3 examples of user story map

[#1]

Product teams often struggle to build what users actually want. Features pile up, priorities blur, and the big picture gets lost in endless to-do lists. 

User story mapping offers a different approach. It helps teams see their product through users’ eyes, turning disconnected features into a clear, meaningful journey. 

Solving Flat Backlog Problems with User Story Mapping

If you’ve ever worked with a product backlog, you know the struggle. Everything is in one long list, marked as important, and it’s hard to see how it all fits together. This is what we call a “flat backlog” – and it often creates more problems than it solves.

A flat backlog makes it nearly impossible to see the big picture. Your team can’t tell which features should come first, how they connect, or what truly matters to users. It’s like trying to put together a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box.

This is where user story mapping comes in to save the day.

Why Story Mapping Works Better

Story mapping lets you see your product from your users’ eyes. You arrange features based on how people actually use your product, not just on a priority list.

When you create a story map, you’re telling a story about your user’s journey. This makes it much easier to spot gaps in your planning and identify what features really need to come first.

Story mapping takes a bit more effort at first. But it saves you from the headaches of confused teams, missed features, and unhappy users down the road. It’s like having a map instead of just a list of directions – you can see where you’re going and the best way to get there.

User Story Map Examples

Let’s look at three common user story map examples. Each example shows how different companies organize their features in a way that makes sense for their users.

E-commerce Website Story Map

Imagine an online store like Target or Best Buy. Here’s how their story map might look

Browse Products	Add to Cart	Checkout	Track Order
View items	Select size	Enter address	See status
Read reviews	Choose color	Add payment	Get updates
Compare prices	Save for later	Apply coupon	Rate delivery

→ View E-commerce Website Story Map in more details

What makes this map work: It follows how people naturally shop online, from finding products to completing their purchases. Each column represents a key part of the shopping experience.

Meal Planning App Story Map

For a meal planning app like Mealime or Paprika, the story map focuses on the cooking journey:

Plan Meals	Get Ready	Cook	Share
Browse recipes	Check pantry	View steps	Save favorites
Set servings	Make list	Set timer	Rate recipes
Pick diet type	Shop items	Mark progress	Share menu

→ View Meal Planning App Story Map in more details

What makes this map work: The map captures the entire meal preparation process, not just the cooking part. It helps users succeed at every step, from planning to sharing their experience.

Banking App Story Map

Think of apps like Chase or Bank of America. Their story map prioritizes common banking tasks:

Check Money	Move Money	Pay Bills	Track Spending
See balance	Send payment	Add payee	View history
View activity	Request money	Schedule pay	Set budgets
Search trans	Transfer funds	Auto-pay	Get insights

→ View Banking App Story Map in more details

What makes this map work: This map organizes features around key banking activities people do most often. It makes daily banking tasks easy to find and use.

Story maps might look different for each product, but they all share one thing: they show how features work together to help users achieve their goals.

Final Words

Story mapping isn’t perfect, but it’s a powerful way to understand your product. It helps you:

• See what users really need
• Find gaps in your product
• Prioritize the right features
• Explain your vision clearly

The best products tell a story – not just through code, but through experiences that solve real problems. Story mapping is your tool to create those experiences, one user step at a time.

[Bill Sheboy]

Greetings community!

To learn more about creating, facilitating, and effectively using Story and Journey Maps, I recommend pausing to read this excellent source: User Story Mapping, by Jeff Patton and Peter Economy.

And if you want to annotate the flow to also quantify process improvements, consider learning more about Value Stream Mapping, perhaps reviewing Lean sources such as The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Tool Book, by Michael George, et al.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Samuel Parri]

Thank you kindly for this helpful information.  We use story telling with our business planning.