The Product Guy

On the Track to Success

Jeremy Horn — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:04:27 +0000

Guest Author: Raj Moorjani

Hi, my name is Raj Moorjani, and I am the Director of Marketing at Tracks, and basically the Product Person, for a cool mobile application called Tracks (http://bit.ly/tracksapp). Recently, I took a course in Product Management at General Assembly, created and taught by Jeremy Horn, to more effectively communicate my product ideas to the rest of the company. Below is my story.

First, some background

Tracks is a way for people to make group photo albums (tracks) in a collaborative way. The app launched at TC Disrupt in May of 2011. It began as a way for users to share photos around any event or experience in a private way. The app has evolved over the last couple of years, as we have better understood how people use it.

Back in January of 2013, I sat down and analyzed various metrics and KPIs such as Cohort, engagement time, retention, K-factor, and Cycle Plots. By doing a data first approach to product development I came up with a list of improvements we can add to the app.

The list of ideas I jotted down:

From this point, I had a brief discussion with the CEO, and then it was announced that we would be launching a 2.5 version of Tracks in the springtime!

On Track

Fortunately, I had signed up for the Product Management class at GA taught by Jeremy Horn. I learned the tools to be able to more effectively communicate my ideas to the rest of the Tracks team.

The top product ideas I wanted to focus on were:

Public Tracks (making it an option for users to make public as well as private Tracks).
Redesign of the Track list
Track it (ability for users to track any photo they discover to their own account).
Refining Twitter Invites (invites sent via Twitter).

I started drawing up the wireframes…

I imagined a redesigned home screen. Focused on the photos and the varying sizes of the pics changing depending upon popularity of them.

The “Track it” button (later renamed to ReTrack) would allow users to take any public photo in the app and place it in their own Track or album.

Here the Track it button would be placed below the photo.

After hitting the button, the user is taken to a screen to select where to put the photo.

Wireframe of a ReTracked photo from the perspective of a user.

Improved invites sent via Twitter by taking advantage of the Twitter card functionality. Instead of just showing a link in a tweet, a Twitter card shows a whole photo with descriptive text. The whole area is clickable to any website.

Tracks 2.5 – What ended up being built

	This is the main activity screen that shows all the Tracks.
Implementation of Public Tracks. Discovering any track around specific tags such as Fun, Love, Friends, etc…
	Tap the share button under the photo.
After hitting the Share button, you see an option for ReTrack.
	After hitting the ReTrack button the user is taken to this screen to select where to ReTrack the entry to.

Track to Success

Launch Day and Apple’s Feature on April 16th, 2013!

Then got some great press …

from Venture Beat http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/19/tracks-2-5-experience-discovery/
and Vator.tv http://vator.tv/news/2013-04-18-tracks-updates-app-to-highlight-content-discovery

Now, I am heavily involved in the product direction of the app and we’re working on some really big things for the next version.

Thanks & stay tuned!

Guest Author Bio

Raj Moorjani, Director of Marketing, brings more than ten years of digital media experience in both mobile and web environments. He is proficient in employing state-of-the-art data analytic tools to evaluate and increase user acquisition and engagement. For the Tracks mobile applications (iOS, Android, and Windows), he has used Cohort, ETL, K-factor, retention, funnel, cycle plot, and engagement analyses, resulting in a one hundred percent increase in social connections and installs since the app’s initial product launch. His technical skill set includes expertise in wireframing, storyboarding, and developing roadmaps and preparing FRDs to help implement viral growth strategies. Specific product development contributions to Tracks are Public Tracks, ReTrack, and Twitter Cards implementation. Follow him on Twitter @rajmoor .

