What's your favorite product (other than big-tech products) and how would you improve?

Introduction

My favorite product outside of big tech is Duolingo, the language learning app. I'll analyze how to improve Duolingo, focusing on enhancing user engagement and learning outcomes. I'll follow a structured approach: clarifying the product, segmenting users, analyzing pain points, generating solutions, evaluating and prioritizing improvements, and defining metrics for success.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• What are Duolingo's current key performance indicators (KPIs)?

Why this matters: Understanding current KPIs helps align improvement efforts with business goals. Hypothetical answer: Daily active users (DAU), user retention rate, and course completion rate. Impact: Focuses improvements on metrics that directly impact business success.

• What's the average user retention rate after 30 days?

Why this matters: Retention is crucial for language learning apps, indicating user value and habit formation. Hypothetical answer: 40% retention after 30 days. Impact: Highlights the need to focus on early-stage user engagement and value delivery.

• What percentage of users achieve conversational fluency in their target language?

Why this matters: Measures the core value proposition of language learning effectiveness. Hypothetical answer: 15% of active users after 6 months of consistent use. Impact: Indicates potential for improving learning outcomes and long-term engagement.

• How does Duolingo's market share compare to competitors like Babbel or Rosetta Stone?

Why this matters: Contextualizes Duolingo's position and potential growth areas. Hypothetical answer: Duolingo leads with 40% market share, compared to 20% for Babbel and 15% for Rosetta Stone. Impact: Suggests focusing on retaining market leadership through innovation and user satisfaction.

Based on these hypothetical answers, I'll assume Duolingo is a market leader with room for improvement in user retention and learning outcomes. The primary goal will be to increase the percentage of users achieving conversational fluency while maintaining strong user acquisition and engagement metrics.