{"id":15578,"date":"2022-09-25T12:03:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-25T16:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/?p=15578"},"modified":"2026-03-13T00:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T04:18:13","slug":"product-roadmap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/product-roadmap\/","title":{"rendered":"Product Roadmap Guide: Definition, Types, Examples &amp; Templates"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3200\" height=\"1800\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header.png\" alt=\"product roadmap blog header\" class=\"wp-image-62316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header.png 3200w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2022\/09\/product-roadmap-blog-header-730x411.png 730w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/features\/roadmap-maker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Creating a product roadmap<\/a> is a vital part of every product manager\u2019s role. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roadmaps are essential for coordinating the product development process. They ensure that ongoing day-to-day tasks align with and contribute to your higher-level business strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re a staple for any growing businesses and should be developed alongside project plans and other fundamental business reports.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog, I&#8217;ll go over what a product roadmap is, who they are for and how you can create a product roadmap. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, with Venngage&#8217;s professional <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/product\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">product roadmap templates<\/a>, creating a roadmap for your next project will be easy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/features\/roadmap-maker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>CREATE MY PRODUCT ROADMAP<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is\"><b>What is a product roadmap?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A product roadmap is a high-level visual that maps out the vision, direction and evolution of your product over time<\/strong>. The product roadmap highlights where the organization is, where the organization wishes to be, and how it will get there. It serves as a helpful guide for teams to plan tasks and execute on the strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But why are product roadmaps so effective? This is because you can use product roadmaps to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize tasks and initiatives<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track progress toward goals<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordinate activities across teams<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build consensus and understanding within teams<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create transparency, internally and externally<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, this&nbsp;strategy roadmap template splits its project into teams and their individual tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/roadmap-template-2.png\" alt=\"Simple Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15630\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><em>Just so you know, some of our templates are free to use and some require a small monthly fee. <a href=\"https:\/\/infograph.venngage.com\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sign up<\/a> is always free, as is access to Venngage\u2019s online drag-and-drop editor. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"who\"><strong>Who are product roadmaps for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Product roadmaps&nbsp;are produced by business owners or managers for the purpose of <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/communicate-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">communicating product strategies<\/a>, tools and initiatives to both product developers and external stakeholders. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basically, they\u2019re the one document that will keep the <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/product-development-process\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\u201cnofollow\u201d noopener\">development of a product<\/a> on track, and generally ensure that everyone involved in the process is on the same page.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Product roadmaps can be used alongside other business plans like the <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/marketing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marketing plan<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/plans\/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business plan<\/a>. They can even help inform your marketing <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/growth-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">growth strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"components\"><strong>What should a product roadmap include? (checklist<\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of a product roadmap as a simple guide to where your product is going and what your team plans to build along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use this quick checklist when creating one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Product vision<\/strong> \u2013 The big goal for the product and the main problem it aims to solve.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategy<\/strong> \u2013 The overall plan for reaching that vision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Themes or initiatives<\/strong> \u2013 Big focus areas that group related work together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Features<\/strong> \u2013 The specific things your team plans to build or improve.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timeline or time horizon<\/strong> \u2013 A rough idea of when things might happen (for example: Now, Next, Later).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status<\/strong> \u2013 Shows whether an item is planned, in progress or completed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Metrics<\/strong> \u2013 The numbers used to measure success, like user growth, engagement or revenue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Assumptions or confidence<\/strong> \u2013 Notes on how certain the team feels about each plan, since priorities can change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dependencies or risks<\/strong> \u2013 Anything that could affect progress, like needing another team, tool or resource.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flexibility<\/strong> \u2013 A roadmap isn\u2019t fixed. It can change as you learn more about users and priorities shift.