4 Things That Real World Product Managers Do

What do product managers really spend their time doing? We like to talk about all of the things that tthey should be spending their time doing – boldly defining new products and clearly laying out markets to go after. However, the day-to-day reality of being a product manager can be quite different. The folks over at Pragmatic Marketing have just released their annual survey and it contains some interesting points…

Roadmaps

If ever there was a part of a product that a product manager should own, the roadmap is it. Just to make sure that we’re all on the same page here, a product roadmap lays out the changes and enhancements that are planned for your product in the future. You get to define the future: is it just this month, this year, or do you go out for 5 years?

Although we should own the product’s roadmap, this is not always an easy thing to do. Development teams have been known to want to play a big role in saying what shows up in the product and when it shows up.

The reason that this is the wrong way to handle things is that for your product to be successful, it really needs to be your customers who are defining in what order (and when) features are introduced. Who owns the roadmap can be the source of many battles within the firm.

Requirements

When people ask me what skills a product manager needs to have, at the top of my list is the ability to communicate clearly. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to product requirements.

You own the requirements for your products. Normally, the creation of product requirements is not something that people fight over. I mean, who really wants to do all of that writing?

The key skill that you need to have is the ability to both clearly and succinctly express what the product needs to be able to do. This has to be done for multiple simultaneous audiences: the sales teams need to be able to read it and understand what’s coming and the development teams need to be able to read it and understand what they need to do.

Market Problems

In a world without problems, there probably wouldn’t be much of a need for product managers. Thankfully there are a lot of problems out there! I’m not sure if “problems” is really the right word to use here, I think that “changes” might be closer to the mark…

When we create and launch a product, we do so in a market that has certain characteristics: we know who our customers are and we know who we are competing against. From that moment on everything changes.

As things change, it is your responsibility to change with it. We need to adapt our products, our marketing message, and perhaps even our pricing to deal with the new realities as they show up.

Positioning

What does your product do? Who does it do it for it? Why should your customers choose your product over somebody else’s? These are all great questions and if you don’t have a solid answer for each of them, things are not looking good for your product.

Knowing how you want people to view your product against all of their other options is a key point that product managers have to take care of. This higher level ability to “see” your product as the market does is very important.

Since we are dealing with an ever changing market, your product positioning will always be changing also. This means that as a product manager you need to always be “looking” at your product and making marketing adjustments to it.

What All Of This Means For You

It’s not easy being a product manager. There is no such thing as a product that just “runs on auto pilot”. Instead, every day we need to be making adjustments to both our products and how we market them in order to ensure that they will be successful.

A recent survey shows that product managers spend a lot of their time working on four main tasks. These tasks are: creating roadmaps, defining requirements, dealing with market “problems”, and ensuring that their products are properly positioned.

If we can master these activities, then we’ll have the core of what it means to be a great product manager taken care of. That being said, it’s not easy being a product manager; however, at least now you know what’s required!

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Keys to Launching a Successful Viral Video – Part 1

A viral video that takes your niche (and maybe the whole Internet) by a storm doesn’t just happen by accident. To maximize your chances of creating the video that becomes an overnight sensation, you need to execute this two-part plan:

-Part 1: Create a buzz-worthy video
-Part 2: Launch your video

Here’s how to do it…

Step 1: Choose a Topic Worth Sharing

Go to YouTube and see what’s hot. Which videos are popular and get a lot of views, comments and viral action? Chances are, the popular videos tend to be funny, outrageous, controversial, offensive, extremely useful or similar.

Look, if you want to create a video that everyone talks about, then you need to make it WORTH talking about. And that means making it different, engaging, useful, funny, controversial and/or offensive.

Step 2: Create Your Video

You don’t have to buy fancy equipment, but you shouldn’t a camera that films grainy pictures either. Upgrade your equipment to the best you can afford so you can present a quality product.

Second, keep it SHORT – just 30 seconds to two minutes maximum. Videos go viral when they’re short and easy to watch… and easy to pass along.

