Introduction
In product management, especially within FAANG companies, interviewers may pose questions to gauge your analytical skills in platform-specific contexts. For example, you might be asked to measure if LinkedIn is better on iOS or Android, assuming the look and feel are the same across both. This blog post will discuss how to address such a question effectively, by referring to frameworks like the ones from ‘Decode and Conquer: Answers to Product Management Interviews.’ We will tackle the complexities of comparing platform performance in a methodical way.
Detailed Guide on Framework Application
Choosing the AARRR Framework
The AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Revenue, Referral) framework, also known as the Pirate Metrics, is ideal for evaluating a product’s performance on different platforms. This analytical model assesses how users interact with an application and how the product fulfills the company’s goals.
Applying the AARRR Framework
- Acquisition: Compare user acquisition numbers and growth rates between iOS and Android. Look for trends in app store rankings and downloads.
- Activation: Measure how the features engage users initially after download, with attention to user onboarding and the first session experience on each platform.
- Retention: Analyze how well the app retains users over time on each platform using metrics like daily active users (DAU) and churn rates.
- Revenue: Evaluate monetization strategies on both platforms by looking at in-app purchases, premium subscription rates, or ad revenue.
- Referral: Examine referral statistics to understand how users promote the app via word of mouth or social sharing features, and recognize if there’s a significant difference between the two platforms.
Illustrative Example
An effective way to answer this question would be:
“To evaluate whether LinkedIn performs better on iOS or Android, despite a similar look and feel, we’d need to deep dive into the AARRR metrics for both platforms. For instance, we might find that acquisition is higher on Android due to the larger market share, but iOS may lead in terms of average revenue per user (ARPU) due to higher consumer spending on Apple’s ecosystem (Revenue). It is also crucial to assess the technical performance of the app, such as load times and crash rates, across different devices. This combined data would provide a holistic view of the app’s performance and user satisfaction.”
Factual Checks and Approximations
When discussing these metrics, avoid making unfounded claims. Instead, use industry knowledge to back up your answer, reference LinkedIn’s published reports if available, or rely on general market data but clarify it’s an approximation.
Communication Tips
While answering:
- Be methodical and lead the interviewer through your thought process.
- Match your insights with potential business outcomes or user experiences.
- Avoid jargon unless you’re sure the interviewer will understand.
- Prepare to discuss potential follow-up questions based on your answer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to answer complex performance evaluation questions effectively, utilize structured frameworks like AARRR. They will help you to provide a clear, thorough, and data-driven response. Practice dissecting each metric and aligning it with user experience and business goals. Finally, communicate your insights in a way that conveys deep product understanding and strategic thinking.