I've reviewed hundreds of PRDs over my career. Most fail to do their main job: help teams build the right product. Here are 10 practices that make PRDs actually useful.
1. Start with the problem, not the solution
The most common mistake in PRDs is jumping straight to solutions. Before describing what to build, explain why it matters. A good problem statement includes:
- Who has the problem
- What specific pain they experience
- How you know this is a real problem (data, research)
- Why solving it matters to the business
This gives your team context. It helps them understand the "why" behind the "what." And it lets them suggest better solutions you might not have considered.
2. Use clear success metrics
How will you know if your product succeeded? Define this before building. Good metrics are:
- Specific and measurable
- Tied to user and business outcomes
- Time-bound
Instead of "improve user engagement," try "increase average session duration by 20% within 3 months of launch."
3. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
Not all requirements are equal. Clearly mark which features are:
- Must-have: The product fails without these
- Should-have: Important but not critical for launch
- Could-have: Desirable but can be deferred
- Won't-have: Explicitly out of scope for now
This helps teams make smart trade-offs when time gets tight (and it always does).
4. Include user stories and scenarios
Features make sense in context. For each major feature, include:
- Who will use it
- What they're trying to accomplish
- How the feature helps them
Example: "As a marketing manager, I need to schedule social media posts in advance so I can maintain a consistent posting schedule without working weekends."
5. Add visuals
A sketch explains more than paragraphs of text. Include:
- Wireframes or mockups for UI features
- Flow diagrams for complex processes
- Data models for information architecture
These don't need to be perfect. Even rough sketches help align understanding.
6. Consider edge cases
What happens when things go wrong? Address questions like:
- What if a user has no data?
- What if the network connection fails?
- What happens with very large inputs?
- How do error states work?
These details prevent costly rework later.
7. Document assumptions and open questions
You won't have all the answers when writing a PRD. That's fine. Just be clear about:
- What you're assuming to be true
- What questions still need answers
- What dependencies exist on other teams or systems
This transparency helps prevent surprises later.
8. Keep it concise
Long PRDs don't get read. Focus on what matters:
- Use bullet points instead of paragraphs where possible
- Link to research rather than including it all
- Put technical details in appendices
A good PRD should take 15 minutes to read, not an hour.
9. Get feedback early
Share your PRD draft with:
- Engineers who will build it
- Designers who will design it
- QA who will test it
- Support who will support it
Their input will improve your requirements and build buy-in.
10. Keep it updated
A PRD isn't a static document. As you learn more:
- Update requirements based on new information
- Track major changes in a change log
- Communicate significant updates to the team
This creates a living record of what you're building and why.
Tools to Help
Creating good PRDs takes time. Tools like resetDocs can help by:
- Providing templates with the right sections
- Suggesting clear requirement phrasing
- Generating diagrams from text descriptions
- Enabling real-time collaboration
But remember: tools help with format, not substance. You still need to understand your users and their problems.
Final Thoughts
A good PRD aligns your team around what to build and why. It's not about documentation for its own sake. It's about clear communication that leads to better products.
What practices have you found helpful in your PRDs? Share your thoughts in the comments.