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Company focus

Whatnot
Product Improvement Medium Member-only

How can Whatnot improve its live auction experience to increase user engagement and retention?

Prepared by NextSprints

15 mins
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User Experience Design Feature Prioritization Metrics Analysis E-commerce Social Media Collectibles Product Strategy User Engagement E-Commerce Social Commerce Live Auctions
Product Management Improvement Question: Enhancing Whatnot's live auction experience for better user engagement and retention

Introduction

To improve Whatnot's live auction experience for increased user engagement and retention, we need to analyze the current product, identify pain points, and develop innovative solutions. I'll focus on understanding user behavior, optimizing the auction process, and enhancing social features to create a more compelling and sticky experience.

Framework overview

I'll use a structured approach to tackle this problem:

  1. Clarifying Questions
  2. User Segmentation
  3. Pain Points Analysis
  4. Solution Generation
  5. Solution Evaluation and Prioritization
  6. Metrics and Measurement
  7. Summary and Next Steps

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

  • Looking at Whatnot's position in the market, I'm curious about our competitive advantage. Could you share insights on what sets Whatnot apart from other live shopping platforms like eBay Live or Instagram Live Shopping?

Why it matters: Helps focus our improvement efforts on unique selling points Expected answer: Whatnot's strength lies in niche collectibles and expert sellers Impact on approach: Would emphasize features that showcase seller expertise and item authenticity

  • Considering the nature of live auctions, I'm wondering about user engagement patterns. Can you provide data on average session duration and frequency of visits for active users?

Why it matters: Determines if we should focus on extending session time or increasing visit frequency Expected answer: Average session is 20 minutes, with users visiting 2-3 times per week Impact on approach: Would prioritize features that encourage more frequent visits if session time is already high

  • Given the importance of seller-buyer interaction in live auctions, I'm interested in understanding our current social features. What capabilities do we currently offer for real-time communication and community building?

Why it matters: Identifies gaps in social interaction that could be limiting engagement Expected answer: Basic chat functionality, but limited features for building lasting connections Impact on approach: Would explore enhanced social features to foster community and increase retention

  • Considering the potential for technical issues in live streaming, I'm curious about our current performance metrics. What's our average stream quality and reliability, and how does it compare to industry standards?

Why it matters: Technical performance directly impacts user experience and retention Expected answer: 720p quality with 95% uptime, slightly below top competitors Impact on approach: Would prioritize technical improvements if significantly behind competitors

Tip

Let's take a quick 1-minute break to organize our thoughts before moving on to user segmentation.

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Updated Mar 29, 2025