A huddle of Outsiders discussed productisation - what it means, where it’s valuable, how it requires a mindset shift, and where it might have challenges.
Here are five AI generated key takeaways from the conversation.
I’ll update this with a human version when I get a few minutes.
"You have to invest. You have to build a product. And that might take months. It might take years... But it's that's quite a scary thing to do. You have to invest time. You have to invest money and you have to think about your finances in a completely different way”
Moving from service provision to product creation fundamentally changes how you approach your business. Instead of being reactive to client requests, you're proactively creating value propositions that can be sold repeatedly. This shift requires thinking like a business owner rather than a service provider, involving upfront investment in time and resources before seeing returns. It's about moving from trading time for money to creating scalable value.
*"*What would it be like to just do this for me? like not for money but for art, like for creativity, for expression. And sometimes I'm like, well, maybe this project is more for me and more like very Rick Rubin, like I'm not gonna think about the audience, I'm going to think about myself."
The most successful productised offerings often emerge from solving your own challenges first. When you create something that genuinely addresses a problem you face, it tends to resonate with others who share similar pain points. This approach ensures authenticity and deep understanding of the value proposition, making it easier to communicate benefits and iterate based on real needs rather than assumed market demands.
"Having a product allows me to have more control on the process... When you lay out [the process] very clearly, they understand that they're like okay I buy what you're selling and I ensure that I'm going to have the necessary time and allocation to deliver that product."
Products create clear boundaries and expectations that benefit both consultant and client. Unlike bespoke projects where scope can creep and timelines shift, productised offerings provide defined parameters that help maintain project focus. Clients appreciate knowing exactly what they're purchasing, and consultants gain predictable delivery frameworks that prevent scope drift and ensure proper resource allocation.
"Rather than people buying that off the shelf... it gives me a template for creating bespoke proposals and it makes that a lot quicker... People might need one part of the process or not need another part."
Even when clients don't purchase standardised products directly, having productised frameworks serves as efficient templates for custom proposals. This approach allows you to quickly configure modular offerings based on specific client needs and budgets whilst maintaining consistency in your methodology. It speeds up the scoping process and helps clients understand value through clear component breakdowns.
"Anyone who builds a product, first iteration of that product's not going to be the best thing it can be... And each of those gives you an opportunity to fine-tune it."
Successful productisation requires accepting that your first version won't be perfect and building iteration into your development process. Rather than waiting for a perfect product before launch, start with a viable version and improve based on real user feedback. This approach reduces the paralysis that comes from perfectionism and allows you to validate market fit more quickly whilst continuously enhancing value based on actual customer experience.