Research for our project will be conducted in various ways. We are currently examining and analyzing the website Thumbtack. Thumbtack is a service that is used to find and hire local businesses. It is a platform where businesses and consumers are able to communicate with each other and negotiate jobs online. Our business concept was greatly inspired by Thumbtack. In fact, this consumer service strongly represents the kind of service we want to provide for George Mason and serves as an excellent comparison tool. We are looking at how this website is maintained and updated, how much money it has raised so far, and the people who utilize it. It is also important for us to research about how this service attracts new businesses and people. Surveying is one of their main techniques, but other tactics will be analyzed to see if they can be used to attract people at George Mason.
Besides how the website is set up, how it runs, and revenue, the opinions of those who actually use the website will be taken into great consideration. Researching about the website will be our primary source, but studying the opinions of those who use it would be secondary. For example, there is usually a feedback or comments section on the website for customer reviews. Looking at this section will tell us what the benefits and drawbacks of the website are which we must consider when creating our website. Other reviews and critiques about Thumbtack found online must also be taken into account.
Another way we plan to conduct research is by going to the events office here at Mason to see what type of events happen and what type of talent there is. The events office will help us to better understand what types of talent are in demand at Mason and how much they are in demand. Knowing what types of talent students and even faculty have to offer will help us to better determine which service providers we need on the website.
Lastly, it is crucial for us to better understand our target population or consumers. Surveying and scouting are methods we will use to see which students would be a part of our website, what they could contribute, and who would actually use it. Our survey would consist of questions asking what type of talent the student offers, whether he or she would be interested in using the website, would he or she consider it beneficial and recommend it to friends, any questions or concerns, and many more. Posting flyers on campus and holding kiosks would be a part of our scouting process and allow us to exchange information about our business concept.
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