You need more resources for user research. How will you convince stakeholders to provide them?

1 Align Goals

Aligning user research goals with business objectives is crucial in persuading stakeholders to allocate more resources. You should clearly articulate how user research directly supports key performance indicators (KPIs) such as increased engagement, reduced churn, or higher conversion rates. By connecting the dots between user research and business success, stakeholders can see the tangible benefits of investing in UX research. It's also important to speak their language; use terms and metrics familiar to them to make your case more compelling.

2 Present Evidence

When requesting additional resources for user research, it's important to present evidence of past successes and potential ROI. You should gather data from previous research efforts that led to improvements in the product and share stories of how user insights directly influenced positive outcomes. This evidence can be anecdotal or qualitative, but it should clearly demonstrate the impact of user research on the product's success. By showing how user research has been a key factor in past wins, you can make a stronger argument for its continued and expanded support.

3 Roadmap Benefits

Discussing the long-term benefits of a well-resourced user research roadmap can be persuasive. You should outline how sustained user research efforts can lead to continuous product improvements and innovations. Explain that a roadmap allows for strategic planning, ensuring that user research is not just reactive but proactive in identifying future user needs and trends. By investing in a comprehensive roadmap, stakeholders can see that they're not just funding one-off studies but contributing to a long-term vision that prioritizes user satisfaction and product excellence.

4 Budget Reallocation

Convincing stakeholders to provide more resources for user research may involve suggesting a reallocation of the budget. You should identify areas where the current budget may not be yielding high returns and propose shifting those funds to user research. Your proposal must be backed by a solid rationale, explaining how the investment in user research will lead to greater efficiencies or more impactful results than the current allocation. Be prepared to discuss potential trade-offs and show a clear understanding of the budgetary constraints and priorities of the organization.

5 Engage with Empathy

Finally, engaging stakeholders with empathy is key to gaining their support for more user research resources. You should strive to understand their perspectives, challenges, and reservations about increasing the budget. By acknowledging their concerns and providing reassurances, you can build trust and demonstrate that you're working towards the same goals. Share your passion for creating a product that truly resonates with users and highlight how additional resources will empower your team to achieve that vision together with the stakeholders.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?