{"id":16446,"date":"2023-07-21T19:29:38","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T16:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railsware.com\/blog\/?p=16446"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:57:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:57:06","slug":"public-roadmap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/railsware.com\/blog\/public-roadmap\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need a Public Roadmap For Your Product?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In an effort to build transparency, boost engagement, and keep investors in the loop, many startups have opted to release public product roadmaps. But are they actually useful? What tangible benefits do they bring, and what are the risks?<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re unsure about whether a public roadmap is a good fit for your business, this post is for you. We\u2019ll explore the pros and cons, suggest some tools, share real-life examples, and even discuss some alternatives to public roadmaps, should you decide not to create one.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What is a public roadmap?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A public roadmap is a high-level product development<\/a> plan that a company shares with the public. It outlines the new features<\/a>, improvements, or projects that the company plans to implement, typically allowing users to submit feature requests or vote on tickets. The core target audience are customers, investors, and potential buyers, but other external stakeholders such as industry analysts, researchers, or journalists may also show interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public roadmap vs private roadmap \u2013 what\u2019s the difference?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First of all, public roadmaps are not private roadmaps that have been made<\/em> public. They are actually separate (yet interrelated) living documents that are used to shape the product development process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Private <\/strong>product roadmap<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>is an internal document that details how the product strategy<\/a> will be implemented through epics and tasks. It maps the development process and helps the cross-functional team set achievable milestones, organize workflows, and track progress over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public product roadmap <\/strong>resembles the private roadmap but contains fewer details about both the product and the team. It\u2019s focused on letting external stakeholders track what\u2019s happening with the product, share their ideas, and even vote for what they\u2019d like to see implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, public roadmaps should contain less information than their private counterparts. Here\u2019s what we recommend leaving out:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Of course, you\u2019re free to add some of these details to your public roadmap, if that\u2019s what makes sense for your product. But you should also understand the risks of oversharing or overcommitting (showing your hand to competitors, disappointing customers when you can\u2019t deliver promised features on time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll dig deeper into the cons shortly, but first, let\u2019s explore the benefits of public roadmaps for product management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why have a public roadmap?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Loyal users are like gold dust: precious to the future of your product, yet not easy to acquire. But what is loyalty, really? It\u2019s a connection between you and your customers, composed of trust, transparency, and delight. Like any relationship, it requires nurturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public roadmaps are a tool for fostering trust, transparency, and engagement with your target audience. But it has other applications too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n