Filed under: guest blogger Tagged: ga, general assembly, product management, tracks

This Week’s Featured Product Management Jobs (Week of June 15, 2013)

Jeremy Horn — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:20:49 +0000

Business Analyst / Project Manager @ Data Mash (Seattle, WA)
Keywords: cms, design, maintain, websites
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=388&lf=twf

Revitas- Business Analyst @ Resolvit, LLC (Durham, NC)
Keywords: CARS, IT, Pharmaceutical
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=387&lf=twf

Product Manager Sr Staff @ Juniper Networks (San Francisco, CA)
Keywords: ethernet, networking
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=386&lf=twf

Sr. Product Manager, Retail @ EchoStar (San Francisco, CA)
Keywords: digital media, PRD, TV, UI, video delivery
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=385&lf=twf

Senior Product Manager – People.com @ Time Inc (New York, NY)
Keywords: advertising, media, online content, publishing
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=384&lf=twf

(Jr.) Product Manager @ One Kings Lane (San Francisco, CA)
Keywords: non-consumer, rdbms, roadmaps, scrum
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=372&lf=twf

Product Manager @ Fab.com (New York, NY)
Keywords: acquisition marketing, entrepreneurial, product design, sql
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=362&lf=twf

Filed under: product jobs Tagged: product management

From Preparing for the Unobtrusive to Committing to the Guide

Jeremy Horn — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:28:18 +0000

Every week I read thousands of blog posts. For your weekend enjoyment, here are some of those highlights. What are you reading this weekend?

	On Product Management… http://www.mindtheproduct.com/2013/06/ask-a-product-manager-effective-product-roadmaps/ Commit to being a better guide.
	On Starting Up… http://www.alleywatch.com/2013/06/how-to-calculate-equity-split-between-founders-in-startups/ Split up with some caution.
	On Modular Innovation… http://blog.programmableweb.com/2013/06/07/bitcoin-as-an-api-for-money-creating-money-as-a-service/ Spend the currency of modular innovation.
	On Design & Product Experience… http://www.andysowards.com/blog/2013/the-changing-trends-in-modern-web-design/ Prepare for responsively, modest, unobtrusive change.

Have a great weekend!

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy

Filed under: weekend reading Tagged: bitcoin, design, equity, modest, product management, responsive, roadmap, startup, unobtrusive, user experience, ux, vc

Forrst

Jeremy Horn — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:41:32 +0000

Reblogged from The Product Peek:

Fun use of footer and cartoons in design and development.

Developing Customers, Delivering News, Delighting July!

Jeremy Horn — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:49:09 +0000

Thank you to everyone who made it to our latest roundtable meet-up of The Product Group at MTV Networks / Viacom, as well as to our other sponsors, Balsamiq Studios, Sunshine Suites, and Ryma Technology Solutions.

Submit your nomination for The Best Product Person of 2013!

Visit http://TheBestProductPerson.com today!
Nominate this year’s best and everyone wins!

Over the course of the night a few of the highlights were…

Featured Product: SPUN
exploring the product, its challenges and successes, from Apple to the “inner scoop”
(thanks to Scott Lindenbaum)

Customer Development Strategies
from the right questions to training the masses

The Product Group meet-ups are an opportunity for Product People (managers, strategists, marketers, etc.) to come together to meet, interact, and network in a roundtable setting. It’s awesome to meet fellow Product People in a laid-back, conversational gathering.

If you are a Product Person and are interested in having your product featured or participating as a featured guest expert at an upcoming meetup of The Product Group, contact me (or email at jhorn (a-t.) tpgblog DoT com).

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our next meetup …

Thursday, August 1st @ 7PM
RSVP Now!

Stay tuned for more announcements about August’s Featured Product, WellcomeMat.

And, don’t forget to check out our new job board exclusively dedicated to Product jobs!

Visit http://TheProductJobs.com and happy hunting!

If you are interested in being a Product Mentor or seeking Product Management Mentorship…

Visit http://TheProductMentor.com and
Sign-up today!

And, don’t forget to RSVP ASAP to attend the…

Summer Night Product Person Party!
Thursday, July 18th
RSVP Now!

Enjoy!

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy

P.S. Interested in becoming a sponsor or host of The Product Group? contact me.

