Interviewing Customers No. 2

https://youtu.be/ZUsaHf5tu6w

1) Fine tune your opportunity. You began with an idea of what an opportunity might be. After your first round of interviews, what do you think, now? 

Honestly, this is kinda fun. I took some extra time to make sure I understood the assignment this time around, because I was somewhat confused the first time. I believe that this particular set of interviews was a good batch. I realized my opportunity (hungry college students), and I wanted to penetrate that market. 

2) Fine tune the "who." Did you talk to the right customers last time? What did you do differently this time? How did you adjust your conceptualization of who your customers are?

I think I definitely spoke to the right customers, but I did not know what I was looking for. I actually asked more than one question, and the questions I asked were specific to my "app idea." 

I think I picked the right audience because this app specifically would thrive in a college setting, which is why I had to find college students.  

3) Tweaking your interview questions. You might need to ask different kinds of questions to get at a fuller, richer idea of what your opportunity is. What kind of changes did you make?

Well, first off, I actually used more than one question. Secondly, I put myself in someone else's shoes (someone who did not know anything about the app). I wanted to find out if people were like me, in the sense that they (too) would be hungry at 2am and be in need of food and would want food delivered to them. Plus, I like a challenge, so I wanted to see if they were open to the idea of an app that created food delivery challenges so that people can send them to their friends. 

4) Go talk to customers! This is the same deal as last time: 5 people, you can't know them, you must video record them.

Check out the video above. 

5) Tell us what you learned about the opportunity. You now have 10 interviews under your belt. What do you think about your opportunity now that's different from where you started?  

I learned that the more I spoke to people, the better I understood where my app idea stood. It was actually a good idea, but it just needed a few logistical tweaks. I think at the very fundamental part of it, this assignment goes to show that you need to do a LOT of research before you go forward with an idea. 

6) Tell us what you learned about interviewing customers. You're practically an expert on interviewing customers. Please write three tips that you'd like to offer students in this class next semester about interviewing customers.

1. Do not show fear. 

People will honestly help you. People are nice. It is just inner doubt and fear that prevents us from doing something.

2. Be approachable. 

I know it seems easy, but you have to interact with the people you are interviewing. They don't want to be bored, and you don't want to be bored by them. Be physically engaged and show the passion of your idea to your consumers. 

3. Smile. 

No joke. A smile goes a long way.