:
- Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/neerajsingh0101/
- X/Twitter https://twitter.com/neerajsingh0101

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode, we welcome Jonathan Landau, CEO of Movu, to share his transition journey from CPO to CEO. It's a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities that come with moving from a product-centric role to the helm of a company.

Movu is the leading Swiss Marketplace for moving services.

Jonathan guides us through the complexities of pricing in a marketplace that demands satisfaction from both buyers and sellers. He sheds light on the importance of understanding not just the lowest price, but the value each party is looking for. The conversation then pivots to customer retention, emphasizing how vital it is to listen to feedback and how it can significantly impact your business's success or failure.

But that's not all. Jonathan offers invaluable insights on effective communication with your team and customers, the lessons in leadership learned from managing products, and the critical role of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in steering a company toward its strategic goals.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to evolve professionally from a product or leadership position into a CEO or general management role. Don't miss out on these lessons from the front lines of business leadership. 

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode, we talk with Marie Martens, co-founder of Tally.so, a new and successful form-builder tool. Tally.so has made a big splash, hitting $1.2 million in yearly revenue, attracting 250,000 users, and converting 4,000 of them into paying customers in just three years—all in a very crowded market and without taking any outside investment.

The secret sauce? A smart pricing strategy that sets their credo and helps them make very difficult decisions easily. Sometimes against the grain of traditional beliefs. 
Marie shares how keeping things simple and focusing on delivering great value to free users has been key to their success.

Here's what we cover:

• Choosing to bootstrap gave Tally.so the freedom to shape their pricing the way they wanted.
• Why avoiding maximizing revenues at all costs actually… maximizes revenue (and margins).
• The importance of a straightforward, easy-to-understand pricing strategy.
• How to balance in your pricing model what makes sense for business vs the experience it gives to the user
• Why offering a lot for free can set you apart from the competition.
• The pros and cons of lifetime deals and discounts, and why they often don’t work out well.
• Effective ways to gather and use feedback from users to improve your product without needing a bigger team.

- Tally is the simplest way to create forms, for free. https://tally.so
If you want to know more about Marie and Tally:
- Blog: blog.tally.so
- Twitter Tally: @Tallyforms
- Twitter Marie: @MarieMartens

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Let's talk about money in Product Management!!

After looking at the lonely life of product managers, and why they are stretched between empowerment and accountability, in this second part of the episode Tanja Lau from Product Academy and Salva look deeper into the implications of salary in the life of product managers.

In this episode, we talk with Tanja about:

• Salary trends
• Compensation elements (base salary, bonus, stocks, flexibility...)
• Negotiation and employability tips

From salary gaps to regional and seniority differences, Tanja looks into the vast amount of data she has recently collected during her product salary survey to shed some light on the topic of compensation.

But more than numbers, compensation is a complex topic that involves objective setting, work conditions, equity compensation, and most importantly... job satisfaction!

Lastly, Tanja gave some tips about salary negotiation and how to become more appealing as a product manager by speaking the right "language" and becoming literate in topics such as finance and decision-making.


 Some useful links:
- The product Academy: www.productacademy.ch
- Tanja's Linkedin Profile www.linkedin.com/in/tanjalau
- The FULL salary survey https://www.productacademy.ch/product-academy-salary-survey-2023/
- The "Personal side" of Tanja www.tanjalau.com

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

We are already 1 month in 2024 and one element seems to be clear. Inflation is there, purchasing power is at its lowest and businesses are readapting to this new world.

Of course, product management and pricing are a pivotal topic in this shift and our profession is on the frontline when it comes to keeping products attractive to customers and to price them in a way that is acceptable to buyers and viable for businesses.

Subscriptions have been at the core of the success of digital (and less digital) businesses in the last 10 years, but some signals of fatigue are stepping in.

Higher churn, and additional "activation friction" are a thing.

Do you see the same happening in your company or for your product?

In this deep dive, I explore the "subscription fatigue" that we start seeing among consumer AND business customers, and I provide some pragmatic strategies to adapt.

