Why Bet on MLP Rather Than MVP in Your Product Development Strategy

The modern digital world is highly competitive. Every year, about 50 million startups appear in the world, and only 10% of them achieve success.

Most startups fail due to a lack of demand in the market. However, low demand does not always mean that no one needs your product. In many cases, failure occurs due to poor product strategy. Companies that create an MVP (minimum viable product) may lose out to those that enter the market with an MLP (minimum lovable product).

While both MVP and MLP are effectively used in software development, the specific approach may not suit your particular case. So, MVP or MLP? Let's delve deeper into the question and uncover all the facts.

The concept of MVP and its limitations

The Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, is a product development approach that focuses on creating a basic version of a software product. Such a version has enough features to meet the initial needs of early users. The primary goal of an MVP is to validate the product concept using minimum resources. This allows developers to gather user feedback and assess the product's potential in the market.

Minimalistic approach for quick release

An MVP only has the necessary features of a product's core functionality. This is because it focuses on getting the product to the market as fast as possible and assessing its reception by users.

After launching the MVP, developers gain valuable insights from the target audience. This helps them implement subsequent feature improvements and introduce a more advanced end product.

The minimalistic MVP approach saves teams time and money. At the same time, it helps establish contact with the target audience and react swiftly to its needs.

Potential lack of user engagement

MVP is an efficient strategy for testing a product concept, but it has some limitations. One significant drawback is the lack of user engagement.

Since an MVP contains only rudimentary features, it may not fully meet user expectations. Users may lose interest if the product does not offer a compelling experience. This may lead to low retention rates and limited market adoption.

Furthermore, focusing solely on minimal features can prevent the creation of an enjoyable product. While the users may solve their problems with an MVP, they would unlikely get the wow effect from interacting with the basic product. 

Thus, businesses should understand that an MVP effectively saves project resources but has limitations in terms of user engagement.

Getting to know Minimum Lovable Product (MLP)

The Minimum lovable Product, or MLP, is an innovative product development approach that extends beyond the traditional MVP model. While MVP focuses on a minimal feature set for validation, MLP aims to create a product that resonates with users on an emotional level. An MLP is designed to delight users and establish a deeper connection with them.

User centricity

MLP puts a strong emphasis on a user-centric approach. It is based on a deep understanding of the target audience, its pain points, and the challenges it faces.

MLP prioritizes user aspirations to deliver a product that users genuinely love. Rather than focusing on basic user needs, MLP thinks broader and aims to delight customers.

With all that, MLP is still a strategy to test the product on the market. It is not about creating full-featured software but is, instead, about developing a necessary minimum to wow users.

Emotional connection with customers

Unlike an MVP, where the primary goal is validation, an MLP seeks to create an emotional connection with users. It recognizes that user engagement and loyalty are not solely driven by functionality, but by the overall experience a product provides. An MLP is designed to make users feel positive emotions, such as joy, satisfaction, or empowerment. This emotional connection enhances user retention and word-of-mouth referrals.

In essence, the Minimum lovable Product strives to go beyond the "good enough" mindset of the MVP. By creating an emotional bond, an MLP generates not only initial traction but sustained interest. This contributes to long-term product success and user satisfaction.

Minimum Viable Product vs Minimum Lovable Product

Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) represent distinct approaches in product development. MVP creates a basic product version with essential functionality to test its market viability. MLP goes a step further and incorporates features that evoke user emotions and make a strong emotional connection.

For instance, consider task management software. An MVP might include basic task creation and management functions. In contrast, an MLP of the same software could integrate intuitive user interfaces, personalized task notifications, and visually appealing design elements. These additions not only enhance functionality but also create a delightful user experience.

Below, you can see a comparative table illustrating the differences between a Minimum Viable Product and a Minimum Lovable Product for task management software:

Remember that the MLP is still not a full-fledged product. In our example of a task management app, you could add the following features to the MLP to create advanced software:

• Reports on task completion and productivity

• APIs for developers to create custom integrations

• Smart suggestions and predictive text to automate task creation

• Team-wide goals, progress tracking, and shared dashboards

• Pre-built templates for common tasks and projects

• Time tracking for tasks and projects

• Invoice generation based on tracked time 

• Offline access to tasks with synchronization when the user is back online.

• Cross-platform accessibility

• Software localization and globalization

Benefits of implementing MLP

Implementing a Minimum Lovable Product vs. MVP offers several benefits. The benefits are primarily centered around creating a product that users not only find useful but genuinely love. Here are the key advantages of MLP:

Enhanced user engagement. By going beyond the bare minimum and providing a delightful user experience, an MLP captures user attention. When users find a product enjoyable, they are more likely to interact with it regularly and provide positive feedback. Thus, they become product advocates, which promotes business growth.

