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Hey All,
Everyone seems to be a bit aggravated with the abundance of "Idea Threads" so I figured I'd contribute to maybe help lower those. Many people, myself included, get excited about their ideas and the first thing they want to do is go out and tell people. Especially, if those people are as qualified and experienced such as those on the forum. I guess we're all looking for some excitement and appreciation for our ideas. However, before posting an idea thread, it may be a good idea to answer a series of in-depth questions about your product or service. Then, instead of a general idea thread, you'll have a series of practical questions directly related to your idea and it should evoke some healthy advice and suggestion posts. Both the individual with the idea as well as the contributor should be much happier under this scenario.
The whole goal for this was to encourage individuals to first answer these questions on their own, and then hopefully have specific questions to add to the forum that may increase the overall quality here. This isn't an exhaustive list, but I hope it helps add a little more quality to the forum.
Obviously, if anyone has anything to add please do.
Cory
Everyone seems to be a bit aggravated with the abundance of "Idea Threads" so I figured I'd contribute to maybe help lower those. Many people, myself included, get excited about their ideas and the first thing they want to do is go out and tell people. Especially, if those people are as qualified and experienced such as those on the forum. I guess we're all looking for some excitement and appreciation for our ideas. However, before posting an idea thread, it may be a good idea to answer a series of in-depth questions about your product or service. Then, instead of a general idea thread, you'll have a series of practical questions directly related to your idea and it should evoke some healthy advice and suggestion posts. Both the individual with the idea as well as the contributor should be much happier under this scenario.
- Your product and service
- What is the product or what does the service do?
- How will your customers use the product or service?
- How and where will you find your customers?
- How will you create it, and how will you "deliver" it to the customers?
- Will the product or service require testing? (Explain in detail if so.)
- Your experience and management
- Who makes up your management team? (May not apply to you.)
- What experience should you and your employees possess?
- What are your credentials and specific skills?
- Are you missing any skills or do any need strengthening?
- How much time can you devote to the business as well as learning?
- The market your competing in
- What is the demand for your product?
- Who is your target market? (Who are the customers?)
- What is the size of your market?
- Is the market growing, slowing, stagnant, etc.?
- Where and how can your research your potential customers?
- Your competition
- Who are your primary and secondary competitors?
- How do your competitors market their products or services?
- What makes your idea better or different than your competitors?
- Is your idea easy to copy?
- How can you protect the idea or service?
- Your costs
- How much does it cost to make the product or produce the service?
- What other business costs do you have?
- How much money do you need to start?
- Do you have access to funding?
- When will you make a profit?
- Researching
- Read the news paper and watch the news.
- Look for a trade association.
- Go to the library.
- Look at/Go to your competitor’s products, websites, locations, etc.
- Search Google.
- Chambers of Commerce.
- Small Business Association.
- Surveys.
- Use published market research such as Gartner Group or IDC.
- Ask specific questions to friends and family. (And on the forum.)
The whole goal for this was to encourage individuals to first answer these questions on their own, and then hopefully have specific questions to add to the forum that may increase the overall quality here. This isn't an exhaustive list, but I hope it helps add a little more quality to the forum.
Obviously, if anyone has anything to add please do.
Cory
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