If your core business product is content contributed by users... I'm turning to the opinion that you need a C-level ombudsman- / dean of contributors-type role.
Whose sole job it is to (1) figure out what contributors are thinking and want & (2) advocate for them inside the company.
Every contributor-driven platform has eventually jumped the shark, and all in exactly the same way.
Management begins to take contributions for granted. Stops caring about attracting contributors. Then focuses on revenue. Then makes changes to the platform that kill contributions, in pursuit of revenue.
And they miss so many obvious ways to placate and delight their contributors. "It'd be nice to have a mod tool that does X" shouldn't be a 3-year back burner ask.
Maybe make it harder for your company to footgun your golden goose?
Whose sole job it is to (1) figure out what contributors are thinking and want & (2) advocate for them inside the company.
Every contributor-driven platform has eventually jumped the shark, and all in exactly the same way.
Management begins to take contributions for granted. Stops caring about attracting contributors. Then focuses on revenue. Then makes changes to the platform that kill contributions, in pursuit of revenue.
And they miss so many obvious ways to placate and delight their contributors. "It'd be nice to have a mod tool that does X" shouldn't be a 3-year back burner ask.
Maybe make it harder for your company to footgun your golden goose?