Find the full article at: https://salvabocchetti.com/articles/the-dream-of-recurring-revenue-and-the-reality-of-subscription-fatigue/

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode of Reasonable Product, Salva has invited Tanja Lau from Product Academy to explore the multi-dimensional challenges of product management.

They discuss the emotional and professional pressures unique to this role, including the complexities of accountability and strategic decision-making.

They look at the nuances of empowerment in the workplace, the influence of company culture on a product manager's role, and personal goal setting. They also tackle the industry's sensitive issue of pay gaps in the product industry, offering insightful perspectives on navigating these challenges.

Finally, they address the critical issue of salary disparities within the industry, dissecting - thanks to Tanja's extensive survey on the subject -  the factors contributing to pay gaps and offering strategies to overcome them

In part 2 of this interview, they will look deeply at the results of the Salary Survey launched by Tanja and the Product Academy, Salary Trends, Negotiation Tactics and how to balance Job Satisfaction and Financial Rewards.

Some useful links:
- The product Academy: www.productacademy.ch
- Tanja's Linkedin Profile www.linkedin.com/in/tanjalau
- The FULL salary survey https://www.productacademy.ch/product-academy-salary-survey-2023/ 
- The "Personal side" of Tanja www.tanjalau.com

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Stop looking at the prices of your competitors!

Setting prices based on competitors means you're letting them dictate your pricing strategy. Instead, why not ask your customers what they're willing to pay?

In this podcast, we look at the double-edged sword of pricing intelligence and why an obsession with competitors' prices can set you far from value-based pricing.

Forgetting about your competitors sounds scary, isn’t it? Yes it is, and by the way I’m not saying you should completely ignore competition. However, taking the right distance and “playing a different battle” is key in protecting your margins and customer base. The major pitfalls of looking at your competitors are:

• Lack of Superior Insight: They don’t necessarily know better than you.
• What's True for Your Competitors Isn't Necessarily True for You.
• Focusing on Price Over Value.
• Overlooking Customer Perceptions.
• Lack of Differentiation.

To transition from competitor-driven pricing to value-based pricing, you have some secret weapons that we analyze in detail in this article. This includes:

• Strong Customer Segmentation.
• Looking for “Competition Creeps” and Unmet Needs.
• Asking Your Customers (Yes, you can ask prices to your customers!)
• Leveraging Pricing as a Differentiator

Listen to the podcast now and stop getting obsessed with your competitors. Start being obsessed with your customers!

Have a look at the full article here

https://salvabocchetti.com/articles/stop-getting-obsessed-with-your-competitors-prices-start-being-obsessed-with-your-customers/

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

This is the second episode of a special Podcast with Büşra, dedicated to leveling up Product Manager's skills.

Ready to unlock the potential of your product management? Tune in for a profound conversation with our guest, Büşra, who will guide us through the best frameworks that can empower product managers to make a real impact. We'll focus on the power of North Star Metrics and Impact Mapping, two essential tools used by product teams to measure impact and translate value into revenue.

Little bonus... Büşra and Salva make sure that this, as usual, a pragmatic and "100% no BS talk"!

Our journey with Büşra takes us deeper into 

• North Star Metrics, a key concept that needs careful definition and testing. 
• We'll discuss why it's vital for a North Star Metric to be specific and measurable and shed light on its effectiveness. 
• As we pivot towards Impact Mapping, prepare to get a grasp of this visual toolkit that aligns teams and charts a roadmap to business goals. 

We'll also delve into the skill set every product manager needs to succeed. From understanding data and market insights to identifying user needs and taking the initiative in collaboration, we'll explore how these skills underpin successful strategies.
 
And remember - taking risks and putting theory into practice is key. 


You can contact Büşra Coşkuner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busra-coskuner/

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

Ever thought of leveling up your product management game? In this conversation, Salva hosts Büşra, an experienced product manager, and product leadership coach, as they explore the multifaceted world of product management and leadership. Together, they unravel the challenges faced by aspiring and mid-to-senior level product managers and discuss strategies to thrive in this dynamic field.

