What can SaaS founders learn from how Buffer builds, tests, and ships product ideas?
In this episode with Amanda Marochko, Staff Product Manager at Buffer (and ex-Shopify), we dive deep into how small, thoughtful teams can build great products faster—without burning out or losing quality.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How Buffer shifted from enterprise-style pricing to a simpler, usage-based model—and why it made them more profitable.
- What “iteration is key” really means in practice (and why you should stop over-polishing V1s).
- How to build in public, gather feedback early, and turn your users into collaborators.
- Why some features deserve to be “slow and polished,” while others should be “fast and scrappy.”
- How Buffer uses habits, streaks, and small wins to keep users engaged.
Steal these quick wins 💡
- Ship small, polished versions early—then improve them through feedback, not guesswork.
- Add a simple beta label to manage expectations and learn faster.
- Build a group of power users (Discord, Slack, or even Facebook) to test new features before launch.
- Make customer research part of your weekly routine, not a one-off project.
- Celebrate small releases publicly—momentum builds trust.
Chapters
00:00 Reconnecting and Career Paths
03:26 Buffer's Strategic Shift: From Enterprise to PLG
06:26 Transforming Pricing Strategies at Buffer
09:29 Navigating Pricing Changes: Insights and Experiences
12:26 The Power of Free Plans in SaaS
15:16 Building Habits: The Role of Gamification
18:16 Iterative Development: Learning from Feedback
21:25 Building in Public: Trust and Community Engagement
24:21 Balancing MVPs and Core Functionality
27:20 The Importance of User Experience in Product Development
33:46 Understanding User Experience Through Feedback
35:14 Continuous User Research Practices
38:11 Engaging with Customers for Insights
42:19 The Importance of Customer Empathy
46:59 Balancing Fast and Slow Product Development
57:32 The Role of Transparency in Product Management
