Introduction
Before the internet era started, consumers often have to trust manufacturers with their choices and values. After all, it was very difficult then to give and receive feedback the way it is today. Once the internet came, people got the platform to air their voices, to communicate in real-time. Then came web3 with its many constituents like blockchain technology. Decentralized platforms made it easy not just to air views and opinions, but to do so in a way that is censorship-resistant.
Founders of web3 products must understand that users or communities now have more power than before. Consumers are not just the way they were in the traditional setting. Consumers are now play multiple roles in any web3 project. They are not just there to use a product, they now double as investors, marketers, and first-time adopters of a product. It becomes very compelling for a web3 team to design their products with the user in mine.
There are many benefits that come when a web3 product is designed with the user in mind. Before I discuss why it is important, lets see how to do it.
Feedback is invaluable
Web3 project design teams and founders need to understand the value of feedback from the community during product design. A team that wishes to develop a user-centric product must carry the community along each step of the way. The following three steps have helped many teams to do well in
- Design in phases: A good web3 team needs to work at each feature of their product at a time. The design process should happen in phases. The importance of this is that the development team will have that time to share each completed stage with the community so that they put it through some testing and get some needed feedback.
Designing in phases is also more economical. The team would not spend so much resources on product modifications or changes. They will not risk finishing a product that does not appeal to the public or have the features needed. All features must be something the community loves.
Release features for testing: Now after completing each phase of the product design, the features are released to the community. This gives them the opportunity to test the features and see if it works and whether it is something the community values.
Get feedback The reaction from the community will determine the next direction the design team would take. Either to continue with the features of the product at that phase, to modify them or to get rid of it completely.
Feedback from the community is so vital to the design team. They want to continue their work based on what the community feels like. When a design team works with the community feedback, then the final product would be something that already has a wide market appeal.
Why build with the community
Web3 teams that understand the value of a community builds their product as a team with them. They stand to gain a lot when they do so. Consider the following benefits:
1. Capturing a large share of the market:
Everyone that makes a product or offers a service needs customers or users. It is the same with any web3 product. In fact, the web3 market is highly competitive. There are so many similar products being developed by different teams. The volatility of crypto market also makes market sentiments so volatile. So a web3 product development team must get their acts right by doing a user-centric product.
Probably the best way to capture a large share of the market is to design and build with them. This is probably the first and biggest objective why a team designs with the community. If they community is shown each feature, they have the opportunity to test-run the feature and provide feedback. Now this is their first chance of using the product. The feedback they provide will help the team fine-tune their next update.
Now as the community have an opportunity to use the product early, provide feedback and have the features fine-tuned for next release, this product is already loved by the community. From this point, the team has captured the market already. By the time the final product was released, then it is easier to capture the market.
Apart from capturing the large market, it helps them too to create an inclusive product. As each user in the community provides feedback, they have represented their own interest. Eventually, majority of the market would be able to represent their interests and all are captured during product development. At the end, the team would have released a product that almost everyone loves.
2. Resource efficient product development
Every web3 product development team works with a budget - often a tight budget. Funds provided for each aspect of product building needs to be utilized efficiently. The cost of carrying out product development without the users in mind could be much high. For example if the final product lacks the major features users demand, then it might perform poorly in the market.
It would be very costly for a design team to dismantle an entire product and start making major modifications. That would consume far more resources than planned. But when product design is done in stages, with updates released to the community, then needed modifications are made at a time it is most economical to do so. Hence, they team would not spend much time and funds in modifications and making interactions.
3. Dynamism of a web3 project
The web3 and crypto ecosystem is one of the most rapidly-changing space anywhere. Even a perfectly made product with a great team, might suddenly be faced with market upheaval or massive changes. A crypto bull or bear market can affect the market sentiment for any product. The only way for a team to adapt and succeed in such a rapidly-evolving environment is to adopt a user-centric approach.
The community is usually among the first to be affected by changes. For example if the subscription cost of a particular product reduces, the market would expect the team to react to the changes. Also, if there are technological changes for example, the team would be expected to implement them - only if they are getting feedback from the community.
Therefore, the team that wants to achieve a dynamic product in web3 and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of web3, should work with a community.
Finally
A user-centric approach to product development in web3 is best. That is the only way to achieve inclusivity. It helps the team to channel their resources to actual product building and not on making costly modifications. And as the web3 market changes, being user-centric helps the team to shift grounds in response to any market developments in web3.