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"overflow-x:auto; margin: 24px 0;\">\n  <table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; min-width:700px;\">\n    <caption style=\"caption-side:top; text-align:left; font-weight:700; font-size:20px; margin-bottom:12px;\">\n      Include vs. Avoid\n    <\/caption>\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th scope=\"col\" style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px; text-align:left; background:#eef7f1; color:#1f5132;\">\n          Include (build trust + alignment)\n        <\/th>\n        <th scope=\"col\" style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px; text-align:left; background:#fff1f0; color:#8a2c2c;\">\n          Avoid (creates confusion + overcommitment)\n        <\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Vision + strategic direction<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">A full backlog dumped into a timeline<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Goals\/outcomes tied to business value<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">User stories\/tasks that belong in Jira\/your delivery plan<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Themes\/initiatives (the \u201cwhy\u201d)<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Feature-by-feature detail with no context<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Time horizon (quarters or Now\/Next\/Later)<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Hard promises to customers (\u201cthis will ship on X date\u201d)<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Simple status + progress signals<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Exact dates when uncertainty is high (use ranges\/buckets instead)<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Metrics + success criteria<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Roadmap items with no owner, no outcome, and no measure of success<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">Assumptions\/confidence + key risks<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:14px;\">\u201cEverything is high priority\u201d (no prioritization or trade-offs shown)<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to set up a product roadmap (7-step process)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before designing a roadmap, start with strategy. A roadmap is meant to communicate where the product is going and why, not just list tasks on a timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple 7-step process product teams often use to set up a roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Start with strategy (vision + target customer)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by defining the product vision and the customer you\u2019re building for. You\u2019ll need to figure out two key details: who you\u2019re creating the roadmap for, and how far into the future you want to plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vision explains what the product aims to become and the main problem it solves. This helps teams stay aligned before discussing features or timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing the <a href=\"https:\/\/theproductmanager.com\/tools\/best-product-management-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">right product management software<\/a>&nbsp;will help you to organize all the details needed for an accurate roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Define outcomes and success metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, decide what success looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of focusing only on features, focus on outcomes. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>improving user retention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increasing product adoption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>growing revenue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reducing churn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose metrics that help track whether those goals are being achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Collect inputs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gather the information that will influence your roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common inputs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>customer feedback<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>product usage data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>requests from sales and support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>business priorities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>technical constraints<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These inputs help ensure your roadmap reflects both customer needs and company priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Group work into initiatives or themes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of listing dozens of individual features, group related work into broader initiatives or themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Themes help explain the reason behind the work, making it easier for stakeholders to see how different efforts support the overall product strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because roadmaps evolve as priorities change, it also helps to build them using <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/strategic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strategic roadmap templates<\/a> that make updates and adjustments easier over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Prioritize the work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everything can be built at once, so prioritization is essential. Many product teams use prioritization frameworks such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>RICE<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MoSCoW<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>WSJF<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These frameworks help teams decide which initiatives deliver the most value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 6: Choose the roadmap type and time horizon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Product roadmaps can be shown in different formats, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Now \/ Next \/ Later roadmaps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>goal-based roadmaps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>quarterly or timeline roadmaps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gantt-style roadmaps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The right format often depends on who the roadmap is for. External stakeholders usually want a high-level strategic view that spans multiple quarters or even years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, this product roadmap template shows a high-level timeline across phases:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/creative-launch-product-roadmap-6d2b74b3-be10-4e4f-8bc9-1c5bf8ed4964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Creative-Launch-Product-Roadmap-Template.png\" alt=\"Creative Launch Product Roadmap Template\" class=\"wp-image-41186\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/creative-launch-product-roadmap-6d2b74b3-be10-4e4f-8bc9-1c5bf8ed4964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>Internal product teams, on the other hand, often need a more detail <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/strategic-roadmap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strategic roadmap<\/a><\/span> about features, tasks and timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/retro-now-next-later-product-roadmap-66e26e72-f751-41a4-bb28-4ccb3dc19f1d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Product-Roadmap-Templates.png\" alt=\"Retro Now, Next, Later Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-34793\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/retro-now-next-later-product-roadmap-66e26e72-f751-41a4-bb28-4ccb3dc19f1d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>Roadmaps are commonly organized by year, quarter, month or sprint depending on the planning cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, this roadmap template organizes work by quarter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/blue-it-product-roadmap-7c9db338-ff97-41cf-9c81-d74734b18212\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65-1024x791.png\" alt=\"Blue IT Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-94409\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65-1024x791.png 1024w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65-768x593.png 768w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65-730x564.png 730w, https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-65.png 1056w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/blue-it-product-roadmap-7c9db338-ff97-41cf-9c81-d74734b18212\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 7: Publish the roadmap and set an update cadence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the roadmap is ready, share it with stakeholders and establish how often it will be updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Product roadmaps are living documents. They evolve as priorities change, new insights appear and teams learn more about their users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage your roadmap should include key elements such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>high-level goals and initiatives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>major features or projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a time horizon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>milestones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dependencies or risks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>success metrics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once these pieces are defined, you can move on to creating the roadmap visualization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to create a Gantt-style product roadmap (when you need dates + dependencies)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Product roadmaps can be visualized in several ways, including Now\/Next\/Later views, goal-based roadmaps, timeline views or Gantt charts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>Gantt-style roadmap<\/strong> is most useful when timing and dependencies between tasks matter (usually for internal planning).