Some interesting insights from an ex Adobe Illustrator product manager on the building of software and how features are introduced to an already established product.

The features for the second iteration of our product mProperty are driven by a combination of feedback from our sales channels/customers and ideas developed within Marino Software to solve specific problems identified in our target market. A big advantage for us is that our target market for mProperty is very clearly defined, but as we move forward with additional strategies for this product we need to factor in new audiences for the product such as designers/ developers and sales channels that are not within the company. The challenge here of course is keeping the simplicity, usability and vision of your product intact while reaching out and facilitating new audiences.

The big frustration we had when working for web agencies in the past, is that you worked to often crazy deadlines with rushed and poorly defined objectives with design by committee ruining what creativity might have managed to survive the process. Then as the project goes live you jumped to the next project though maybe some great ideas were developed during the development phase which just get lost as it is not in the project scope etc.

With regards web based software as a product, the joy in all this is that we get to constantly refine and improve our product offering. And for our customers they benefit from our focus and long term commitment.