Filed under: events Tagged: balsamiq, customer development, event, jobs, meetup, mentor, mtvn, product management, product strategy, ryma, Spun, sunshine suites, tbpp, The Product Group, TPGroup, viacom

This Week’s Featured Product Management Jobs (Week of June 9, 2013)

Jeremy Horn — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:04:32 +0000

Product Manager – Mobile @ Weight Watchers (New York City )
Keywords: analytics, API , digital , mobile, technology
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=422&lf=twf

Sr. Product Manager @ Knewton (New York, NY)
Keywords: Agile, Consumer, Data, Technology, Web
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=421&lf=twf

Product Manager-International @ Priceline.com (Norwalk, CT)
Keywords: International, Product Manager, Rental Cars
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=420&lf=twf

Product Manager @ Transcendent Endeavors (Midtown West, New York City)
Keywords: communication, ehealth, health IT, health startup
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=419&lf=twf

Product Manager @ ZocDoc (Manhattan (Soho) )
Keywords: agile, consumer, healthcare, product, startup
http://theproductjobs.com/page_view_posting.php?job_id=418&lf=twf

Filed under: product jobs Tagged: product management

Crunch that “A” and Tumble to Success

Jeremy Horn — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:51:11 +0000

Every week I read thousands of blog posts. For your weekend enjoyment, here are some of those highlights. What are you reading this weekend?

	On Product Management… http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/04/ex-yahoo-yahoo-needs-to-learn-from-tumblr-a-brilliantly-managed-product/ Tumble into successful product management.
	On Starting Up… http://www.seanpercival.com/blog/2013/06/03/how-to-survive-the-series-a-crunch-from-someone-who-didnt/ Crunch to a firmer “A”.
	On Modular Innovation… http://9to5mac.com/2013/04/30/jawbone-launches-new-up-platform-to-integrate-other-health-tracking-services-with-iphone-app/ Connect with the exercises of Modular Innovation.
	On Design & Product Experience… http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/20-single-page-designs-to-inspire-you Go single and pull it all front and center.

Have a great weekend!

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy

Filed under: weekend reading Tagged: design, jawbone, product management, series a, single, startup, tumblr, user experience, ux, vc, yahoo

Blue Sky Resumes

Jeremy Horn — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:59:07 +0000

Reblogged from The Product Peek:

A tasty use of cookies in website design. ;-)

The Product Jobs

Jeremy Horn — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:27:27 +0000

I believe in a growing and vibrant product person community. That is, in part, why I founded The Product Group, the largest product management meetup in the world, providing product people of all types a laid-back conversational place to go to network, learn, and talk. It is out of this endeavor a new product idea was sparked.

Members of The Product Group are constantly asking me for advice and assistance in getting into Product Management or finding their next Product job, or for recommendations for a great product person. It can be hard to find a product job, harder to find the right product person. I get it. This has been my experience, as well as that of scores of others.

Today, I am very proud to announce the official launch of The Product Jobs for product job seekers and those looking to hire great product people.

Visit http://TheProductJobs.com today.

The Product Jobs is FREE for all! Just create an account to apply to, or post, a new PRODUCT position.

Please help me in spreading the word of this new resource for the Product community, enjoy, and happy hunting.

Thanks.

Jeremy Horn
The Product Guy

Filed under: product management Tagged: job, prodmgmt, product, product management, product manager

My MVP Moment

Jeremy Horn — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 23:28:15 +0000

Reblogged from Product Development 101:

I recently finished a course on agile product development and one of the things that stuck with me most was the concept of the "MVP" or Minimum Viable Product, which is a way to reduce the risk of product failure by reducing down your product idea to a series of small experiments you can perform that will validate or invalidate your concept.

The Product Guy

On the Track to Success

First, some background

On Track

Tracks 2.5 – What ended up being built

Track to Success

Guest Author Bio

This Week’s Featured Product Management Jobs (Week of June 15, 2013)

From Preparing for the Unobtrusive to Committing to the Guide

On Product Management…

On Starting Up…

On Modular Innovation…

On Design & Product Experience…

Forrst

Developing Customers, Delivering News, Delighting July!

This Week’s Featured Product Management Jobs (Week of June 9, 2013)

Crunch that “A” and Tumble to Success

On Product Management…

On Starting Up…

On Modular Innovation…

On Design & Product Experience…

Blue Sky Resumes

The Product Jobs

Visit http://TheProductJobs.com today.

My MVP Moment