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re building an external roadmap or working with high uncertainty, consider using Now\/Next\/Later or goal-based roadmaps instead of date-specific Gantt views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart that displays tasks along the y-axis and time along the x-axis. Each bar represents a task and shows its start date and end date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing a project management software, look for one that includes Gantt chart views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This product roadmap template shows an example of a Gantt-style roadmap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/diagrams\/simple-weekly-project-gantt-chart-f74c0570-3696-416e-9d59-0f53471aaade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/10\/gantt-chart-template.png\" alt=\"Weekly Project Gantt Chart Diagram Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-34795\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/diagrams\/simple-weekly-project-gantt-chart-f74c0570-3696-416e-9d59-0f53471aaade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Build the Gantt structure (4 steps)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re using a Gantt-style roadmap, start by setting up the core structure. These four steps will help you organize tasks and timelines in a way that\u2019s easy to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Add a bar for each task or activity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by laying out your timeline from left to right, divided by day, week, month or quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then add a bar for each task. The bar begins at the expected start date and extends to the planned completion date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Group bars by team or initiative<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, organize tasks into visual groups, sometimes called <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/swimlane-diagram\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">swimlanes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tasks can be grouped by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>team<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>initiative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps make the roadmap easier to scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Stack bars by feature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tasks that belong to the same feature or initiative can be stacked in the same row. This reduces empty space and helps show relationships between tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ll touch on a special case where you might want to vary bar height later on, but in most cases, you\u2019ll want to make sure the height of each bar is consistent among tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/making-01.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Add a bar for each task or activity\" class=\"wp-image-15614\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Sort bars by start date or priority<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, arrange tasks so the roadmap reads naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because people read from left to right and top to bottom, earlier or higher-priority initiatives often appear near the top. Following these steps will give you a functional Gantt-style roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since we naturally read from left to right and from top to bottom, it\u2019s a good idea to place earlier initiatives (or prioritized initiatives) closer to the top.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/making-04.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/making-04.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Sort bars by start date or priority\" class=\"wp-image-15617\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s all there is to it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Design best practices for a readable Gantt roadmap<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Use color to categorize tasks by status, or priority<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color in a product roadmap is best used to display some key information about each task, like its status or priority level.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For maximum information density, use color to categorize tasks into groups that aren\u2019t already indicated elsewhere. This product roadmap template uses color to help divide its project phases.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/colorful-dark-creative-product-roadmap-5bc71c34-c0a3-42d7-8226-7d9c47aaf36d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Colorful-Product-Roadmap-Template.png\" alt=\"Colorful Dark Creative Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-41187\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/colorful-dark-creative-product-roadmap-5bc71c34-c0a3-42d7-8226-7d9c47aaf36d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, in our sample chart above, our tasks are already grouped by team. We can work in an additional layer of detail by using color to categorize tasks by status (e.g. planned, approved, in development, or completed).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/color-by-planned.png\" alt=\"Simple Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15610\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or by priority (e.g. high priority, mid priority, or low priority).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/color-by-priority.png\" alt=\"Simple Product Roadmap Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15611\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/simple-product-roadmap-044a3516-2798-45b9-a010-996e327895c3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use bar fill level to indicate task progress<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to layer in extra information is to treat each bar like a mini progress bar. The percent fill of each bar can used to represent the level of completion of each task.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gantt-chart-partial-fill.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use bar fill level to indicate task progress\" class=\"wp-image-15623\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this extra visual indicator can help ensure that projects stay on track, it should be used with caution. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Progress bars will need to be updated regularly, which can be a pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plus, seeing that progress toward you goal can give you a misleading sense of accomplishment. It can be difficult to accurately estimate progress toward a goal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Use arrows to indicate dependencies<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lines and arrows appear in roadmaps to indicate connections between related tasks, similar to what you might see in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/flow-chart-template\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flow chart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most often they\u2019re used to indicate dependencies among tasks. That is, an arrow originates at a task that must be completed before the task it terminates on begins.