Building Remarkable Products with Seth Godin ☕️
Learn how to create products that spread, master strategy, and build trust with actionable insights from Seth Godin.
This week, we brew up insights from Seth Godin, a marketing legend whose work has redefined how we think about brand, product, and lasting impact.
From building products that spread like wildfire to mastering the art of strategy, Seth shares timeless lessons every Product Manager needs to know.
Pour yourself a chai and dive in! 🍵
🎯 Key Insights from Seth’s Wisdom
1. Remarkable Products Spread by Design
Virality is about creating products that improve when shared.
Examples:
Dropbox: Gave free storage space to users who referred friends, making sharing the product a direct benefit.
Spotify Wrapped: Encourages users to share their yearly listening stats, sparking conversations and bringing new users into the platform.
Google Docs: Collaboration features make the product exponentially more valuable when shared among teams.
Ask yourself: Does my product create a better experience when multiple people use it together or discuss it?
2. Develop Good Taste
Good taste anticipates what others will love, even before they realize it themselves.
Examples:
Apple: Released AirPods at a time when wireless earbuds were clunky and unpopular, trusting their sleek design would set a trend.
Netflix: Pioneered binge-worthy content with House of Cards, aligning with changing viewer habits before the trend exploded.
Dyson: Identified the aesthetic appeal of sleek, minimal home appliances long before other vacuum makers.
To build your taste, stay curious: Explore art, read widely, and observe what gets people excited or delighted in other industries.
3. Build Trust with Clear Promises
A brand promise isn’t just what you offer—it’s what you deliver.
Examples:
Slack: Promises “to be where work happens,” and its seamless integrations prove it.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT: Transparent about its capabilities and limitations, managing expectations around creativity vs. factual accuracy.
Tesla: Markets specific features like autopilot but avoids overpromising full self-driving (though it’s a debated topic).
Always ask: Is my promise realistic, clear, and inspiring trust?
4. Embrace Tension in Strategy
Tension keeps your audience intrigued, guiding them to commit before full payoff.
Examples:
Kickstarter Campaigns: Tease an innovative product while making the full version contingent on hitting funding goals.
Nike’s “Just Do It” Campaigns: Create emotional tension by showing athletes overcoming nearly impossible odds, inspiring customers to connect and commit to the brand.
Tesla Cybertruck Launch: Unveiled a bold, unfinished design that polarized opinions but captured massive attention and preorders.
Ask yourself: Is your strategy creating curiosity or excitement that nudges users toward deeper engagement?
5. Excellence Is Always an Option
Small efforts to excel can create outsized rewards in the long run.
Examples:
Barista at a Local Coffee Shop: Writes personal notes on cups, creating moments customers share online.
LinkedIn Profile Improvements: A PM goes beyond just listing achievements by writing case studies of their projects (Check out www.designfolio.me to create your own portfolio), making their profile stand out to recruiters.
Duolingo’s Push Notifications: Inject humor and personality into reminders, turning a simple nudge into something people look forward to seeing.
Even if the task seems minor, ask: How can I do this better or more creatively than anyone else?
👀 Memorable Quotes from Seth
"Good taste is knowing what other people want just before they do."
"Safe is risky. If you want to stand out, you have to take the leap."
"Better waves make better surfers. Wait for your wave."
🔥 Apply These Ideas Today
Ask yourself: Is your product designed to spark conversations naturally? If not, identify areas to build sharability.
Audit your brand promise. Are you consistently meeting or exceeding expectations? If not, simplify and clarify what you offer.
Revisit your strategy. Is there enough tension to create excitement without causing unnecessary stress? Adjust your positioning accordingly.
☕ Until Next Time...
What’s one thing you’ll take from Seth’s playbook and apply to your product? Reply and share—we’d love to hear from you!
Cheers,
Aswath
Product Over Chai
P.S. : This newsletter edition is curated from various sources, including insights from , Seth Godin's books, published articles, podcasts and other thought leadership materials.