Creating Public Roadmaps
Learn how to create transparent, engaging public roadmaps that build trust with your users while keeping them informed about your product's development direction.
What Are Public Roadmaps?
Definition and Purpose
A public roadmap is a transparent view of your product development plans that you share with your users and community. Unlike internal roadmaps, public roadmaps focus on:
- User-Facing Benefits: What users will gain from upcoming features
- Timeline Transparency: When users can expect new functionality
- Development Priorities: Which features are most important and why
- Community Engagement: Involving users in the development process
Benefits of Public Roadmaps
For Your Business
- Increased Trust: Transparency builds stronger user relationships
- Reduced Support Load: Users see what's coming and ask fewer questions
- Better Prioritization: User feedback helps validate development decisions
- Marketing Tool: Roadmaps can attract new customers and retain existing ones
For Your Users
- Visibility: Clear understanding of product direction
- Influence: Ability to vote and comment on upcoming features
- Planning: Can plan their own workflows around upcoming changes
- Engagement: Feel involved in the product development process
Setting Up Your Public Roadmap
Roadmap Configuration
Access and Permissions
- Navigate to Settings > Roadmap
- Enable Public Roadmap: Toggle the public visibility option
- Set Access Level:
- Completely Public: Anyone can view without account
- Registration Required: Users must sign up to view
- Customer Only: Restricted to existing customers
Display Options
- Roadmap URL: Choose your custom subdomain (
roadmap.yourapp.com)
- Branding: Apply your company colors, logo, and styling
- Layout Style: Timeline, kanban board, or list view
- Information Depth: Control how much detail is shown
Content Structure
Roadmap Sections
Now (Current Quarter)
- Features currently in development
- Expected completion within 30-90 days
- High confidence in delivery timeline
- Active development status updates
Next (Following Quarter)
- Features planned for development
- Research and planning phase
- Medium confidence in timeline
- Subject to priority changes
Later (Future Quarters)
- Features under consideration
- Early planning stages
- Lower confidence in timeline
- May be moved or cancelled
Completed
- Recently shipped features
- Success metrics and user impact
- Links to release notes
- User feedback and testimonials
Feature Information Display
Essential Details:
- Feature title and description
- Expected benefits for users
- Development stage/status
- Target timeline (quarter/month)
- Vote count and user interest
Optional Information:
- Technical complexity indicator
- Dependencies on other features
- Screenshots or mockups
- Beta testing opportunities
Roadmap Management
Feature Lifecycle on Roadmaps
From Request to Roadmap
- Feature Request Submission: Users submit ideas
- Internal Review: Team evaluates feasibility and priority
- Roadmap Addition: Approved features added to "Later" section
- Progression: Features move through Now → Next → Later
- Completion: Shipped features move to "Completed" section
Status Updates
Keep users informed with regular updates:
Development Stages:
- 🔍 Research: Understanding requirements and feasibility
- 📋 Planning: Technical design and resource allocation
- ⚡ In Progress: Active development work
- 🧪 Testing: QA, beta testing, and validation
- 🚀 Released: Feature available to users
- ⏸️ On Hold: Temporarily paused development
- ❌ Cancelled: No longer pursuing this feature
Timeline Management
Setting Realistic Expectations
- Use Quarters, Not Dates: Avoid specific dates that may be missed
- Buffer Time: Account for unexpected delays and complications
- Dependency Tracking: Show how features depend on each other
- Regular Updates: Adjust timelines based on development progress
Communicating Changes
When timelines shift:
- Early Warning: Notify users as soon as delays are anticipated
- Clear Reasoning: Explain why the change was necessary
- Alternative Timeline: Provide updated estimates
- Compensation: Consider offering early access or beta testing
Roadmap Content Strategy
What to Include
Feature Selection Criteria
- High User Demand: Features with significant votes or requests
- Strategic Importance: Aligns with business objectives
- Technical Feasibility: Can be delivered within timeline
- Resource Availability: Team has capacity and skills
Information Transparency Levels
High Transparency (Recommended)
- Detailed feature descriptions
- Clear timeline expectations
- Development progress updates
- Challenges and delays explained
Medium Transparency
- General feature categories
- Quarterly timeline estimates
- Major milestone updates
- Limited technical details
Low Transparency
- High-level themes only
- Vague timing ("Coming Soon")
- Minimal progress updates
- Focus on completed features
What NOT to Include
Avoid These Common Mistakes
- Specific Dates: Use quarters or months instead
- Internal Projects: Technical debt, refactoring, infrastructure
- Unvalidated Ideas: Features without user demand or business case
- Competitive Secrets: Unique differentiators that provide competitive advantage
- Legal/Compliance: Features driven by regulatory requirements
Sensitive Information
- Revenue Projections: Financial impact of features
- Resource Allocation: Team size or budget details
- Customer-Specific Features: Requests from individual large customers
- Technical Architecture: Implementation details that could reveal vulnerabilities
Design and User Experience
Visual Design Principles
Clean, Scannable Layout
- Clear Sections: Distinct areas for Now, Next, Later
- Visual Hierarchy: Use typography and spacing effectively
- Progress Indicators: Show development stage visually
- Mobile Responsive: Ensure great experience on all devices
Interactive Elements
- Voting Integration: Allow users to vote directly from roadmap
- Comment System: Enable discussion on roadmap items
- Filtering Options: Let users filter by category, timeline, or interest
- Search Functionality: Help users find specific features
Content Writing Best Practices
Feature Descriptions
Write user-focused descriptions:
Good Example:
📱 Mobile App Offline Mode
Work on your projects even without internet connection.
