Hey Founder
Mark Zuckerberg outlines a four-phase approach to building and scaling successful products: spark joy, retain users, grow the community, and finally monetize.
aka Build something people love, ensure they come back, grow your user base, then monetize - in that order.
This methodical approach ensures a solid foundation for product success, prioritizing user value and engagement over premature scaling or monetization.
Build A Thing
- Phase 1 (Spark Joy): Create something users find awesome or miraculous
- Phase 2 (Retention): Refine the product to encourage regular, repeated use
- Phase 3 (Growth): Focus on scaling the user base and community
- Phase 4 (Monetization): Implement revenue strategies only after establishing a large, engaged user base
Why This Matters: Patience is key in product development. As Zuckerberg demonstrates with WhatsApp, it's okay to delay monetization for years if it means building a product that billions use daily. Focus on creating value first, and the rest will follow.
Remember: What users find "awesome" isn't always what they'll use regularly. "your thing" might be mind-blowing, but do users need it weekly? Focus on turning initial excitement into habitual use before anything else.
If I can be of service, reach out.
James.