Bardeen's PLG: How to build and scale an AI-powered automation platform with community-driven growth

Published on Mar 16, 2023, last updated Sep 25, 2024

Bardeen
Bardeen
Automating Boring Work
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One of the core philosophies at Bardeen has always been product-led growth (PLG) – where organic use of our technology would be one of, if not the biggest driver for engagement and building our customer base. And we’re constantly blown away by the enthusiasm of the Bardeen community, from creating awesome new Playbook ideas to the word-of-mouth they help generate for bringing in new users! 

Bardeen.ai is on a mission to give users across the organization their time back, so they can focus on their true job functions and skill sets. Bardeen’s personalized AI assistant helps automate workflows between tools with customizable automation “Playbooks,” and an intuitive no-code builder to create your own. Our vision is to create your very own “copilot for work” that takes annoying repeatable tasks off your plate; the more automations you build with it, and the more behaviors it observes, the more it will streamline your day-to-day. 
Bardeen CEO and Co-founder Pascal Weinberge recently spoke with Notorious PLG about how PLG is central to the company’s success so far, and the essential role of the user community in discovering and sharing the product’s limitless capabilities. We’re proud to be featured in the newsletter and excited to share the conversation!

Why PLG for Bardeen? 

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s crucial for companies to adopt a user-centric approach in order to thrive. Bardeen has fully embraced PLG as the driving force behind its success. But why PLG for Bardeen? Let’s explore the key reasons.

  • Organic Word of Mouth: Bardeen's PLG strategy thrives on the power of organic word of mouth. As users discover the platform's game-changing automations, they share their experiences with coworkers, managers, social media followers, and the Bardeen community. This buzz generates a natural cycle of user-driven growth, fueling the company's expansion, without any ad dollars spent.
  • User-Centric Development: PLG places the end user at the core of the product development process. By actively engaging with its user community, Bardeen can better understand their needs and preferences, ensuring that the platform evolves in response to real-world feedback. This approach empowers users to actively shape the product's trajectory, making them feel like valued members of the Bardeen team.
  • Strong Community Ties: Bardeen's PLG model cultivates a strong sense of community among its users. With programs like the ambassador and co-creator initiatives, as well as a dedicated Slack channel, Bardeen creates an ecosystem where users can connect, collaborate, and support one another. This vibrant community fuels the platform's growth, while also fostering user loyalty and enthusiasm.

In summary, Bardeen’s commitment to PLG enables the company to harness the power of its user community, ensuring that its AI-powered automation platform remains innovative, user-friendly, and relevant. By placing its users at the heart of the product experience, Bardeen is able to unlock the full potential of its AI assistant and revolutionize the way we work.

How Bardeen does PLG

Bardeen’s AI-powered automation platform has been making waves in the world of productivity, and the key to its success lies in its strategic execution of PLG. Here’s a look at how Bardeen puts PLG into practice.

  • Creating User-Friendly Playbooks: Bardeen offers pre-built automation flows, known as "Playbooks," designed to work across multiple apps. These Playbooks and Autobooks allow users of all technical backgrounds to quickly experience the benefits of automation, as they serve as both inspiration and a starting point for customization.
  • Empowering Users with a No-Code Builder: Bardeen's intuitive no-code builder enables users to create their own Playbooks without any coding expertise. This approach democratizes automation and encourages users to experiment, innovate, and share their creations within the Bardeen community and the world.
  • Promoting Virality and Sharing: Each tested Playbook or automation template has its own landing page on Bardeen's website. Users can easily find the automations they need (via organic search on your favorite search engine), try them out, and then share them with their network or company, all within the same platform. This ease of sharing contributes to the organic growth and word-of-mouth marketing that fuels Bardeen's PLG strategy.
  • Engaging Users through Contests and Incentives: Bardeen actively engages its user community by hosting contests, offering incentives, and giving shout-outs to users who share their automation discoveries or contribute new ideas. These initiatives encourage users to explore the platform further, leading to greater user satisfaction and attracting new users to the Bardeen ecosystem. A great example of this is the recent one-year-anniversary campaign and contest.
  • Fostering a Collaborative Community: Bardeen cultivates a strong sense of community among its users by providing dedicated spaces for collaboration and support. For example, the company operates a community-wide Slack channel where users can share custom use cases, discuss product tips, and seek assistance from fellow users or the Bardeen team.
  • Collaborating with Ambassadors and Co-Creators: Bardeen partners with select users through its ambassador and co-creator programs, working closely with them to develop content and automation guides. This collaborative approach not only helps refine the platform's offerings but also strengthens users' sense of belonging and investment in the product's success. Some recent examples can be found here and here.
  • Iterative Development and Continuous Improvement: Bardeen stays agile by continuously developing, testing, and deploying new features, improving the usability and adding new app integrations based on its user’s feedback and interactions. By keeping its finger on the pulse of user needs and evolving use cases, and making it possible for everyone at the company to interact with and support users, the company ensures that its platform remains relevant, intuitive, and aligned with users' ever-changing demands.

Bardeen’s success in executing PLG lies in its commitment to empowering users, fostering a strong sense of community, and continuously iterating on its product based on real-world feedback. By placing its users at the center of the product experience, Bardeen has created an AI-powered automation platform that is truly shaped by the people who use it every day.

If you’ve got any thoughts or questions about PLG we’d love to hear from you! Join our community Slack channel to chat with our team and fellow users around the world, and follow our Twitter page for more exciting updates as our journey continues.

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