Product Collective - 💡 Get the right idea

How to generate the right ideas

You get an idea, and you get an idea, and you get an idea! Product teams rarely have a problem coming up with product ideas. They do often run into challenges selecting the right product ideas. Here are some different ideas for generating ideas and improving the chances of finding the right ones for your product.

Idea generation for new product development. Idea generation (or ideation) involves gathering information and creative insights in order to come up with ideas for a new product. If you get it right, you lay a solid foundation for your new product concept and set it on the path to success. However, great ideas are hard to come by and even harder to execute. Even the most creative teams find it difficult to reach that proverbial lightbulb moment. With the right techniques and approach, it’s possible to create something truly unique. Leonie Lacey breaks down the steps of idea generation and discusses tried-and-tested methods of composing and developing a new product idea. 

(via Railsware)

Turning feedback into strategic product decisions. There is no shortage of product ideas. They come from everywhere. Customer feedback, feature requests, and new ideas born from your interpretation of your product strategy—can all be the starting point for your company’s next great opportunity. The challenge has never been finding more things to consider. The real challenge is to cut through the noise and identify what’s actually worth pursuing. Cameron Fitchett looks at how you can generate product ideas from your customer feedback without turning into a feature factory. 

(via ProductPlan)
 

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Today, I’m feeling those “morning after” vibes.

I’ve had this “morning after” feeling several times after launching a brand-new product. I’m sure you’ve experienced it too – it’s like a breath of fresh air, a sense of relief and accomplishment, and a whole lot of “we did it!” emotions.

Today, it’s not a software product launch that I’m reflecting on… but rather, the morning after the New York Product Conference. After curating, developing, and planning this conference for the past year, it feels so good to have been able to put on an amazing show yesterday.

But let's be real, as awesome as that feeling is, the work isn't totally done. A conference is actually a product in itself – it requires constant iteration and improvement. There's always room to make it “better, faster, stronger” the next time around...cue Daft Punk.

Speaking of improvement, I’ll take just a second to acknowledge how epic the New York Product Conference was. Major connections were made, knowledge was shared, and inspiration was flowing like a faucet. So, I’ll give ourselves a well-deserved pat on the back, cheers to a job well done, and then get back to business.

Because now comes the fun part...reviewing feedback, interviewing attendees, and identifying what worked and what didn't. Just like how we're always trying to make our product better, we're always looking to make our conferences better too. Because let's face it, a conference is a product.

So, we’ll keep the momentum going and use this feeling of accomplishment to fuel our motivation for the next conference. Speaking of which, we have a virtual conference coming right up on May 18th if you’re looking for some virtual inspiration.  👀 

How to generate your next best product idea. Every brilliant invention was once an idea, but the path of transforming ideas into actual products is not a straight line. Once in a while, you’ll feel stuck and out of creative juices to ride trends and keep attention to your business. Fortunately, Mike Abelson shares five ways you can generate new product ideas, and some do’s and don’ts to help you turn your vision into a reality.

(Via Zenkit)

How to brainstorm product ideas. What is the best way to devise a brilliant solution to a problem? Many product leaders look for ideation tactics that can help corral the chaos and lead to innovation. Brainstorming has long been a popular way to generate ideas in a condensed time frame. Over the years, additional techniques have emerged that offer unique ways to stoke creative thinking and engage different personalities in new ways. Every product team is unique and your method for ideation will reflect that. It is up to you to choose what yields the best outcome for your product, your customer, and your team. The folks at Aha! look at brainstorming and explain how to structure a product brainstorming meeting.  

(via Aha!)

18 Idea generation techniques that don't include brainstorming. Idea generation techniques can be helpful in many problem-solving, product development or innovation-based work processes. While brainstorming is an excellent method for listing various solutions to problems or beginning the creative process, you can consider using other techniques in some situations. The team at Indeed discuss various idea generation techniques besides brainstorming and why you could use them to help you think in innovative ways.

(via Indeed.com)