Writing a PRD: A Deep Dive into Templates and Best Practices
TLDR; I have built a kind of MVP for a PRD writing assistant, it’s actually a Google Doc template that you can copy and make your own.
Just click the link > ‘File’ > ‘Make a Copy’ — and you are good to go!
It may not be necessary to write a Product Requirements Document, and you might be able to get by without one if you’re developing a small product or making minor modifications to an existing one. Even big companies sometimes skip it and use user stories, storyboards, and other methods to determine how their product or feature is going to look and behave.
But, writing a PRD surely is a great way to determine exactly what are you building, define and refine your ideas into an actionable document. This is especially true when working with other teammates that have to understand the product thoroughly just as you.
In order to identify what makes a great PRD, I have researched multiple resources and approaches for creating an effective one. However, I have found that PRDs come in various forms and there is no single correct method for crafting one.
I examined PRD templates from;
And many more, there is a big list of templates here, and another great article (originally in Hebrew) here.
As previously mentioned, there is no one correct way to write a PRD and the ideal fit varies depending on the PM and the product itself.
The answer would depend on several factors, such as whether the product is part of a product line, a new feature, or the first product of a company, as well as whether it is a highly technical product or consumer-facing.
I have highlighted some of the components that repeated in a lot of the PRDs I’ve encountered:
- An overview of the project — whether it’s in a bulleted list, a paragraph, or some other way, it needs to connect your team to the project and its purpose
- Success criteria — you are not just swinging it, you need to have goals and a system to measure your achievements and performance
- Assumptions — key ideas that determine a huge part of the project (for example —most of the users, use only the mobile app, so maybe the desktop design can wait..)
- Requirements — cause that why we here…
Additionally, other important components may not be included in every PRD template, but can still assist you with yours:
- Milestones and Timeline — are essential for breaking down the project into manageable tasks and creating a timeline for completing them
- Data requirements — important to identify upfront, as they can have a significant impact on the development process and may require additional resources
- User flows and Wireframes— user flows can help ensure that the product is intuitive and easy to use, while wireframes provide a visual representation of the product design
- Scoping — involves defining the boundaries and limitations of the project, which can help prevent scope creep and ensure that the project remains focused
By including these components in your PRD, you can create a comprehensive and effective roadmap for your product development process. This roadmap can help you and your team stay on track and achieve your goals, making the development process smoother and more efficient.
Ultimately, the purpose of this document is to ensure that all stakeholders, including developers, designers, QA, and others, can understand and connect with the tasks at hand, leading to a successful product launch.
Please comment and share your thoughts, this template will be updated regularly with your feedback and I hope it could serve you with your next Product.
