How might Insider refine its personalized news feed algorithm to increase user engagement on the Business Insider app?

Introduction

To refine Insider's personalized news feed algorithm and increase user engagement on the Business Insider app, we need to take a comprehensive approach that considers user behavior, content quality, and technological capabilities. I'll outline a strategy that addresses these key aspects while keeping our focus on delivering value to our users and meeting our business objectives.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions

• Looking at the product context, I'm thinking about the current state of user engagement. Could you share some insights on our key engagement metrics, such as daily active users (DAU), time spent in-app, and article completion rates?

Why it matters: This will help us establish a baseline and identify specific areas for improvement. Expected answer: DAU is steady but not growing, time spent in-app is declining, and article completion rates are lower than desired. Impact on approach: We'd focus on increasing time spent and article completion as primary goals.

• Considering user behavior, I'm curious about cross-platform usage patterns. How do users typically interact with Business Insider content across web, mobile web, and the app?

Why it matters: Understanding the user journey across platforms can help us tailor the app experience and improve continuity. Expected answer: Many users discover content on social media or web, but we struggle to convert them to consistent app users. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize features that encourage users to make the app their primary touchpoint with Business Insider.

• Thinking about our position in the market, how does our current personalization algorithm compare to our main competitors in terms of user satisfaction and engagement?

Why it matters: This helps us understand our competitive advantage or areas where we need to catch up. Expected answer: Our algorithm performs well but lags behind some key competitors in terms of content diversity and timeliness. Impact on approach: We'd focus on improving the algorithm's ability to surface diverse, timely content that keeps users coming back.

• Regarding company alignment, what are the key business objectives driving this initiative to improve the personalized news feed?

Why it matters: Ensures our solution aligns with broader company goals and KPIs. Expected answer: Primary objectives are increasing ad revenue through higher engagement and growing subscription conversions. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize features that not only increase engagement but also drive users towards premium content and subscription offers.