What's a Minimum Lovable Product? How to Achieve it? 🧁

Hey Lovely PM! It’s Aneesha :)

We’ve all heard about MVPs or Minimum Viable Products. But MLPs often come as new to many of us who are new to product management.

For those who don’t know, MVP means a basic version of a product released early in the development process to validate customer needs and help ensure the product aligns with market demands.

MVPs are developed iteratively, to build a better product that resonates with future users.

In today’s post, we’re looking at what MLPs are, whether they’re better than MVPs, achieving MLP, and the benefits of focusing on MLP.

What is a Minimum Lovable Product (MLP)? 🧁

While functionality is crucial, users today expect more. Here’s where Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) comes into the picture. A concept that goes beyond the well-known Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

An MLP focuses on delivering the core functionalities that solve a user's problem, but with an added layer of care and attention that makes the experience delightful.

The Core of the MLP: Functionality + Usability + Delight

Imagine an MVP as a basic car that gets you from point A to point B. It might not be the most comfortable ride, but it serves its purpose.

An MLP, on the other hand, is that same car with a sleek design, comfortable seats, and intuitive controls. It not only gets you there, but it makes the journey enjoyable.

An MLP achieves this balance by prioritizing three key aspects:

• Functionality: The core features that address the user's pain points and solve their problems.

• Usability: An intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes interacting with the product effortless.

• Delight: That special touch that elevates the user experience beyond the expected. This could be innovative design, intuitive features, or unexpected moments of joy.

Achieving Minimum Lovable Product over an MVP👩‍🍳

Building an MLP isn't just about adding a few bells and whistles to an MVP. It requires a fundamental shift in mindset, prioritizing functionality and user experience.

1. User Experience from Start 🎯 

While an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) focuses on validating a product concept with core functionalities, an MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) takes it a step further.

It prioritizes user experience (UX) alongside functionality, aiming to create a product that users find useful and enjoy using.

Understanding the MVP vs. MLP UX Focus

• MVP: 
  
  The MVP stage is all about getting the core features working and testing if users find the underlying concept valuable. Here, UX is considered, but it's not the central focus.
  
  Think of it as a basic car that gets you from point A to point B. It might not be the most comfortable ride, but it fulfills its purpose.
  

• MLP: 
  
  An MLP is about refining that basic car into a delightful experience. User experience takes center stage alongside functionality. Usability becomes paramount, ensuring an intuitive interface and a smooth user journey.
  
  The goal is to create an MLP that feels like a sleek, comfortable car with user-friendly controls - a joy to use, not just a means to an end.

Benefits of Prioritizing UX from the Start

1. Increased User Engagement: An intuitive and enjoyable user experience keeps users engaged. They're more likely to explore the product's full potential and become regular users.

2. Improved User Retention: When users find a product delightful to use, they're more likely to stick around. A positive UX experience fosters brand loyalty and reduces churn.

3. Valuable User Feedback: Delighting users encourages them to provide constructive feedback. This valuable input helps you iterate and continuously improve your product based on real user needs.

4. Positive Word-of-Mouth Marketing: A product that users love becomes a conversation starter. Positive user experiences translate into positive word-of-mouth marketing, attracting new users organically.

2. Invest in Design 🎨

While the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) prioritizes core functionalities, design often takes a backseat. This can work for initial validation, but for a Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), investing in design is crucial. It is an investment in your users.

Here's why design plays a vital role in crafting an MLP, and how it goes beyond mere aesthetics.

The MVP vs. MLP Design Approach

• MVP Design: 
  
  Think of an MVP as a prototype or a rough sketch. The design might be basic, with a focus on ensuring the core features function properly. Visual appeal and user interface considerations might be secondary.
  

• MLP Design: 
  
  An MLP transforms that basic sketch into a polished design. It goes beyond functionality to create a user experience that is not only usable but also visually appealing and engaging. Consider it the final artwork after the initial sketch.

Key Design Considerations for an MLP

1. Visual Design: 
   
   First impressions matter. An MLP should have a visually appealing and consistent design language. This includes elements like color palettes, typography, and imagery that resonate with your target audience and create a positive first impression.
   

2. Information Architecture: 
   
   How users navigate your product is crucial. Information architecture focuses on organizing content logically and intuitively. Ensure clear hierarchy, easy-to-find information, and a consistent navigation structure.
   

3. User Interaction: 
   
   Think about how your users will interact with your product. This includes button placement, interaction patterns, and overall user flow. Focus on creating an intuitive and responsive experience that feels natural and effortless to use.

3. Prioritize User Research and Feedback Early On 🗣️ 

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) serves a critical purpose: validating your core concept and ensuring you're addressing a genuine user need. However, user research in the MVP stage might be limited, focusing on confirming the problem exists and your proposed solution has potential.

This is where the Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) takes a different approach.

For an MLP, prioritizing user research and feedback early on is essential for crafting a product that users not only find useful but also truly love.

Here's how user research and continuous feedback become the cornerstone of building an MLP.

Benefits of Prioritizing User Research for an MLP

• Reduced Development Risk: Early user feedback helps you identify and address potential issues before they become costly problems later in the development process.

• Enhanced User Experience: By incorporating user feedback throughout development, you ensure your MLP truly addresses user needs and creates a positive user experience.

• Improved Feature Prioritization: User research helps you prioritize features based on their impact and user demand. This avoids wasting resources on features that might not be valuable to your target audience.

• Uncovering Unexpected Opportunities: Sometimes, user research reveals unforeseen needs or preferences. This can lead to innovative new features or improvements that enhance the overall value proposition of your MLP.

4. Integrate "Delight" Elements 🥳 

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) tackles the core problem and delivers the essential value proposition. While it might be functional, it may lack the spark that truly engages users.

An MLP, on the other hand, goes beyond functionality. It aims to "delight" users with unexpected features and touches of polish.

Here's how to integrate these "delight" elements into your MLP, transforming it from a basic product to one that users love.

Strategies for Integrating "Delight" Elements

Onboarding Delight

First impressions matter. Create an onboarding sequence that is not only informative but also engaging and potentially delightful.

Consider these options:

• Interactive Tutorials: Instead of text-heavy instructions, consider interactive tutorials that guide users through the product in a fun and memorable way.

• Personalized Welcome Messages: A personalized welcome message shows users you care and adds a human touch to the onboarding experience.

• Reward System Integration: For some products, a simple reward system during onboarding can incentivize users to explore key features and encourage continued engagement.

Unexpected Extras

Look for opportunities to surprise users with unexpected features that add value and enhance their experience.

Here are some ideas:

• Easter Eggs: Hiding fun "Easter Eggs" within the product can spark user curiosity and create a sense of discovery.

• Contextual Tips and Tricks: Offer relevant tips and tricks based on user activity. This can be educational and helpful, enhancing their experience.

• Personalized Features: Personalization can go beyond welcome messages. Consider offering users the ability to customize the look and feel of the product or tailoring content based on their preferences.

Frictionless User Journey

While functionality is important, minimize friction points in the user journey. Delight can come from a smooth, effortless experience. Here's what you can do:

• Auto-fill Forms: Pre-populate forms with relevant information whenever possible.

• Seamless Integration with Other Tools: If your product integrates with other tools, ensure a smooth and seamless user experience during the connection process.

• Error Handling with a Smile: Even errors can be delightful. Craft informative and user-friendly error messages that don't frustrate users.

Remember: "Delight" doesn't have to be complex or expensive. It's about the small details that show users you care about their experience and strive to make it enjoyable.

That’s all for today !

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Cya!
Aneesha ❤️ 

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• Aneesha S

• Twice the Impact PM