A feature request is when a user asks for new functionality, capability, or improvement that doesn't currently exist in your product. Feature requests represent user needs, desires, and sometimes pain points they're trying to solve.

Anatomy of a Good Feature Request

The request: "I want dark mode"

The context: "I work late at night and the bright interface hurts my eyes"

The impact: "I've reduced my usage because it's uncomfortable after 8pm"

The alternatives: "I've tried system dark mode but it doesn't affect your app"

Most feature requests only include the first line. Great product teams dig for the context and impact.

Why Users Request Features

Pain point: Current product creates friction or doesn't solve their problem

Parity: Competitors have it, so they expect you to have it

Workflow: They need it to integrate with how they work

Status: They want to appear sophisticated or current

Habit: They're used to it from previous tools

Understanding the "why" is more important than the "what." Users often request solutions rather than describing problems.

The Classic Quote

"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." - Often attributed to Henry Ford

Users are great at identifying problems but often suggest the wrong solutions. A user requesting "bulk edit" might actually need better filtering. A user requesting "more customization" might need better defaults.

Your job is to understand the underlying need, not just build what they asked for.

How to Handle Feature Requests

Acknowledge immediately: "Thanks for the suggestion. I've logged it."

Ask why: "What problem would this solve for you?"

Don't promise: Saying "we'll build it" creates obligation. Say "we'll consider it."

Track who asked: When you eventually build it, you'll want to tell them.

Look for patterns: One person asking is a data point. Ten people asking is a pattern.

Weight by impact: A feature request from your biggest customer matters more than one from a free trial user.

Common Mistakes

Building everything requested: You can't. Saying yes to everything means saying no to strategic priorities.

Ignoring all requests: Users stop giving feedback if you never act on it.

Fastest horses syndrome: Building exactly what users ask for instead of solving their underlying problem.

Feature bloat: Adding so many features that the product becomes complicated and unfocused.

No follow-up: Building a requested feature but never telling the person who asked.

The Prioritization Challenge

If you have 100 feature requests and can build 5, which do you choose?

• Most requested? (Democracy but might miss strategic opportunities)
• Biggest customer asks? (Revenue-focused but might hurt product vision)
• Easiest to build? (Efficient but might not be impactful)
• Best strategic fit? (Visionary but might ignore user needs)

The answer is usually a mix, weighted by business impact, strategic fit, and implementation effort.