Learning Loop Blog

A blog about learning and progressing the field of Product Management and User Experience

Sell before you Build
Thu, May 22, 25 Experimentation

Sell before you Build

Prove real demand with paying customers before you write a line of code.

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Anders Toxboe
What is Persuasive Design?
Mon, May 12, 25 Psychology

What is Persuasive Design?

How Product Psychology can turn psychological insight into product impact

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Anders Toxboe
Concierge vs. Wizard of Oz Experiments
Mon, May 12, 25 Experimentation

Concierge vs. Wizard of Oz Experiments

A side-by-side comparison.

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Anders Toxboe
Is Lean Startup too lean for day one?
Sun, Apr 27, 25 Experimentation

Is Lean Startup too lean for day one?

New research suggests data-driven methods boost performance only after a startup’s business model is clear. Early-stage founders may need a solid theory of value before turning to rigorous experiments.

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Anders Toxboe
Development speed is becoming a commodity
Tue, Apr 01, 25 Product Management

Development speed is becoming a commodity

As AI reshapes how we build software, development speed is no longer the bottleneck. The real differentiators are now clarity, adaptability, and decision-making.

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Anders Toxboe
When should product teams test their Business Model?
Mon, Mar 10, 25 Business Models

When should product teams test their Business Model?

Many teams assume revenue will follow naturally once they build a product that people love - only to discover too late that the market will not pay, or that operational costs erode profits.

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Anders Toxboe
'Development velocity' was never really the issue
Mon, Mar 03, 25 Product Management

'Development velocity' was never really the issue

Why focusing solely on development speed leads to wasted effort, technical debt, and misalignment — and what to do instead.

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Anders Toxboe
Why one-size-fits-all behavior design fails
Tue, Feb 25, 25 Psychology

Why one-size-fits-all behavior design fails

Personalized approaches drive lasting impact where generic solutions fall short.

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Anders Toxboe
The Duolingo Way: Experimentation at the speed of learning?
Tue, Feb 11, 25 Experimentation

The Duolingo Way: Experimentation at the speed of learning?

How relentless experimentation fuels rapid learning and innovation – and what your product team can learn from their playbook.

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Anders Toxboe
How to use Habit Stacking to build habit-forming products
Tue, Feb 11, 25 Psychology

How to use Habit Stacking to build habit-forming products

How to design for user engagement that feels effortless and lasts forever

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Anders Toxboe
Are persuasive design cards holding back your best ideas?
Thu, Feb 06, 25 Psychology

Are persuasive design cards holding back your best ideas?

Why 'Patterns First' might be stifling your creativity - and what do to instead

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Anders Toxboe
Designing Beyond Usability
Wed, Jan 22, 25 Psychology

Designing Beyond Usability

How motivation drives product traction beyond mere ease of use

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Anders Toxboe
How AI can improve your product discovery
Tue, Dec 17, 24 Product Discovery

How AI can improve your product discovery

AI + Your Team = A fast-track to real product insights

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Anders Toxboe
AI research is the new Focus Group
Mon, Dec 09, 24 Experiments

AI research is the new Focus Group

AI says YES, but reality says NO

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Anders Toxboe
Nudges are stepping stones, not a destination
Thu, Dec 05, 24 Psychology

Nudges are stepping stones, not a destination

Nudges are overrated. Discover why bold system design—not tweaks—is the key to real behavior change.

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Anders Toxboe
Why saving feels hard
Thu, Dec 05, 24 Psychology

Why saving feels hard

How behavioral economics can change financial futures

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Anders Toxboe
How to raise prices without losing customers
Thu, Nov 21, 24 Psychology

How to raise prices without losing customers

Increase prices without fuss by understanding and influencing customer perceptions

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Anders Toxboe
Happy, Paying Customers
Tue, Nov 05, 24 Leadership

Happy, Paying Customers

Focus on happy, paying customers to align and simplify your business strategy.

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Anders Toxboe
Preventing Behavioral Backfires with the INCASE framework
Tue, Oct 29, 24 Psychology

Preventing Behavioral Backfires with the INCASE framework

Use the INCASE framework to prevent unintended consequences in product design by aligning user engagement with design goals.

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Anders Toxboe
The psychology of sustainable consumption
Thu, Oct 03, 24 Psychology

The psychology of sustainable consumption

Drive sustainable consumer behavior through storytelling, cognitive dissonance, and social proof.

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Anders Toxboe
Balancing product bets
Thu, Sep 26, 24 Experiments

Balancing product bets

Managing product experiments like an investment portfolio

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Anders Toxboe
The world doesn't revolve around product
Sun, Sep 22, 24 Leadership

The world doesn't revolve around product

Product doesn’t stand alone. Product and design are business functions.

