Why aren't users responding to my emails? How do I get users to talk to me? How should I talk to them to learn the most about what they need? All this and more in this Slideshare! To see a video of the live presentation, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv2LsqhyJ8E

1. How to Talk to Users
in 3 simple steps!
@levin_alec
alec@steadfastbeta.com
416-726-8550

2. A bit about me…
• Studied human biology at U of T
• Worked for an awesome startup called
Sciencescape doing user research and user
testing
• Co-founded SteadfastBeta, we help
companies understand what their users want
• In private beta
• Working with enterprises and startups
• Representing Ryerson Futures & the DMZ
woot woot!

3. 3 things to cover in 5 minutes
• How do I get a user?
• How should I talk to them?
• When should I do this?

4. Getting into the right frame of mind
I know what my users want!
I have 12 months worth of features fully spec’d and ready for
engineering!
I’m the voice of a generation!

5. Getting into the right frame of mind
I think there’s good evidence to suggest I have
a good idea to help people!
How do people experience the problem I’m trying to solve?!
How can I learn the best way to deliver value to my
users?!

6. Step 1: How do I get users to talk to me?
Email

7. Step 1: How do I get users to talk to me?
1. Who are you & what do
you do?
2. What do you want & How
it benefits them
3. Time-specific call to
action
1

8. Step 1: How do I get users to talk to me?
1. Who are you & what do
you do?
2. What do you want & How
it benefits them
3. Time-specific call to
action
2

9. Step 1: How do I get users to talk to me?
1. Who are you & what do
you do?
2. What do you want & How
it benefits them
3. Time-specific call to
action
3

10. Step 1: How do I get users to talk to me?
1. Who are you & what do
you do?
2. What do you want & How
it benefits them
3. Time-specific call to
action
Note: email is short, easy to read, no jargon
1
2
3

11. Step 2: How should I talk to them?
Focus on their problem NOT on your product!
If she says brand new feature one
more time…

12. Step 2: How should I talk to them?
Focus on their problem NOT on your product!
This person is
trying to make my life easier by
getting to know my problems and
building a solution!

13. Step 3: When should I talk to users?

14. Step 3: When should I talk to users?
Start learning about your users
even before you start building
anything!
Its a great way to get early
adopters/customers and build a
community of people you can go
to for feedback

15. 3 things to cover in 5 minutes
• How do I get a user? - use the 3 sentence email template
• How should I talk to them? - the conversation should be about their problems NOT your product
• When should I do this? - now is a good time

16. How to Talk to Users
in 3 simple steps!
@levin_alec
alec@steadfastbeta.com
416-726-8550