Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring a product from concept to reality? Welcome to the fascinating world of product management, where innovation, strategy, and creativity combine to shape Lodgify’s future.
We recently sat down with Anila Hasaj, Product Manager here at Lodgify, to shine a light on the key tasks and decision-making processes that our product managers undertake. From conducting market research and analyzing user feedback to collaborating with cross-functional teams and prioritizing feature development, every step in a product manager’s journey contributes to the creation of exceptional user experiences.
But it’s not all spreadsheets and meetings! We’ll also take you behind the scenes, revealing the creative and human side of product management, and you’ll discover how product managers foster innovation and anticipate customer needs.
So, let’s take a look at what a product manager actually does before Anila tells us what makes a day in the life of a Lodgify product manager both challenging and immensely rewarding.
Firstly, what does a Lodgify product manager do?
Our product managers play a pivotal role in the development and success of our vacation rental software. They are the architects behind the scenes, elevating the user experience and driving business growth opportunities.
In order to do this, they actively gather and analyze user feedback to gain insights into pain points, business opportunities, and areas for growth. This feedback loop is essential for continuously improving the platform based on real user experiences.
However, they are heavily involved in many processes, so they can often be found taking care of other responsibilities such as:
- Market research: They conduct in-depth market research to understand industry trends, customer preferences, and the competitive landscape.
- Product strategy: Product managers develop a comprehensive product strategy that aligns with the company’s vision and goals. They prioritize features, set goals, and create roadmaps to guide the product’s development.
- Cross-functional collaboration: They collaborate closely with design, engineering, marketing, and other teams to ensure seamless execution of the product roadmap.
- Feature development: Product managers work hand-in-hand with developers and oversee the entire lifecycle of new features, from ideation and conceptualization to implementation and testing.
- User experience (UX) design: They work closely with UX designers to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces.
- Competitive analysis: They closely monitor our competitors, identifying areas where Lodgify can excel and differentiate itself in the market.
- Product launches: Product managers coordinate product launches, ensuring that the entire team is prepared to support the new features.
1. What does a typical day look like for a Product Manager at Lodgify?
Anila: “A typical day in the life of a product manager at Lodgify is a variety of dynamic activities and collaboration with various stakeholders. Each week brings new focus areas, such as working closely with marketing on one project, then shifting gears to collaborate with the design team on another.”
“The daily routine usually starts with a quick sync with the development team to track progress in the product development cycle. Syncing up with the designers can follow next, where we delve into collaboration of ongoing research and design proposals for upcoming features. Alignment with the marketing team is crucial, especially when a significant product launch is on the horizon. Ensuring everyone is informed and prepared for the marketing campaign becomes a priority.
Throughout the day, product managers engage in data analysis, assessing the outcomes of past product releases or opportunities for the future. We all have specific success criteria or product metrics that serve as valuable insights to measure the user and business impact of recent releases.”
So, is it all work, no play?
Anila: “Not at all! We like to unwind together by going out for drinks or sharing lunch. It‘s great to connect and support each other, and that’s where after-work gatherings come into play.
In fact, we regularly organize exciting team-building activities, such as cooking classes, to foster partnerships within the product team.
The social connections we build with one another enhance our teamwork and create a positive work environment.”
2. Pain points: Which features to prioritize?
Anila: “The process of determining feature priorities is critical and revolves around assessing impact and aligning it to our business goals. When we consider introducing a new feature or product, we closely analyze factors such as key product metrics like engagement, adoption, satisfaction, the size of the target audience it serves, and its overall impact on core objectives.
We employ various prioritization frameworks because I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. The decision hinges on discovering which frameworks align best with our various products and overarching objectives.”
3. How did you find out about Lodgify, and what inspired you to want to join the team?
Anila: “I was initially drawn to Lodgify for several reasons. I’m Canadian, and I worked remotely for a Canadian company in Europe. While I enjoyed the flexibility of being able to work from anywhere, I felt a desire for a more stable European base. As I explored potential opportunities, I came across Lodgify through a really interesting and engaging job post that immediately caught my attention.
The role itself seemed incredibly appealing, offering exciting prospects. I was particularly impressed by the potential for growth within the company, even though the team was relatively small at the time. During the interview process, I had the pleasure of meeting the VP, Alex, and the positive interaction further solidified my interest in joining the team.”
4. Out of all the different projects you’ve worked on, is there one that stands out as being particularly memorable?
Anila: “One project that truly stands out is the mobile app launch. It was a massive undertaking, essentially introducing an entirely new product line to our portfolio. What made this project particularly memorable for me was the excitement surrounding the launch.
Seeing the app come to life and witnessing its positive impact on our users was incredibly fulfilling. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Every subsequent iteration of the mobile app brought its own set of challenges and rewards. It was an ongoing journey of improvement and innovation, and it reaffirmed my passion for product management.”
5. What sets Lodgify apart from other vacation rental software?
Anila: “What sets Lodgify apart from other vacation rental software is our energy and dedication to constantly improving and evolving our product. Unlike some larger companies, we prioritize agility and swift iteration, which allows us to learn from our users faster and implement improvements at a rapid pace.
While other companies might take longer to address issues or make their products a better fit for users, Lodgify remains flexible and responsive. We are constantly adjusting and iterating our product to ensure it meets the ever-changing needs of our users.”
Product management: Shaping Lodgify’s future
Behind the scenes, the dedication and passion of our product managers ensure that vacation rental owners and guests enjoy seamless and extraordinary user journeys. With an empathetic mindset, they not only identify pain points and areas for improvement but also continuously iterate and refine.
So, the next time you explore the user-friendly features on Lodgify’s platform, remember that it is the result of our product managers working tirelessly to make them a reality.
