Choose a Product Management Tool that Works for You

"What Product Management tools should I learn starting out?"

First of all, there is a tendency to over-obsess about tools. Remember: the tool is only as good as how you make use of it.

Knowing a lot of tools doesn't make you smarter or more effective.

What does then? Well, with experience, you'll learn how to:

1) Choose the right tool for the job
e.g. Photoshop isn't the best choice for wire frames

2) Qualify data by understanding limitations & inner workings
e.g. Google Analytics samples traffic data

3) Convert data into insights. And insights into action.
e.g. "The bounce rate is 3.4% lower than last month." OK. Now what?

If you're going to be managing a web application (B2B or B2C), I'd suggest learning these category of tools:

1. Wireframing (e.g. Axure, Figma)
2. Project Management (e.g. JIRA, PivotalTracker)
3. Personal Task Management (e.g. Trello, Asana)
4. Analytics Tools meant for the product (e.g. Analytics, Fullstory)
5. Google Data Studio (custom dashboards)

Keep it simple.

Also, you don't need to rush to learn every wireframing product out there. Master one tool that works for you, unless there is a limitation you simply can't get around. I've been using #Axure for 10 years & it has never failed me.