Step 3: Keep Track of the Important Frames

Your first, last or middle frame should be visually appealing. That’s because YouTube allows you to use one of those frames as a thumbnail pic – and you want to create a thumbnail pic that captures attention (and clicks) from YouTube users.

Step 4: Load and Tag

Finally, you need to load your video up, describe it, and “tag” it using the keywords your niche uses to find related information. Ideally, you should use some long-tail keywords so that your niche can easily find your video both on YouTube as well as in Google.

Once you’ve completed the above four easy steps, you’re halfway done. Your next step is to officially launch your video and get it in front of as many people as possible. You’ll discover exactly how to do that in Part 2 of this article series.

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Why Should You Choose the Best Video Production Company

When it comes down to video production, it is important to pick the best company that can help you out. There are various companies that deal in the field of video production and you have to closely monitor the details and ensure that you are picking the finest choices that you possibly have.How to find the best video production company?If you are looking to spot the best video production company that will help you launch your brand with a powerful punch, all you need to do is explore the details of the firm beforehand. You should never make a mistake of choosing a company that will fail to make a perfect video because it can impact the kind of impression you are putting on your clients.Look at the portfolioAll video production company will have their own portfolio because it is one of the ideal ways of showcasing the talent and skills that a company has. When you go through the portfolio, you will be able to measure the standard of work they do and the kind of profile they have.When a video is being made, one has to keep an eye on a lot of different points. There is no possibility of fiddling with the specifics because if the sub segments in a video are not perfect, it is going to take away the sheen from the video. When samples are put in a portfolio, you will be able to have an idea of how effective the videos are likely to be and whether it is of the standard that you are seeking.The reviewsWhile it is becoming increasingly difficult to analyze the effectiveness of a company on the basis of the reviews, you should still go through the same. A lot of companies are choosing to promote their services and put false reviews, yet, if you look carefully and diligently, you should be able to spot the perfect review that is likely to guide you in picking the finest company which will do you a world of good.The services offeredWhen you want to choose a company that excels in video production, you should keep an eye on the plethora of services that it is offering. You must be willing to analyze the service list, the cost of the services and then weigh them so that you have an idea of whether or not the cost of the services is justified.When you are convinced that the services are apt and can really rev up the statistics and sales of your firm, it is advised to avail their services. With the right help and guidance, you are definitely going to improve your own profits.Videos are one of the best ways of getting a message across and sending the right signals. If you are looking to enjoy some of the finest output and you want to capture the attention of your users, having a video that speaks about the services you offer is likely to do you a world of good.

Product Review For 3M Keyboard Cleaner

3M keyboard cleaner is among other cleaners used to clean computer keyboards. Liquid cleaner is claimed to be able to clean your keyboard effectively and completely. Just purchase the cleaner, use it and you will feel the difference on your keyboard. 3M keyboard cleaner is not only for keyboards, but other household items can also be easily cleaned by using it. It is a technique surely worth using because of increasing pollution and germs.This product is currently not available outside the USA. So this is one drawback of 3M keyboard cleaning kit. Still since launch the manufacturer has enjoyed huge success because of their instant formula that has changed the concept of keyboard cleaning. All you have to do is apply it on the keyboard and let the liquid do the magic.Users have given different feedback about the product. Some focus on the positives while others have highlighted the negative side of the product. These cleaners are largely used in America. Product comes in decent packing with detailed instruction of how to use it.For example many users commented that this keyboard cleaner has really turned the way their computer looks like. The keyboard looks completely new and the keys have become soft because of the fact that it has been completely removed from the dust particles. Others say that the product has not at all worked for them and they want to give it back to the company.Generally sales of this keyboard cleaning kit have been increasing. People have liked using it, and have admired the hard work and efforts of 3M. In this way the company has experienced mixed market share in United States of America. So in my opinion instead of listening to others, why not try using it and see for yourself what is 3M keyboard cleaner all about.