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The problem here is not that they have "more features". The problem is that this slide is focused on features. Users do not care about features. Users care a

by amalcon 15y ago

The problem here is not that they have "more features". The problem is that this slide is focused on features. Users do not care about features. Users care about what those features allow them to do. Use-cases. Frame it as as "You can do this thing (that you actually want to do) with us, and not with our competitors". That's a completely different beast than "We have X, Y, Z capabilities."

quinndupont 15y ago
I agree completely. A "feature" for a user should just be part of the experience, not some bolt-on, selling feature.
kenjackson 15y ago
I disagree. First, it's one slide. Second. Users do care about features. Apple routinely, as in virtually every Jobs keynote, lists off features. They then demo them, but the slides list off actual capabilities. Now you may say that Apple isn't a startup so they don't have to present things this way. Possibly, but well done features are still often the key differentiating factor between products. I almost bought a new Nook -- know why I didn't? It lacked a key feature. The reason I don't use Pandora, but do use Grooveshark -- a key feature is missing in Pandora. I know ppl love these grandiose -- "Everything you know is wrong" posts, but usually they spew poor advice. With that said, the problem with these sorts of slides is more basic. They generally don't list the check boxes for all the features the competition has that you don't. I find these more useful when presented by a 3rd party. The nice thing about features is that a 3rd party can typically do a decent job of putting a list together, w/o input from any of the parties.
nhebb 15y ago
"Users do not care about features." This is as bad as the "ideas are worthless" meme, which is taken too literally by some. Sure, there are some products where you should push the benefits, but that doesn't mean that you should ignore the features. The more knowledgeable a market is, the more they want to know about features.

by amalcon 15y ago

quinndupont 15y ago

I agree completely. A "feature" for a user should just be part of the experience, not some bolt-on, selling feature.

kenjackson 15y ago

I disagree. First, it's one slide. Second. Users do care about features. Apple routinely, as in virtually every Jobs keynote, lists off features. They then demo them, but the slides list off actual capabilities. Now you may say that Apple isn't a startup so they don't have to present things this way. Possibly, but well done features are still often the key differentiating factor between products. I almost bought a new Nook -- know why I didn't? It lacked a key feature. The reason I don't use Pandora, but do use Grooveshark -- a key feature is missing in Pandora. I know ppl love these grandiose -- "Everything you know is wrong" posts, but usually they spew poor advice. With that said, the problem with these sorts of slides is more basic. They generally don't list the check boxes for all the features the competition has that you don't. I find these more useful when presented by a 3rd party. The nice thing about features is that a 3rd party can typically do a decent job of putting a list together, w/o input from any of the parties.

nhebb 15y ago

"Users do not care about features." This is as bad as the "ideas are worthless" meme, which is taken too literally by some. Sure, there are some products where you should push the benefits, but that doesn't mean that you should ignore the features. The more knowledgeable a market is, the more they want to know about features.