The conversation begins by acknowledging the prevalence of job transitions among individuals seeking coaching. They address the crucial question of whether people seek coaching primarily to advance their careers or to excel in their current roles, ultimately highlighting the diversity of needs in the product management community.

As we debunk the myth that product managers are the sole decision-makers, Bushra emphasizes the importance of having the right mindset, properly testing ideas, and prioritizing communication skills, curiosity, and continuous learning. 

Büşra shares her insights into coaching different segments of product managers, from aspiring beginners to seasoned professionals. She reveals the distinct challenges each group faces, whether it's acquiring specific skills, tackling strategic thinking, or navigating their career paths.

She shares indispensable insights from her workshops and courses, aiming to arm product managers with the essential tools and knowledge to thrive in their roles. We also delve into career progression and the potential of transitioning into higher roles, given the right hooks. Rule of thumb? Showcase prior experiences that demonstrate a sound understanding of product management.

The conversation also delves into the critical issue of information overload in the age of social media. Büşra and Salva emphasize the importance of distinguishing valuable, hands-on knowledge from generic advice and cookie-cutter wisdom. They urge listeners to be discerning when it comes to the sources of information and encourage seeking real-world experiences shared by practitioners.

This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion for product managers and leaders at all career stages. It serves as a reminder that success in product management involves not only mastering frameworks but also critically assessing the quality of information in an ever-evolving field.

This is Part 1 of the talk with  Büşra - Part 2 deals with the Tools needed to Taking your Product Management carrer to the Next Level 

You can contact Büşra Coşkuner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busra-coskuner/

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com

In this episode of Reasonable Product, Salva has invited Marcel Schneider (Product Manager at Huggy Studio) to deep dive into the world of No-Code development and its pivotal role in product management. They explore how No-Code empowers product managers to rapidly bring their ideas to life, focusing on high-priority tasks while reducing the time and effort spent on development.

Marcel provides a foundational understanding of what No-Code truly is, and concrete examples of the most powerful no-code tools out there. Most importantly, he also provides practical examples of when No-code is NOT the way to go.

Marcel and Salva discuss various scenarios where No-Code proves to be a game-changer for Product Managers, emphasizing its effectiveness in the early stages of product development. They underline the importance of testing ideas, even before considering development, to validate their viability in the market.

He highlights No-Code as a powerful tool, emphasizing that it's not just for non-technical individuals but can also benefit seasoned developers looking to streamline their processes.

One of the key takeaways is the necessity for product managers to prioritize their core responsibilities, avoiding the temptation of becoming deep into No-Code development. Marcel advises that while No-Code is a valuable resource, it should be used as a superpower to enhance productivity rather than a rabbit hole that consumes precious time.

The conversation also touches upon the future of No-Code, with Marcel expressing his belief that the integration of No-Code and AI will open up new possibilities. He envisions No-Code as a gateway for non-technical individuals to access AI technologies, thereby accelerating innovation across various domains.

Marcel's practical insights and real-world examples, such as the success story of a specialist using No-Code to scale content creation for SEO, serve as valuable illustrations of how No-Code can be harnessed effectively.

Listen to the full episode to:

🚀 Dive into No-Code development's potential.
🔑 Learn how to prioritize core tasks while No-Code handles the technical heavy lifting.
🧪 Understand which no-code tool is helpful for what
🦸‍♂️ Learn to use No-Code as a superpower, not a time sink.
🔮 Explore the future: No-Code and AI integration for innovation acceleration.


You can contact Marcel
- through Linkedin, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-schneider-149209222/
- through Huggy Studio at https://www.huggystudio.com/

Here are some of the resources we mentioned in the Podcast:
- No-Code tools for early product validation: https://salvabocchetti.com/no-code-tools-for-early-product-validation/
- HuggyStudio guide to No-Code Tools https://www.huggystudio.com/blog-article/the-best-no-code-platforms-and-tools

To stay up-to-date with original Product content and thoughts:
- Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorebocchetti/
- Bookmark our website: https://reasonableproduct.com