Is my product a 'nice to have' or a 'must have' for users?

Ah, you've hit on a crucial point. It's something almost every product person ponders late at night. Let me share my thoughts with you; they might not be entirely correct, but they're practical, straightforward experiences.

To put it simply, the difference between the two is like a "painkiller" and a "vitamin".

An "indispensable" product is a "painkiller."

Users have a "pain point" – perhaps low work efficiency, excessive spending, overly complicated processes, or general dissatisfaction. Your product comes along and precisely cures this "pain." If they don't use your product, this "pain" persists, making them uncomfortable and unavoidable.

Think about WeChat, for instance. Before it, sending SMS and making calls cost money, and sharing photos via MMS was expensive and slow. WeChat emerged, offering free messaging, voice calls, and photo sharing, instantly solving the "high communication cost" pain point. Now, if you uninstall someone's WeChat, they'd feel disconnected from the world. That's what "indispensable" means.

Another example is a project management tool our company uses. Before, we used Excel spreadsheets to track projects – who did what, what stage they were at – which was chaotic and prone to errors. After using this tool, all progress is clear at a glance, and no one can shirk responsibility. Now, if we lost it, our entire team would probably revert to the Stone Age, with efficiency setting back ten years. That, too, is "indispensable."

A "nice-to-have" product is a "vitamin."

Users are generally doing fine; they don't have any major "pain points." Your product, however, can make their lives "even" better – perhaps "more" efficient, "cooler" looking, or "more" enjoyable. They might think, "Hmm, not bad," when using it, but if it disappeared one day, they'd probably just say "Oh," and carry on with their lives as usual.

Take photo editing apps on smartphones, for instance. Before them, people still shared photos. With them, you can smooth skin, slim faces, and add filters, making photos look "better." Many enjoy using them, but if one day such an app was removed, people would feel a bit of a shame, but it wouldn't stop them from continuing to take and share photos with their phones. At most, they'd switch to another one or simply use the original photos. That's a "nice-to-have."

Another example is the "skins" or "themes" feature in many note-taking apps. The core note-taking function is the "painkiller," but changing to a nice-looking skin is a "vitamin." It might make you feel better while taking notes, but even without this feature, notes would still be taken.

So, how do you determine which category your own product falls into? Let me teach you a few simple, straightforward methods:

The "What if it disappeared tomorrow?" Test: Imagine if your product ceased operations tomorrow. How would your users react?
- Would there be widespread outcry, users scrambling for alternatives, even willing to pay you to keep it running? If so, congratulations, it's a "painkiller."
- Or would they say, "Oh, that's a bit of a shame," then quietly revert to their pre-product state, or simply find any alternative? That's likely a "vitamin."
The "How did they live without you?" Test: Before you created this product, how did your target users solve this problem?
- Were they using a clumsy, ugly, or expensive workaround, and complaining about it daily? (e.g., piecing together data from multiple Excel sheets, or hiring an intern specifically for this manual task). This indicates a real "pain point," and your product is very likely to be a "painkiller."
- Or did they... not even perceive it as a problem? Or solve it very easily? Then your product might be creating a new demand, leaning more towards a "vitamin."
The "Budget Cut" Test: If your user is a company facing economic hardship and needing to cut expenses, would your product be among the first to be cut, or on the "must-keep at all costs" list? The answer is self-evident. It's the same for individual users: when money is tight, would they forgo buying a new skin, or would they cut off their home internet first?

Finally, a few heartfelt words:

Don't be discouraged if your product is a "nice-to-have." Many great products started as "vitamins." For example, early social networks; people lived perfectly fine without them. But once it brought your friends, family, colleagues, and classmates into its fold, it gradually became a "painkiller" in your life; without it, you'd lose many social connections.

The key is that even if you're making a "vitamin," strive to make it the most effective one. Then, continuously listen to user feedback to see if you can find an opportunity to turn one of their minor complaints into a "painkiller."

Ultimately, the best scenario is when your product starts as a delightful "vitamin" and gradually becomes an "everyday essential" that users can't live without.