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The Straight Line From ZIGZAG Marketing

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by John Mansour |07.22.2010

Basic product management and marketing skills cover the spectrum of market analysis, strategy, competitive assessments, win/loss analysis, roadmaps, requirements, positioning, etc. all within the confines of a product.  This approach works great if each product targets distinctly different markets/customers with no overlap across products.

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Last Updated ( 07.23.2010 )
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by John Mansour |07.12.2010
If you have multiple products that target the same market segments, managing products in portfolios can drive growth faster than managing products as individual entities for the following reasons: No Comments
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by John Mansour |06.29.2010
The complexion of most product companies today looks completely different today than it did 15-20 years ago but we're still trying to do product management and product marketing the way we learned it in the 90's.  Why? No Comments
Last Updated ( 06.29.2010 )
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by John Mansour |04.14.2010
PM's with technical backgrounds have steadily increased.  Is this good or bad? 6 Comments
Last Updated ( 04.15.2010 )
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by John Mansour |03.30.2010
Why is it so difficult to get sales, marketing and products going in the same direction?  We have a few thoughts. 2 Comments
Last Updated ( 04.14.2010 )
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by John Mansour |03.14.2010
Product Managers produce a variety of written artifacts to drive the product delivery process but I consistently hear frustration from product managers because no one reads their masterpieces. 2 Comments
Last Updated ( 03.15.2010 )
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by John Mansour |03.13.2010
Something's wrong with this picture! No Comments
Last Updated ( 03.13.2010 )
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by John Mansour |03.01.2010
As voted by attendees at ProductCamp SoCal February 27, 2010 in Orange County, CA 1 Comments
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by John Mansour |02.11.2010
The reaction might not be what you'd expect! 2 Comments
Last Updated ( 02.11.2010 )
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by John Mansour |10.13.2009
'Trade-Off' by Kevin Maney: What determines a product's success? No Comments
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by John Mansour |09.25.2009
Is there a new dilemma brewing for hardware product managers or has the recession just exacerbated an ongoing issue? No Comments
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by John Mansour |09.24.2009
3 Comments
Last Updated ( 09.24.2009 )
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by Kurt Ballard |09.08.2009
The business climate today has caused many businesses to become so myopic that they cannot step outside of the urgent issues of the day. The result is paralysis.  Take the time to ponder the unthinkable to keep the big picture in place. Ask yourself these critical questions to provide perspective: No Comments
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by John Mansour |08.27.2009
It’s a common occurrence in many companies where the CEO is really the one calling the shots on all things product. No Comments
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by Kurt Ballard |08.26.2009
It doesn’t take long for your products to become commodities. Get over it. No Comments
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by John Mansour |08.26.2009
First the greats, because there are so many gaffes! No Comments
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by Kurt Ballard |08.17.2009
For all of you new to Product Camp here is a Product Camp 101 crash course to help you get familiar with the format so you can make the most of your experience. No Comments
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by John Mansour |08.17.2009
If you’re in the product management or product marketing profession and you haven’t attended a product camp yet, you really need to. High energy, wit, charm, lots of knowledge and smart people – it’s all there. No Comments
Last Updated ( 08.17.2009 )
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by John Mansour |07.31.2009
As I was reading through the survey results from  ProductCamp New York City I found one remark rather amazing. 1 Comments
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by John Mansour |07.28.2009
What more could you ask for - downtown Manhattan in a cool old building with more than 175 people who are passionate enough about product management and product marketing to devote a summer Saturday to the profession? No Comments
Last Updated ( 08.24.2009 )
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by John Mansour |07.23.2009
Most product managers have had that “thrill of victory-agony of defeat” experience when they’re excited and energized by a great idea that makes perfect logical sense, only it have it rejected by the boss. No Comments
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by Kurt Ballard |07.21.2009
Does Product Management have a role in integrated marketing?

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by Kurt Ballard |07.01.2009
If 80% of the sales come from 20% of the salespeople - what the heck are the others doing? 1 Comments
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by John Mansour |06.04.2009

A Call for Product Management in the Hospitality Industry

If there’s one industry that gets instant feedback on its products and services, it’s the hospitality industry. But only a few really pay attention to the needs of their target customers and adapt accordingly. A strong dose of product management might do the industry some good.

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Last Updated ( 06.04.2009 )
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by John Mansour |04.14.2009

I've watched this most recent auto industry saga unfold with both sadness and delight.  

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Last Updated ( 04.14.2009 )
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by John Mansour |03.25.2009

Is it really easier to follow bad processes just because they exist?

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Last Updated ( 03.25.2009 )
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by John Mansour |02.04.2009
If there was ever a time to wipe the slate clean of anything and everything that doesn’t have a blockbuster ROI, it’s now. Why? You have the perfect excuse for all the tough decisions…the economy…the recession! 2 Comments
Last Updated ( 02.04.2009 )
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by John Mansour |11.19.2008

LinkedIn, Facebook, My Space, Twitter, Digg, and Delicious, not to mention association discussion groups and blogs I try to follow. I’ve got widgets and toolbars and readers . . . oh my.

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Last Updated ( 06.25.2009 )
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by John Mansour |11.10.2008
The marketing campaign and sales cycle are now over and the fun begins for our new president - time to execute! No Comments
Last Updated ( 11.10.2008 )
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by John Mansour |10.17.2008
As I watch the presidential campaign, I’ve seen just about every facet of product management surface along the way.  Has anyone else noticed this?  If there are others out there in hiding, please share your perspective.   Some key similarities...


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Last Updated ( 10.22.2008 )
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by John Mansour |09.04.2008
I keep running across articles about Agile development that espouse "changing priorities on the fly" as one of the biggest benefits. Whether you use an Agile or Traditional method, changing and adding requirements mid stream always has an impact on the final deliverable. Nothing is free. 1 Comments
Last Updated ( 06.25.2009 )
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by John Mansour |09.02.2008
At the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon (I’m still in my 40’s), I’ve been watching the transformation of product management and marketing over the last 15 years and I’ve noticed something that hasn’t gotten much attention in the blogosphere.  It’s the changing personalities of product managers and marketers. 1 Comments
Last Updated ( 09.15.2008 )
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by John Mansour |08.25.2008
When do most Product Managers start thinking about the product launch?  I’m curious. Early in my career, I used to wait until the tail end of the development process to bring other departments into the fold. Oh sure, I copied them on my project updates and milestone progress (which they probably never read). But I was too busy writing requirements, tracking development progress, reviewing designs and answering questions. I didn’t have time to involve the rest of the company to the extent that’s really necessary for success.
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Last Updated ( 06.25.2009 )
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