An engineer suggests showing suggested Buy/Sell Groups on users' newsfeed instead of the People You May Know section. How do you determine if that is a good idea or not?

Introduction

The trade-off we're considering is whether to replace the "People You May Know" section on users' newsfeeds with suggested Buy/Sell Groups. This decision involves balancing user engagement, monetization potential, and the overall user experience. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining its impact on key stakeholders, defining relevant metrics, and designing an experiment to validate our hypotheses.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• What's the current performance of the "People You May Know" section in terms of user engagement and network growth?

• Why it matters: Understanding the baseline performance helps assess the opportunity cost.
• Hypothetical answer: Moderate engagement, with 10% of users adding a new connection weekly.
• Impact: If performance is low, the trade-off becomes more attractive.

• What percentage of our user base is actively engaged in Buy/Sell Groups?

• Why it matters: Indicates the potential reach and relevance of suggested groups.
• Hypothetical answer: 30% of users engage with Buy/Sell Groups monthly.
• Impact: Higher engagement suggests more potential for the suggested groups feature.

• Are there any upcoming strategic initiatives or partnerships related to e-commerce on our platform?

• Why it matters: Aligns the trade-off with broader company goals.
• Hypothetical answer: We're exploring partnerships with major e-commerce players.
• Impact: Strong alignment could prioritize the Buy/Sell Groups suggestion feature.

• What's the current monetization model for Buy/Sell Groups, and how does it compare to the "People You May Know" section?

• Why it matters: Helps evaluate the revenue implications of the trade-off.
• Hypothetical answer: Buy/Sell Groups generate 20% more revenue per active user than network growth.
• Impact: Higher monetization potential could favor the Buy/Sell Groups suggestion.

• Do we have data on user sentiment towards Buy/Sell content in their feeds?

• Why it matters: Gauges potential user reaction to increased commercial content.
• Hypothetical answer: Mixed sentiment, with younger users more receptive.
• Impact: Negative sentiment might require a more cautious, segmented approach.