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gantt-chart-arrows-again.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use arrows to indicate dependencies\" class=\"wp-image-15619\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Use diamonds to represent milestones<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another standard Gantt chart <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/symbols-and-meanings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">symbol<\/a> is the diamond, which is used to indicate key project milestones like release dates, review dates, or sign-off dates. A milestone can be any event that has no duration (i.e. any event that can\u2019t be represented by a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bar<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the roadmap).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milestones tend to be&nbsp;important project checkpoints that should clearly stand out against the task bars. It\u2019s usually a good idea to style them in red, black or dark grey to make them conspicuous: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gantt-chart-diamonds.jpg\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use diamonds to represent milestones\" class=\"wp-image-15622\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: Beyond Brewing<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if possible, place milestone markers in line with the tasks they apply to.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you have milestones that apply to multiple tasks, or if you want to include more detail like dates or release numbers, you might find your chart getting cluttered. In this case, it\u2019s better pull important deadlines out into separate timelines that runs alongside your chart, with key dates denoted with small flags:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gantt-chart-deadlines.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use diamonds to represent milestones\" class=\"wp-image-15621\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source:&nbsp;stephanieevergreen.com<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Use a dotted line to indicate the current date<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be helpful to include a visual indicator of the current date as a comparator for task start and end dates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using a light dotted line that extends from the top to the bottom makes it equally easy to compare dates across all tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/gantt-chart-arrows.png\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use a dotted line to indicate the current date\" class=\"wp-image-15618\" width=\"700\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source<\/span>: Datavizcatalogue<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Use bold outlines to highlight critical tasks or paths<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A critical path is a series of tasks that have direct impact on your project end date.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you wish to draw extra attention to a critical path in your roadmap, use a single highlight color to outline tasks and emphasize dependency arrows.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"375\" height=\"117\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/critical-path.gif\" alt=\"Product Roadmap Tips: Use bold outlines to highlight critical tasks or paths\" class=\"wp-image-15613\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Source: gantt.com<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red is usually a safe bet to use as a highlight color, but other colors can work too, just as long as they contrast with surrounding colors to create visual salience.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not sure how to pick a salient highlight color? Read all about color selection in our article about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-colors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">communicating with color<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/what-is-an-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">infographics<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>Eliminate unnecessary detail<\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My last recommendation for building a product roadmap is to avoid including very minor tasks or extraneous detail. The most effective roadmaps focus more on big picture themes than task-specific details.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"examples\"><strong>Product roadmap examples and templates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your focus is solely on high-level product strategy, a Gantt chart-style product roadmap might be overkill. There are a few simpler options out there for mapping out project tasks over time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Keep it simple with a project management timeline<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple project management <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/infographics\/timeline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">timeline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be used to outline major events in the product development process in chronological order. It\u2019s really all you need if just want to map out high-level goals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/red-marketing-strategy-project-timeline-691e27f6-b8d6-4357-b84a-0e8beec56939\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/comet-products.png\" alt=\"Red Marketing Strategy Project Timeline Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15612\" width=\"700\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/red-marketing-strategy-project-timeline-691e27f6-b8d6-4357-b84a-0e8beec56939\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can even add a bit more detail to this type of project timeline by scaling each task by its duration. This provides a quick <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/how-to-summarize\/\">visual summary<\/a> of a single project from start to finish, as you can see in this home build timeline:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/infographics\/home-build-project-timeline-37d9e32f-3d59-4b51-af80-1b821359d197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/build-timeline.png\" alt=\"Home Build Project Timeline Infographic Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15609\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/infographics\/home-build-project-timeline-37d9e32f-3d59-4b51-af80-1b821359d197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>If you go the route of the simple project timeline, you may want to be more diligent about tracking progress on a weekly basis. Complement a high-level roadmap with a weekly product release summary like this one that includes product features and bug fixes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/infographics\/product-release-58d8ca48-9682-43a7-8fff-006f878f18f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/venngage-wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/04\/weekly-product-release-summary.png\" alt=\"Product Development Release Infographic Template\n\" class=\"wp-image-15629\" width=\"500\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/infographics\/product-release-58d8ca48-9682-43a7-8fff-006f878f18f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\"><b>EDIT THIS PRODUCT ROADMAP TEMPLATE<\/b><\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Product roadmap vs backlog vs project plan vs release plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These terms are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes in product development. Understanding the differences helps teams avoid turning a roadmap into a task tracker or release schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick comparison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"overflow-x:auto; margin:24px 0;\">\n  <table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; min-width:900px;\">\n    <thead>\n      <tr style=\"background-color:#f5f7fa;\">\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Artifact<\/th>\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Purpose<\/th>\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Audience<\/th>\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Granularity<\/th>\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Owner<\/th>\n        <th style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px; text-align:left;\">Update cadence<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\"><strong>Product roadmap<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Communicates product strategy, priorities and direction over time.