"What do you think of it?" is the worst product feedback question. It produces polite, vague answers that are useless for making decisions. Getting feedback that actually changes what you build requires a different approach.
Talk to the Right People
Feedback from people who do not have the problem you are solving is not just unhelpful — it is actively misleading. Before any user conversation, confirm that the person you are speaking with actually experiences the problem your product addresses.
If they do not, thank them and move on. Their feedback is not your signal.
Ask About the Past, Not the Future
Questions about what users would do or might want are unreliable. People are poor predictors of their own future behaviour.
Instead, ask about what they have already done:
- Tell me about the last time you dealt with this problem.
- What did you try before finding us?
- Walk me through how you handle this today.
Past behaviour is evidence. Future intentions are speculation.
Listen for the Problem Behind the Request
When a user asks for a specific feature, do not write it down and build it. Ask why.
"We want a CSV export." — Why? "So we can get the data into our reporting tool." — Which tool? "We use Looker." — Now you know the real problem is a Looker integration, not a CSV export.
The feature request is rarely the solution. It is a clue to the actual problem.
Quantify Before You Prioritise
One user asking loudly for something does not mean it is the right thing to build. Before acting on any piece of feedback, ask how many users share the same underlying problem.
A simple tagging system for support conversations or interview notes lets you see which problems recur. Build what comes up most often, not what was asked most recently.
Close the Loop
When you build something based on user feedback, tell the user. Send a personal message. It costs two minutes and creates the kind of loyalty that no acquisition campaign can buy.
People who feel heard become advocates. People who feel ignored churn and tell others why.
Find More on LiftOff
LiftOff is a community of makers and early adopters. Launching there is one of the fastest ways to get your product in front of people who will tell you exactly what they think. Submit yours.
