October 2, 2010 33 Comments

Build Product Ecosystems

I shot a little video sketch to talk to you about the idea of building an ecosystem around your products and your projects. For instance, in this video, I’m talking about my desire to build up subscribers to my newsletter. I started by thinking what would grow the list, and then thinking what would be helpful in developing content, and then I realized that the entire experience could be turned back in on itself as a healthy product ecosystem in and around the space the list is supposed to support. Take a look at the video. It might be a little light, but if you’re listening in, you’ll hear enough to get a hint. I’m mostly just drawing circles and lines (mind-mapping, in other words).

Just some thoughts for you as you’re figuring out your business plans for your own projects.

I would love for you to get my free newsletter if you’re interested in learning more about personal development and business improvement. And feel free to share with anyone you think will like it. That’s the goal. : )

Related posts:

  1. Build Ecosystems for Your Content
  2. Build Useful Media
  3. Delivering Content Value to Market Your Product
  4. Note to Social Media Types- Build Your Interfaces
  5. Product Reviews as Story

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  • http://twitter.com/JimConrad Jim Conrad

    What was your project flow when you were just starting out? Was it the same? Did you focus more on content?

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      When I started out, I just wrote stuff. I had no big plan. This stuff I talked about here is new to 2010. Before then, I hit and I missed. And even now, I really didn’t have much consistency.

  • http://www.retirepreneur.com Donna Kastner/Retirepreneur

    It seems like initially you’d have to be in the “write stuff” mode to build a well of content and watch what people do with it. Would you agree?

    I’m one year into this and I think I’m to a point where I have enough content and insight to build a simple ecosystem for year 2. Thanks!

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I think a bit more circuitously than that. I try not to build and then deliver. I try to start, see how people react, and build on the reaction.

  • http://www.eugenoprea.com Eugen Oprea

    Thanks for sharing this Chris.

    I think its good to have some sort of plan ahead when creating things, especially when starting out.

    Anyway, it’s always good to learn from you. There are tons of things someone can learn from you.

    Now, off to implement what I’ve learned.

    Eugen

    PS: I subscribed to the newsletter. I would have subscribed without watching this video, but things like this help people get long termn relationships with their readers.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Much obliged, sir. Thank you for that.

  • http://twitter.com/ian_goodall Ian

    Great video. What I like about it is that you’ve proven the value of doing mind-mapping with something that is relatively simple but it helps frame the idea so that, at least in your own mind, you feel more productive and have a better understanding of where you are going with something.

  • Anonymous

    i love mind maps! i have them up on most of my walls in my art room.
    and i just signed up for your newsletter.

    but i am commenting to say – i just love when your inner artist pops out, it always feels like a bit of a celebration. even if it’s just for 10 seconds.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Thanks! I do what I can. : )

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Thanks! I do what I can. : )

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Thanks! I do what I can. : )

  • http://www.theemotionmachine.com Steven Handel

    Really great ideas. Do you always hand draw your mind maps or do you use any software?

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I use MindNode on the Mac, but if I’m lucky, I use paper.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I use MindNode on the Mac, but if I’m lucky, I use paper.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I use MindNode on the Mac, but if I’m lucky, I use paper.

  • http://twitter.com/JohnFHunt johnfhunt

    It is always great to visualize the big picture. One more obvious thing to add would be a “filter” to make sure everything you create on the front-end attracts the ultimate and proper back-end customer or subscriber with respect to target audience attributes.

  • http://twitter.com/nachase Nicholas Chase

    Hi Chris,

    Really enjoyed this post and video. The concepts made me get out my whiteboard, it’s easier to erase, and begin to diagram my virtual work projects and map revenue options between rev-share and flat fee paradigms.

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase

  • http://twitter.com/nachase Nicholas Chase

    Hi Chris,

    Really enjoyed this post and video. The concepts made me get out my whiteboard, it’s easier to erase, and begin to diagram my virtual work projects and map revenue options between rev-share and flat fee paradigms.

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase

  • Leon Aldrich

    Chris,

    I saw a website, probably a hoax site, but they offered pencil sharpening services. It was hilarious. When your video began with you sharpening your own pencil…

    p.s. The #1 reason I dislike DISQUS for commenting, is it scrolls what you’ve written off the screen, making it NOT fun for checking over your comments before submission. Use some of that muscle and clout and get them to make this a better tool for your commentors.

  • http://www.indiebusinessblog.com Donna Maria Coles Johnson

    Great post, Chris! I think it’s important to remember that each piece of the ecosystem must be logically connected to each other piece, not just in the current project, but in the business and the brand overall. Just like an ecosystem in nature, each piece must fulfill a particular purpose. Each is strong in its own right, so they become interdependent (as opposed to dependent) upon each other. Over time, the result is multiple new opportunities for the business owner and everyone around him or her. I love this thought process — thanks for sharing it!

    • http://www.nathanmeffert.com Nathan Meffert

      I definitely agree. Here’s an exercise I’ve used:

      List needs, intrinsic characteristics, and products and behaviors of each key “piece”. Look for intersections – particularly in the areas of products and needs – between the pieces, and proceed to design or redesign the system to make those connections. This is one way that you can create a very dynamic network of connections and build the high productivity, resilience, and efficiency of a natural ecosystem into your work.

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    Love the visual. When I’m helping clients build lists one of the key things I try to share with them is how the individual pieces feed the whole. How important it is to have some sort of strategy, even if it’s simply starting with a goal to build the list and evaluate how each offering might be leveraged to help do that.

    Free, good and helpful content (articles, webinars, ebooks, etc) offers a low barrier to entry and value for others. Get’s the relationship going and helps to build trust by giving people things they can use. Then, branching off with ways for them to go deeper (paid resources) enables a way for some to move from just being consumers to becoming action takers. I think that action taker part is important, not just for the product creator to monetize and sustain the ability to make more, but to qualify and truly help the community take their game to the next level.

  • http://twitter.com/IvanParadinovic Ivan Paradinović

    Love mind mapping…it can really release your creative juices

  • http://twitter.com/IvanParadinovic Ivan Paradinović

    Love mindmapping..It can really release your creative juices.

  • Mike2367

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    good job thank u to enjoy this

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  • http://www.google.com/profiles/David.C.Molina David Molina

    Thanks Chris for visualizing this with us! It totally makes sense. The issue that sometimes I run into is creating an ecosystem which circles around our business vs social activism. This can be difficult and strained even more when much of our attention, focus & time is dedicated to social & community activism (commissions, boards, etc.). Taking your advice into account, we’ve been bunkering down the last month to regroup, rededicate ourselves to value added for clients and refocusing our attention to building a business that scales. PS: I must admit your videos are super beneficial for someone like myself that falls more on the visual side. Thanks,

  • Michael Cavitt

    Thanks for this post and video. It help crystallize some thinking. And we switched to Genesis.

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    I like the visuals that you inserted. It’s easier than reading it.

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