Product Managers, Competitor Analysis and Databases UNIT 5
Product Managers, Competitor Analysis and Databases
U N I T 5
2
Agenda
What’s Product Management?
Check in : Share your prototype & collect feedback
Competitor Analysis
Data and databases
Transfer prototype to App Inventor
Wrap up, share challenges
3
T E C H N O VAT I O N - U N I T 5
4
Check-in: paper prototype• Share out the paper
prototype of your app idea
• Explain the functionalities and features of the app
• Discuss why you chose to include or not to include certain features
Snapchat Prototype for Glass
5
Incorporate Feedback to improve your app
Potential users can provide feedback on:
• Whether or not your solution (app) solves the prob
• Improvements to the design
• other features to add (now or in the future)
http://sharpsuits.net/
6
Tips on getting good feedback
• Describe the scenario (clear, short, relevant, lots of context)
• Walk them through the solution
• Ask questions for clarity
• Ask for honest feedback
7
Tips on providing feedback
• Don’t be a jerk - don’t judge! We are here to learn.
• Don't be afraid to be "too nice". Be fierce and strong with your feedback and don't hold back for fear of being "unfriendly"
• Use phrases like “I got confused here…”
• Try to provide objective feedback instead of subjective feedback. Saying “I dont like that blue” doesn’t help, remove your personal opinion and if your feedback still works, then share it: “I don’t think that blue matches the brand’s blue. I’d check the brand guidelines to make sure.”
8
Questions Notes Changes
Would you recommend this product to a friend?
How would you describe this app in one or more words?
How does this app compare to competitor?
What do you find most frustrating about this?
Overall, how easy do you find this to use?
If you could change only one thing, what would it be?
What do you like best about it?
Collecting Feedback
Not in workbook (Link here)
9
Questions Notes Changes
Is there anything that is unclear or confusing in
the user-interface?
Would your user prefer the app look or behave
differently?
Which features of your app interface and usability
are of highest value to your target market?
Are there any missing buttons or other content
from your app?
Did the user’s expectations differ from
the intended functionality of the app?
Collecting Feedback
Page 22 of the workbook
10
Task List• Collect feedback on your
app prototype
• Update your app design based on this feedback
• Consider dividing the work by assigning each team member responsibility for specific prototype screens (^ Divide Carefully)
http://sharpsuits.net/
11
C O M P E T I T O R A N A LY S I S
12
Competitor Analysis
Look at other apps on the market and rank them on the following factors
• Branding/Name Recognition
• Market share
• Revenue
• Growth rate
• How advanced technology is
• Pricing Scheme
• Reputation for quality, customer service
Do Some Competitor Research. This will help you answer the question: What makes your app better?
13
Find Competitor Data• IOS App Store and Google Play are the best
spy tools
• Google Search
• Use Google Trends to rate user interest in a specific topic.
• Alexa to learn about site traffic
• www.similarweb.com/
14
Who are your competitors?
• Anyone who is providing a similar or the same service that you’re providing that is an alternative solution to using your service, is a competitor.
• OR, any organization that wants to steal your customers.
• If you don’t know who they are google “Keywords + app “
• Take note (website, social media profile, iTunes app link)
15
Determine Market Positioning & Branding• Market position is the market perception of your product. In other words, it’s how
your product/service is perceived by the world.OR, any organization that wants to steal your customers.
• Apple versus Dell example
• Potential positions for your app: Modest, Cool/designer, IT savvy, Smart, Charitable, Expensive, Healthy, Organic, Holistic/metaphysical, Low price, Honest, Easy to use, Exclusive, Quality/reliable, Social, Age sensitive (older/younger), Athletic, Cultural Etc.
• Unique Value Offering: What unique value are your competitors offering? Ex: Instagram: Real-time, mobile photo friend-following, Shopify : Make commerce simple for everyone.
16
Criteria Your App Competitor A Competitor B Competitor C
Branding/Name Recognition
Market Share
Revenue
Growth Rate
How advance is the technology?
Pricing Scheme
Reputation for quality?
Ease of Use
Value Proposition/Market Positioning
Competitive Analysis Ranking Example
Not in workbook
17
Competitor Analysis
• What makes your app better than others that are out there?
• Is your app easier to use?
• Does your app have features that other apps do not?
Get feedback from your teacher and mentor once you’re finished.
• Survey others on how much they are willing to pay for app?
• How much are competitors selling their app?
18
SWOT
19
SWOT
Name of Competitor What does it do well? What could it do better? How will your app be different?
Competitor A
Competitor B
Competitor C
20
Competitors’ Apps Usability Testing
Page 18
21
D ATA
22
What is Data?
For data to be useful, it needs to be organized. Data is organized in databases through keys and values:
• Key – label for what’s inside
• Value – data that’s inside
We use the Key to look up the Value in the database
Example: A contacts list, which is a database of contact information
• Key = name
• Value = phone number
Data is information in raw or unorganized form (such as alphabets, numbers, or symbols) that refer to, or represent, conditions, ideas, or objects. Read more: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/data.html#ixzz3xED1ZxrX
23
Databases - The Magic behind your app!Databases organize the collection and retrieval of data
They're intended to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data easily
Examples:
• iTunes is a database for all your music
• Google has a database of websites which is used for Google Search
• Facebook is a database of people
• Shopify has many databases and stores information about merchants, their stores, settings, sales, customers etc.
24
Databases in App InventorRemember the Coloured Dots tutorial from last session that introduced databases?
• If you want to save data after the application is closed you must use a database
Two types of databases:
• TinyDB stores data directly on the phone and will only be used by that phone (hand-set)
• TinyWebDB stores data on a web database that can be shared among phones Additional resources on working with databases
25
Data and usage for your App
Think of how you can use a database in your App.
• What information will your app collect?
• What data will your app provide?
• Will your app connect to other information sources (such as Instagram?)
26
Task: Transfer paper prototype to App InventorUse your paper prototype to develop a skeleton of screens in App Inventor.
• Make and name a screen in App Inventor for each screen your app will have.
• "Screen1" must be your home screen.
• Add all the components that you will need for each screen first.
• Start on the blocks after the components have been added.
27
Wrap-Up
For next week complete your project planning (page 23) and competitive analysis (page 24) exercises in your workbook
Post any questions or difficulties you may be encountering on the Technovation Ottawa facebook page, and you can e-mail me questions directly at [email protected]