3 ways to prep for that New Year project

3 minute read

We’ve all been there. The year draws to a close and that same feeling of ‘shoulda woulda coulda’ sets in, the realisation that that project you needed to begin remains just a great idea in your head. 

Perhaps it’s that ingenious new startup concept? Maybe it’s a game-changing mobile app? Or were you hoping to finally get your company moving in a new direction?

Whatever the idea, here’s a 3-point checklist to help you get ahead of the game and prep for that new project in 2020.

1) Concept

Try writing an ‘elevator pitch’. This is essentially a succinct and persuasive sales pitch, and should cover the following:


What problem does it solve, and for who?

E.g. ‘Show me the closest bus stop’ or ‘a new way to meet other dads for a coffee’.


What are the key features and functionalities?

E.g. ‘A map view with pins for each store's location’, ‘card payment’, ‘text chat’, etc.


What’s the competition and how is yours different? What’s your USP (Unique Selling Point)?

This is another way to help developers understand what you’re trying to achieve.


When do you hope to launch, and when is realistic to launch?

This would usually be ‘ASAP’, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a realistic launch date is a good way to alleviate undue pressure.


What’s the budget and how will you fund it?

Budget can be overlooked because clients often want to discover how much their idea might cost, rather than setting out parameters. This approach — while understandable — can be problematic. The reality is that the same idea could cost £15K or £150K depending on the project approach and compromises you’re happy to make. 

Best practice is to set a maximum budget. This gives the developers an understanding of what kind of level they can propose for a solution, and one that matches your resources. Being transparent with a budget from the start will ultimately save you time and prevent any awkward back-pedals down the line. Regarding funding, do you have your own resources? Have you found or are you looking for investment?

2) Research

It’s likely that you’ve already done your research. Any conclusions you’ve drawn will help the developers understand the project better and anticipate any requirements you might have. Make sure you include the following:

  • Who is your target market, what are their interests and how are those currently met?
  • Are people willing to pay for your service?
  • What’s the size of the market?
  • Who is the competition and what can we learn from them?

You can learn more about the benefits of project research in my millionaire app idea article.

3) Presentation

This is either to investors, or agencies like us here at Gravitywell. At this stage you’ll ideally be presenting notes on the previous two points, plus some basic wireframes.

Wireframes are a quick and easy process for communicating your idea. The sketches can be super basic, using a pen and paper (or a simple online tool) outlining just the key features.

Wireframes will also swiftly expose any problems you may not have encountered or thought of yet, and generally make it much easier for others to understand your concept.

 

So there you have it. Your 3-point checklist to help get you prepped and in a great place for the New Year!

If you would like to chat about your project or learn more about the Gravitywell process, get in touch.

Written by Hugo Walker (Head of Marketing & Digital Content). Read more in Insights by Hugo or check our their socials , Instagram