Faster product adoption. MLP can lead to faster product adoption compared to MVP. This is because the MLP offers a more satisfying user experience from the outset. When users encounter a product that not only meets their basic needs but also impresses them with its usability, they are more likely to embrace it quickly.

Greater brand loyalty. The emotional connection created by an MLP can foster brand loyalty. Early users are more likely to become repeat customers and spread the word about the brand. There is also a high chance that the users will stick with the product through future iterations and recommend it to others.

Increased user retention. An MLP's delightful user experience contributes to higher user retention rates. Users who enjoy using a product are more likely to continue using it over time. Such sustained usage boosts engagement, reduces churn rates, and ensures a growing user base.

Positive testimonials. Users who are delighted with a product are more inclined to leave positive reviews. This serves as social proof and enhances the product's trustworthiness. Positive reviews are powerful marketing tools. They are used to attract new customers and strengthen the brand's reputation in the market.

Steps to implement MLP in your product development strategy

There are several steps to implement MLP in your product development strategy:

1. Understand user needs. Conduct thorough market research and usability tests to understand the customers' needs. Use the research results to define features that would resonate with the target audience on an emotional level.

2. Identify core functionality. Determine the features that form the core functionality of your product. These features should address the fundamental user needs while providing a delightful user experience.

3. Add delightful elements. Integrate features that evoke positive emotions. This could include visually appealing graphics, personalized interactions, or surprise-and-delight elements.

4. Prioritize features wisely. Identify features that users would love the most and prioritize their development. Balance functionality and emotional appeal to create a lovable product.

5. Focus on user onboarding. Guide users through the product's features, showcasing its value and benefits. Provide interactive tutorials and tips to help navigate the product effortlessly.

6. Enable user feedback loops. Implement in-app feedback mechanisms to allow users to share their thoughts and concerns. Actively listen to user feedback and incorporate valuable insights into product updates.

7. Measure emotional engagement. Use sentiment analysis to understand customers' impressions of using your app. Define such metrics as net promoter score (NPS), customer satisfaction score (CSS), customer effort score (CES), customer churn, etc. They will help you gain insights into the emotional connection users have with your product.

8. Iterate and improve. MLP is not a one-time effort; it's an ongoing process. Continuously improve your product based on user feedback, changing market trends, and emerging technologies. Stay responsive to user needs to maintain the product's lovable status.

Balancing MVP and MLP

Minimum lovable Product offers numerous advantages. However, there are scenarios where MVP is more appropriate than MLP. MVP is well-suited for:

• Testing risky concepts. When exploring a novel and unproven idea, the MVP allows you to validate its feasibility without extensive investment.

• Limited resources. When time or budget are constrained, an MVP can be a cost-effective way to gauge the concept's viability. Afterward, you can commit to a more extensive product.

• Complex projects. For projects that require extensive development time, an MVP can help release a simplified version quickly. After gathering feedback early, you can proceed to the development of more advanced features.

• Early-stage startups. Startups often leverage MVPs to launch quickly, gather user data, secure initial funding, and refine their product based on market feedback.

Customized enterprise solutions. MVP allows quick solution deployment within the organization. Starting with an MVP rather than an MLP in this scenario ensures that the fundamental requirements are met before investing in a fully polished product.

Combining MVP and MLP principles for optimal results

In many situations, a hybrid approach that combines MVP and MLP principles can be the key to optimal results. Here's how it can work:

1. Start with MVP. Begin by creating a basic version of your product to validate the core concept and gather initial feedback. This initial release should focus on essential features and functionality for testing the viability of your idea.

2. Enhance to MLP. Based on user feedback and early adoption, progressively add features and improvements. Shift from the MVP to MLP mindset, concentrating on enhancing UX and creating emotional connections.

3. Iterate. Don't stop improving your product. Continuously release updates and refinements based on user feedback. Ensure your product becomes not only viable but also lovable.

4. Maintain user-centricity. Throughout the development process, keep the focus on user-centered design. Ensure that your product remains aligned with customer preferences and expectations.

Conclusion

The choice between MVP and MLP is critical in product development strategy. While MVP focuses on validation, MLP excels in creating emotional engagement. Striking the right balance between the two is the key to success.

At Erbis, we've been releasing competitive software products for 11 years. Depending on the client's objectives and resources, we've successfully implemented MVP, MLP, and also used a combined approach where suitable.

Our expertise allows us to confidently say that tailored product strategies enable businesses to win markets swiftly. That is why, for each project, we conduct thorough market research, select specific technologies, and come up with a unique development plan.

Whether you need to develop a new product or modernize an existing one, don't hesitate to contact us. We will study your requirements and propose the best possible solution, whether it is MVP, MLP, or a mix of the two.