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Anders Toxboe
Psychological Reactance: When users push back
Sat, Sep 21, 24 Psychology

Psychological Reactance: When users push back

Persuasive design can backfire and cause unintended consequences, leading to mistrust and negative outcomes.

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Anders Toxboe
Experimenting companies outperform the base
Fri, Sep 20, 24 Experimentation

Experimenting companies outperform the base

How experimentation powers business growth

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Anders Toxboe
Persuasion vs Manipulation
Sat, Sep 14, 24 Psychology

Persuasion vs Manipulation

Navigating the fine line between persuasive and ethical design.

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Anders Toxboe
The Speak-Easy Effect
Sat, Sep 14, 24 Psychology

The Speak-Easy Effect

Simple and easy-to-pronounce names stick in consumers' minds, creating stronger brand connections.

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Anders Toxboe
Getting started with Product Psychology
Sat, Sep 14, 24 Psychology

Getting started with Product Psychology

Take your first steps toward applying product psychology to design user-centered products that align with business goals.

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Bob Smeade
The Starbucks Effect: The power of a name
Fri, Sep 13, 24 Psychology

The Starbucks Effect: The power of a name

How personalization increase customer satisfaction through name-based order identification.

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Anders Toxboe
How a simple rating can make or break your product
Fri, Sep 13, 24 Psychology

How a simple rating can make or break your product

How to use star ratings to influence product perception and boost customer engagement.

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Anders Toxboe
Shaping social norms with the 25% rule
Thu, Sep 12, 24 Psychology

Shaping social norms with the 25% rule

A small group can catalyze significant social change.

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Anders Toxboe
The psychology of recycling: Beyond negative nudges
Wed, Sep 11, 24 Psychology

The psychology of recycling: Beyond negative nudges

Inspire recycling behavior by highlighting product transformations and positive impacts.

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Anders Toxboe
How the hearing aid industry missed a massive opportunity
Wed, Sep 11, 24 Business Models

How the hearing aid industry missed a massive opportunity

Apple disrupted the market with affordable, accessible tech solutions.

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Anders Toxboe
How Simulating Assembly Can Boost Your Product's Value
Thu, Sep 05, 24 Psychology

How Simulating Assembly Can Boost Your Product's Value

Revealing a product's internal structure through visuals can build trust, foster understanding, and create an emotional connection.

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Anders Toxboe
How Target, Walmart, and Home Depot hacks your shopping script
Sat, Aug 24, 24 Psychology

How Target, Walmart, and Home Depot hacks your shopping script

Walmart's secret weapon: disrupting your shopping routines to boost sales.

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Anders Toxboe
Adding sensory signals to products improves both perception and use
Fri, Aug 23, 24 Psychology

Adding sensory signals to products improves both perception and use

People are willing to pay more for products with a pleasing sensory experience

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Anders Toxboe
Incompleteness Effect: How 'Starting From Completion' Can Boost Engagement
Thu, Aug 22, 24 Psychology

Incompleteness Effect: How 'Starting From Completion' Can Boost Engagement

Discover how presenting a pre-completed task can boost engagement and drive sales.

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Anders Toxboe
Progress Principle: Why acknowledging small wins boosts engagement
Thu, Aug 22, 24 Psychology

Progress Principle: Why acknowledging small wins boosts engagement

Celebrate small wins to boost engagement, motivation, and overall user satisfaction.

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Anders Toxboe
The Pratfall Effect: Why making mistakes can make you more likable
Wed, Aug 21, 24 Psychology

The Pratfall Effect: Why making mistakes can make you more likable

Small mistakes can make competent individuals more likable, fostering stronger relationships and boosting self-esteem.

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Anders Toxboe
The Off-by-100% Bias: Why numbers don't always tell the truth
Wed, Aug 21, 24 Psychology

The Off-by-100% Bias: Why numbers don't always tell the truth

We underestimate large percentage increases. Use clear language and context to avoid confusion.

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Anders Toxboe
How mentors can prevent employee churn and burnout
Sun, Feb 12, 23 Mentoring

How mentors can prevent employee churn and burnout

Mentors can help employees navigate organizational change by providing guidance, feedback, and helping develop skills and knowledge.

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Kamilla Harritsøe
Sat, Feb 11, 23 Mentoring

Let mentors navigate the realities of your organization

Mentors can help employees navigate changing dynamics and processes as it becomes incresingly more difficult for employees to navigate new realities of organizational change.

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Anders Toxboe
Fri, Feb 10, 23 Mentoring

Equip your employees to succeed

Mentors can help your product team improve decision making, spark innovation, increase productivity, shorten time to market, and increase employee engagement and retention.

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Anders Toxboe