It's back in 2011 and you're thinking of launching Facebook Events. What metrics would you set up as a goal for your team?

Introduction

Launching Facebook Events in 2011 presents a unique opportunity to enhance user engagement and strengthen Facebook's position as a social networking platform. To effectively measure the success of this new feature, we'll need a comprehensive set of metrics that align with both user needs and business objectives. I'll follow a structured framework covering product context, success metrics hierarchy, and strategic considerations to address this product success metrics challenge.

Step 1

Product Context

Facebook Events is a feature that allows users to create, share, and manage events within the Facebook platform. It enables users to invite friends, track RSVPs, and engage in event-related discussions. Key stakeholders include:

1. Users (both event creators and attendees)
2. Facebook's product and engineering teams
3. Advertisers and businesses

The user flow typically involves:

1. Creating an event (title, date, location, description)
2. Inviting friends or making the event public
3. Managing RSVPs and event details
4. Engaging in pre-event discussions
5. Attending the event
6. Post-event interactions (photos, comments)

This feature aligns with Facebook's broader strategy of increasing user engagement and time spent on the platform. It also provides valuable data on user interests and social connections, which can be leveraged for targeted advertising.

In 2011, the main competitors in this space would be standalone event management platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup. Facebook Events has the advantage of being integrated into an existing social network, potentially offering a more seamless experience for users.

As for the product lifecycle stage, Facebook Events would be in the introduction phase, focusing on user adoption and feature refinement.