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Executives, product teams, stakeholders and sometimes customers.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">High-level (themes, initiatives, outcomes).<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Product manager or product leadership.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Reviewed monthly or quarterly.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\"><strong>Product backlog<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">A prioritized list of features, improvements and bugs the team plans to work on.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Product managers, engineers and delivery teams.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Detailed (user stories, tasks, technical work).<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Product manager or product owner.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Updated continuously during sprint planning.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\"><strong>Project plan<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Maps out how a specific project will be executed, including tasks, timelines and resources.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Project managers, delivery teams and stakeholders.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Task-level detail with schedules and dependencies.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Project manager.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Updated as the project progresses.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\"><strong>Release plan<\/strong><\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Outlines what features will be included in upcoming product releases.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Product teams, engineering teams and sometimes customers.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Mid-level (feature bundles tied to release cycles).<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Product manager or release manager.<\/td>\n        <td style=\"border:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding:12px;\">Updated each release cycle.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, a product roadmap shows direction, a backlog lists the work, a project plan organizes execution and a release plan schedules what ships and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\"><strong>Product roadmap FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How detailed should a product roadmap be?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A product roadmap should be detailed enough to provide clear guidance on the product&#8217;s direction, including key milestones, goals and timelines, but flexible enough to allow for adjustments as priorities shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who is responsible for the product roadmap?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The product roadmap is typically the responsibility of the product manager, who collaborates with stakeholders such as engineering, marketing and leadership to align the roadmap with business goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Product roadmaps: the takeaway<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An effective product roadmap can boost communication within an organization, leading to better <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/design-dictionary\/alignment-design-principle-definition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">alignment<\/a> within and among teams, and leaving more time for real work to get done.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you create a product roadmap from scratch or from one of our easy-to-use Smart templates, apply these design tips to ensure your roadmap communicates effectively:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use color to categorize tasks by type, status, or priority<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use bar fill level to indicate task progress<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use arrows to indicate dependencies<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use diamonds to represent milestones<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use bold outlines to highlight critical tasks or paths<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to get started now? Click the button below to create a free Venngage account. Then, choose one of our free or <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paid<\/a> product roadmap templates and start customizing it using our simple online&nbsp;product&nbsp;roadmapping software. Upgrade to <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/venngage-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Venngage for Business<\/a> to download your project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/templates\/roadmaps\/product\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><button class=\"btn-cta\">MAKE A PRODUCT ROADMAP NOW<\/button><\/a><\/center>&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<p>You can also check out these other blog posts for more helpful strategy roadmap and planning resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/product-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Ways to Show Product Value Using Infographics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/inspiration-marketing-product-roadmap-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">30+ Marketing Roadmap Templates, Examples and Tips<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/roadmap-infographics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">8+ Roadmap Infographic Templates for Improved Planning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/marketing-plan\/#8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Is A Marketing Plan and How to Make One (20+ Marketing Plan Templates)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/growth-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Growth Strategy Checklist: Plan Your Business Goals With These 5 Templates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/mind-map-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">40+ Mind Map Examples To Help You Visualize Ideas<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creating a product roadmap is a vital part of every product manager\u2019s role. Roadmaps are essential for coordinating the product development process. They ensure that ongoing day-to-day tasks align with and contribute to your higher-level business strategy. They\u2019re a staple for any growing businesses and should be developed alongside project plans and other fundamental business [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":62316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[188,609],"tags":[264,270],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Product roadmaps are essential for coordinating the product development process. 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