1. Start with a single source of truth
Your backlog should live in one place. Not a doc, a spreadsheet, and a ticketing system. Pick one home and treat it as the source of truth for every experiment idea.
Give the backlog a short description so new teammates understand the purpose: "A scored list of experiments ready for planning."
2. Use columns that force clarity
A good template forces teams to answer the hard questions upfront. Include these columns:
- Hypothesis: expected behavior change and why.
- Primary metric: the KPI that defines success.
- Target segment: who the change affects.
- Effort: rough estimate from engineering and design.
- Confidence: evidence supporting the idea.
- Owner: the person accountable for shipping.
3. Add a simple scoring model
Use a lightweight scoring model (Impact, Effort, Confidence) to prioritize ideas. Keep the scale to 1-5 so teams can score quickly without debating decimals.
Record the score and the reasoning in a short notes column. When an idea drops in priority later, you will remember why.
4. Include status stages that match your workflow
Define a few status stages that match how your team works, for example: Idea, Scoping, Ready, Running, Analyzing, Decided. Avoid too many statuses or the backlog becomes a project plan.
Use conditional formatting to highlight anything that has been in the same stage for too long.
5. Build a weekly review ritual
Review the backlog once a week. Move three items forward, archive three items that no longer matter, and capture any new ideas from the team. This keeps the list alive and prevents a pile-up of stale ideas.
Make the backlog visible
Share the backlog link in your experiment readouts and planning docs. When stakeholders know the backlog is transparent, they trust the prioritization process more.