In the cutthroat world of software-as-a-service (SaaS), staying ahead of the competition is crucial. One clever way to gain an edge is by "stealing" your competitors' feature requests. This tactic involves identifying and developing the features that users are clamoring for from your rivals, giving you a unique opportunity to attract their customers to your product.

The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. Most SaaS companies have public feature request pages where users can suggest and vote on new functionalities they'd like to see. By tapping into this goldmine of information, you can pinpoint exactly what potential customers are looking for and deliver it before your competitors do.

This strategy not only helps you enhance your product but also positions you as a responsive and innovative player in the market. By implementing features that users have explicitly asked for, you're demonstrating that you understand and value customer needs. This can significantly boost your appeal to both existing and potential users.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this tactic is the follow-up. Once you've developed and launched the requested feature, you can reach out directly to the users who asked for it on your competitor's platform. This personalized approach shows that you're actively listening to the market and can be a compelling reason for users to switch to your product.

Why this works

This tactic works exceptionally well for several reasons:

1. Validated demand. By focusing on features that users are actively requesting, you're addressing a known market need rather than guessing what might be valuable.

2. Competitive advantage. Implementing these features before your competitors gives you a unique selling proposition and a reason for users to switch to your product.

3. Cost-effective market research. Feature request pages essentially provide free, ongoing market research, saving you time and resources typically spent on user surveys or focus groups.

4. Improved user acquisition. When you reach out to users who requested specific features, you're targeting warm leads who are already interested in the functionality you're offering.

5. Enhanced customer satisfaction. By delivering features that users explicitly want, you're more likely to create a product that truly resonates with your target audience.

6. Increased word-of-mouth marketing. Satisfied users who get the features they want are more likely to recommend your product to others, amplifying your reach.

7. Faster product development cycles. By focusing on validated feature requests, you can streamline your development process and avoid wasting resources on less desirable features.

8. Better resource allocation. This approach helps you prioritize development efforts based on actual user demand, ensuring your team's time and energy are spent on high-impact improvements.

9. Improved market positioning. Consistently delivering requested features positions your brand as responsive and customer-centric, which can be a powerful differentiator in crowded markets.

10. Increased user engagement. Users are more likely to actively engage with and adopt new features they've specifically asked for, leading to higher overall product usage and retention.

By leveraging this tactic, you're not just improving your product – you're strategically positioning yourself to capture market share and build a loyal user base that feels heard and valued.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement this tactic effectively:

1. Identify your main competitors. Make a list of the top 3-5 companies in your niche that you're directly competing with for market share.

2. Locate their feature request pages. Most SaaS companies have public boards where users can submit and vote on feature requests. Look for these on your competitors' websites, often in their community forums or support sections.

3. Analyze the most popular requests. Pay attention to features with high vote counts or lots of comments. These indicate strong user demand.

4. Prioritize features based on feasibility. Consider which requests align with your product roadmap and are realistic for your team to implement.

5. Develop the chosen features. Allocate resources to building these high-demand functionalities into your product.

6. Enhance and differentiate. Don't just copy the feature request exactly. Look for ways to improve upon the initial idea and make it uniquely valuable within your product ecosystem.

7. Create targeted landing pages. Develop specific pages highlighting these new features, using language similar to the original requests.

8. Reach out to requesters. If possible, directly contact users who asked for these features on your competitors' platforms. Let them know you've implemented what they wanted.

9. Launch a targeted ad campaign. Use platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to advertise your new features to users of your competitors' products.

10. Monitor and iterate. Keep track of how these new features perform and be ready to refine them based on user feedback.

11. Update your product comparison pages. Highlight these new features in your product comparisons to showcase your competitive advantage.

12. Leverage social proof. Encourage early adopters of these features to leave reviews or testimonials, then showcase these on your website and in marketing materials.

13. Create content around the new features. Develop blog posts, videos, or webinars that demonstrate how to use these new functionalities and the problems they solve.

14. Offer migration assistance. If the new feature is a significant draw, consider offering free migration or onboarding support to make switching easier for competitors' users.

Remember, the goal isn't just to copy features, but to identify unmet needs in the market and fulfill them better than your competitors. This approach helps you stay ahead of the curve and continually improve your product based on real user demand.

Examples of steal competitors' feature requests

Here are some real-world examples of companies successfully implementing the "steal competitors' feature requests" tactic:

• Trello. This project management tool gained a significant edge by implementing a calendar view, a highly requested feature from users of competitor Asana. Trello's implementation not only matched but exceeded user expectations, leading to increased user acquisition.

• Notion. The all-in-one workspace app capitalized on user frustrations with Evernote's lack of collaboration features. By implementing robust real-time collaboration tools, Notion attracted a large number of former Evernote users looking for more team-oriented functionality.

• Slack. The popular communication platform introduced threaded conversations, a feature long requested by users of competitor HipChat. This addition helped Slack solidify its position as the leading team chat solution and contributed to HipChat's eventual shutdown.

• Zoom. During the early days of the pandemic, Zoom quickly implemented virtual backgrounds, a feature users were requesting from competitors like Skype and Google Meet. This rapid response to user needs helped Zoom become the go-to video conferencing solution for millions.

• Ahrefs. This SEO tool suite gained an advantage over competitor Moz by developing a more comprehensive backlink index, a feature frequently requested by Moz users. Ahrefs' superior backlink data became a key selling point, attracting many SEO professionals to switch platforms.

• ClickUp. This project management software implemented a native time tracking feature, addressing a common request from users of competitor Asana. By integrating this functionality directly into their platform, ClickUp provided a more seamless experience that appealed to time-conscious teams.

• Mailchimp. The email marketing platform introduced a landing page builder, a feature often requested by users of competitor Constant Contact. This addition allowed Mailchimp to position itself as a more comprehensive marketing solution, attracting users looking for an all-in-one platform.

• Canva. The graphic design tool implemented a video editing feature, addressing requests from users of Adobe Spark. This expansion of functionality helped Canva appeal to a broader range of content creators and solidify its position as a versatile design platform.

• Figma. The collaborative design tool introduced prototyping features, a capability long requested by users of competitor Sketch. This addition helped Figma position itself as a more comprehensive design solution, attracting many designers to switch from Sketch.

• Buffer. The social media management tool implemented Instagram direct scheduling, a feature highly requested by users of competitor Hootsuite. This addition helped Buffer attract many Instagram-focused marketers and small businesses.

• Zapier. The automation platform introduced multi-step zaps, addressing a common request from users of competitor IFTTT. This more advanced functionality helped Zapier appeal to power users and businesses looking for more complex automation solutions.

• Typeform. The survey tool implemented logic jumps and conditional branching, features often requested by users of competitor SurveyMonkey. These additions helped Typeform position itself as a more sophisticated survey solution for businesses and researchers.

By identifying and implementing these highly requested features, these companies were able to attract users from their competitors, expand their market share, and strengthen their position in their respective industries. The key to their success was not just copying features, but understanding the underlying user needs and implementing solutions that often surpassed what competitors were offering.