All changes sync automatically when you're back online.
Timeline: Q2 2024 | Votes: 247
Avoid:
Implement local storage and sync mechanisms for mobile client
Timeline: TBD | Technical complexity: High
Status Updates
Keep users engaged with regular updates:
Progress Update Example:
🔄 Update (March 15): Mobile Offline Mode is now in beta testing!
We're working with 50 users to refine the sync process.
On track for Q2 release. Want to join the beta? Sign up here.
Community Engagement
User Feedback Integration
Voting on Roadmap Items
- Direct Voting: Allow votes directly on roadmap features
- Vote Impact: Show how votes influence prioritization
- Vote Transparency: Display current vote counts
- Voting Campaigns: Highlight features needing user input
Comment and Discussion
- Feature Comments: Allow discussion on specific roadmap items
- Q&A Sessions: Regular AMAs about roadmap decisions
- User Research: Recruit roadmap viewers for user testing
- Community Polls: Ask users to choose between feature options
Communication Strategies
Regular Updates
- Monthly Roadmap Reviews: Highlight progress and changes
- Quarterly Planning: Involve community in upcoming quarter priorities
- Feature Spotlights: Deep dives into major upcoming features
- Behind-the-Scenes: Show development process and challenges
Multi-Channel Promotion
- Email Newsletters: Include roadmap highlights
- Social Media: Share exciting roadmap updates
- In-App Notifications: Alert users to roadmap changes
- Blog Posts: Detailed explanations of roadmap decisions
Analytics and Measurement
Roadmap Metrics
Engagement Analytics
- Page Views: How many users visit your roadmap
- Time on Page: How long users spend reviewing roadmap
- Return Visits: Users coming back to check progress
- Feature Interest: Which features generate most engagement
User Feedback Metrics
- Vote Activity: Voting patterns on roadmap features
- Comment Engagement: Discussion activity levels
- Feature Requests: New requests influenced by roadmap
- Satisfaction Surveys: User sentiment about roadmap transparency
Success Measurement
Delivery Metrics
- Timeline Accuracy: Percentage of features delivered on time
- Scope Creep: How often features expand beyond original plans
- Cancellation Rate: Percentage of roadmap features that are cancelled
- User Satisfaction: Feedback on delivered features vs. expectations
Business Impact
- Customer Retention: Impact of roadmap transparency on churn
- New Customer Acquisition: Roadmap's role in sales process
- Support Reduction: Fewer "when will X be available" tickets
- Community Growth: Increase in active community members
Advanced Roadmap Features
Integration Capabilities
Development Tools
- Jira Integration: Sync roadmap with development tickets
- GitHub Projects: Connect roadmap to code repositories
- Linear/Asana: Bi-directional sync with project management
- Slack/Discord: Automatic roadmap updates to team channels
Analytics Platforms
- Google Analytics: Track roadmap engagement
- Mixpanel/Amplitude: User behavior on roadmap pages
- Hotjar/FullStory: Understand user interaction patterns
- Custom Webhooks: Send roadmap data to internal systems
Customization Options
Advanced Styling
- Custom CSS: Complete visual customization
- Brand Themes: Pre-built themes matching your brand
- Layout Options: Grid, timeline, kanban, or custom layouts
- Interactive Elements: Animated progress bars, hover effects
Content Flexibility
- Custom Fields: Add fields specific to your industry
- Multiple Views: Different roadmap views for different audiences
- Localization: Multi-language roadmap support
- White-label Options: Remove FeatureShark branding (Enterprise)
Common Challenges and Solutions
Managing Expectations
Challenge: Users Expect Firm Commitments
Solution:
- Use clear disclaimer language
- Emphasize that roadmaps are plans, not promises
- Regular communication about changes
- Focus on themes rather than specific features
Challenge: Competitive Information Concerns
Solution:
- Separate public and internal roadmaps
- Focus on user benefits, not technical implementation
- Use general descriptions for competitive features
- Consider customer-only roadmaps for sensitive items
Maintaining Accuracy
Challenge: Keeping Roadmap Current
Solution:
- Assign roadmap ownership to specific team member
- Set up automated reminders for updates
- Integrate with development tools for automatic updates
- Regular roadmap review meetings
Challenge: Balancing Transparency vs. Flexibility
Solution:
- Use probability indicators for features
- Clearly communicate confidence levels
- Explain decision-making process
- Show how user feedback influences changes
Best Practices
Content Strategy
- Start Simple: Begin with basic roadmap, add complexity over time
- User Language: Write in terms users understand, avoid technical jargon
- Visual Appeal: Use icons, colors, and spacing to make roadmap scannable
- Mobile First: Ensure excellent mobile experience
Community Management
- Regular Updates: Consistent communication builds trust
- Acknowledge Changes: Always explain timeline or priority shifts
- Celebrate Success: Highlight completed features and their impact
- Listen Actively: Respond to user feedback and questions
Timeline Management
- Conservative Estimates: Better to over-deliver than under-deliver
- Buffer Time: Account for unexpected complications
- Milestone Focus: Break large features into visible milestones
- Flexibility Communication: Explain why timelines might change
What's Next?
Expand your FeatureShark expertise:
- Managing Feature Requests - Handle the complete request lifecycle
- Slack Integration Setup - Keep your team updated on roadmap changes
- Custom Branding - Make your roadmap match your brand
Getting Help
Setup Time: 30-45 minutes
Maintenance: 15-30 minutes per week
Last Updated: September 2025
