rbl Brand Agency

The problems your features can't fix - rbl brand agency

January 29th, 2025 | Adam Concar, Executive Creative Director

 

Every product has a story, but not every story gets told. When you’ve poured everything into building something great, it’s natural to zero in on making it even better. More features, better performance, cleaner design. But sometimes, the problem isn’t in what you’ve built but in how you help others understand it.

Your product’s potential depends on its story

Our recent research shows that for 67% of tech leaders, the challenges they face aren’t technical. They are about perception – how to communicate value effectively enough to secure funding, attract top talent, and connect with customers.

This isn’t a reflection of what they’re doing wrong. It’s a reminder of how important it is to make the intangible tangible, especially when the stakes are high.

The impact of a compelling story

A strong story acts as a bridge between your product and the people it’s designed to serve. It’s what turns functionality into impact, features into outcomes, and interest into action.

Here’s the good news: the story is already there. It’s in why you started, what you’ve built, and the vision you’re working toward. The hard part is uncovering it and telling it in a way that makes others see themselves in it.

Your product is not enough

You’re probably fed up with hearing “the best products don’t always win”, but isn’t there some truth to it? The world is filled with countless examples of brilliant products that failed because people couldn’t connect with them.

It’s not a question of effort or ability. You’re solving real problems and and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. But if you struggle to communicate how your product is bringing true value to people in the marketplace, they might overlook it entirely.

And this matters. A clear, compelling message is often the difference between securing the funding, attracting the talent, or winning over the customers your product deserves.

Adding “more” doesn’t help

It’s tempting to think the next feature or upgrade will be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. But no amount of functionality can replace a strong story. Features explain what your product does, but it’s the story that makes people care about why it matters.

Without that connection, even the most advanced product can feel like a solution in search of a problem.

Building Beyond Features

The most memorable products aren’t just understood, they’re felt. They connect on a level that goes deeper than functionality.

So, the next time you think about what’s next for your product, pause for a moment. Maybe what it needs isn’t another feature or a faster release. Maybe it’s a story that helps people understand the value you’ve been building all along.