Which is your favourite email client and why?

Introduction

Evaluating email clients is a crucial task for product managers, as these tools significantly impact productivity and communication efficiency. To approach this product success metrics problem effectively, I'll follow a simple framework covering core metrics, supporting indicators, and risk factors while considering all key stakeholders.

Step 1

Product Context (5 minutes)

Email clients are software applications designed to manage and organize email communications. They serve as the primary interface between users and their email accounts, offering features like composing, sending, receiving, and organizing messages. Key stakeholders include individual users, businesses, IT administrators, and the email client provider itself.

A typical user flow involves:

1. Launching the application
2. Checking inbox for new messages
3. Reading and responding to emails
4. Organizing messages into folders or applying labels
5. Composing and sending new emails
6. Managing contacts and calendar integration

Email clients play a crucial role in a company's communication strategy, often integrating with other productivity tools. They compete in a crowded market, with options ranging from web-based services like Gmail to desktop applications like Microsoft Outlook and mobile-first solutions.

In terms of product lifecycle, email clients are generally in the maturity stage, with established players and features. However, innovation continues in areas like AI-assisted writing, advanced search capabilities, and enhanced security measures.

As a software product, key considerations include:

• Cross-platform compatibility (desktop, web, mobile)
• Integration with other productivity tools and services
• Security and privacy features, especially for business users
• Performance and reliability, particularly for handling large volumes of emails