Amanda Marochko

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