When “Built for Everyone” means “Built for No One”

Zigmars Rozentals
1 min readJun 26, 2024

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Mercedes-Benz VRC concept car: built for everyone (actually for no one)

As product managers, one of our key responsibilities is ensuring that our products resonate deeply with our target audience. However, there’s a common pitfall: trying to build a product that serves everyone.

The result? Often, it serves no one particularly well.

Take this Mercedes-Benz VRC concept car as an example.

Its modular design allows for multiple configurations, aiming to be everything for everyone. While innovative, such versatility can dilute the product’s core value, making it less effective for specific use cases.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  1. Know Your Audience: Clearly define your target users and understand their specific needs.
  2. Focus on Core Features: Prioritize features that address your primary audience’s pain points.
  3. Iterative Testing: Regularly test with real users and refine based on feedback.
  4. Avoid Feature Creep: Adding too many features can lead to a complex and unwieldy product.

In product management, it’s crucial to strike a balance between versatility and specificity.

By honing in on what truly matters to your core users, you can create a product that stands out in its niche rather than being lost in the crowd.

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