TEI 003: Innovation Lessons-Learned Creating StudioPress – with Brian Gardner

Global Product Management Talk is pleased to bring you another
episode of The Everyday Innovator. The podcast is all about helping
people involved in developing and managing products become more
successful, grow their careers, and STANDOUT from their peers.
Brian Gardner is the founder of StudioPress, creator of the Genesis
Framework and Themes for WordPress, and Chief Product Officer at
Copyblogger, the company that teaches business owners how to do
online marketing that works. He is an ideal example of a product
innovator and business creator.  Brian saw a need and created
a solution that people valued and were willing to pay for. He
continues to be the “idea guy” behind product innovations at
StudioPress. Highlights from the discussion include: Test the
feasibility of product concepts with customers before beginning
development. As an example, Brian asked people if they would buy a
WordPress theme before he started creating itInnovative products
are often borne out of necessity to solve problems and create value
for customersAs an example of innovation, Brian shares the creation
of the Genesis Framework to separate WordPress theme functionality
from theme layout and styleA familiar user experience increased
acceptance of Brian’s productsAlways listening to the customer
community and being responsive to feedback leads to product
improvements and new products customers wantLearning takes place
through trying things for yourself and experimentingObserving what
is working for others is a good source of ideasProject management
and customer service experiences prepared Brian for creating his
own companyJust-in-time-learning of what you need to know quickly
increases your valueInnovation takes a team of people with
different strengths to be successful