Emmet Shear's Twitch Feature Prioritization Strategies

Emmet Shear, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitch, provides valuable insights into his mental frameworks for prioritizing feature development, gleaned from his experience building Justin.tv and Twitch. He outlines a practical approach to determining what features to build next for a product, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what truly matters and aligning features with a clear product vision.

• His methods offer a structured way to navigate the complexities of product development and create a compelling roadmap.
• These strategies can be applied by product managers, developers, and anyone involved in shaping a product's future.

Prioritizing Features: A Twitch Perspective

Emmet Shear emphasizes that effective feature prioritization is crucial for any product's success. It involves making strategic choices about what features to build, focusing on those that will have the greatest impact on user experience and product growth. This process is particularly important for platforms like Twitch, where the user base and content constantly evolve.

• He suggests that the key to successful feature prioritization lies in aligning features with a clear product vision, ensuring they contribute to the overall goals and aspirations of the platform.
• By focusing on building features that work, rather than simply pursuing shiny new ideas, teams can maximize their efforts and deliver real value to users.

Emmet Shear's Mental Frameworks: Building a Winning Product

Emmet Shear outlines several mental frameworks that have guided his feature prioritization decisions, providing a practical framework for approaching this critical aspect of product development.

• These frameworks are designed to help teams prioritize features, ensuring they are aligned with the product vision and contribute to user engagement and growth.
• By applying these frameworks, teams can make informed decisions, avoid distractions, and stay focused on delivering the most valuable features.

1. The "What Works" Framework

This framework emphasizes focusing on features that demonstrably improve the user experience and drive key metrics. It encourages teams to prioritize features that have a clear and quantifiable impact on user engagement, growth, or revenue.

• This approach is particularly effective in the context of platforms like Twitch, where the user base and content are constantly evolving, and data-driven decision-making is crucial.
• Instead of pursuing unproven ideas, teams should focus on iteratively improving existing features and adding new ones that are supported by user data and insights.

2. The "Minimum Viable Product" (MVP) Framework

This framework emphasizes building the simplest possible version of a feature that meets the basic needs of users. It encourages teams to iterate quickly, gathering user feedback and making adjustments along the way. This approach helps to reduce the risk of building features that are not truly valued by users.

• By starting with an MVP, teams can test their assumptions and gather user feedback before investing significant resources in full-fledged development.
• This iterative approach is particularly well-suited to platforms like Twitch, where user preferences and content trends can change rapidly.

3. The "Product Vision" Framework

This framework emphasizes aligning all features with a clear and concise product vision. It encourages teams to consider how each feature contributes to the overall goals and aspirations of the product. This approach ensures that all features are aligned and contribute to a cohesive user experience.

• For platforms like Twitch, the product vision might focus on creating a vibrant community for gamers and viewers, fostering a sense of belonging, and providing opportunities for engagement.
• By keeping the product vision top of mind, teams can ensure that all features contribute to the overall goals of the platform.

Emmet Shear's Lessons for Twitch and Beyond

Emmet Shear's insights into feature prioritization offer valuable lessons for anyone involved in product development, regardless of the platform. His focus on building features that work, aligning with a clear product vision, and leveraging data-driven decision-making provides a practical framework for creating successful products.

• His strategies are particularly relevant in the rapidly evolving world of online platforms, where user expectations are constantly shifting, and the competition for attention is fierce.
• By applying his mental frameworks, teams can navigate these challenges effectively, prioritize features that deliver real value, and create products that resonate with their target audiences.