Intro- Problem Statement
One of the biggest regrets in travel is an unsuccessful attempt to find traditional, local, “home cooked” meals. Food has a powerful way of allowing outsiders an intimate understanding of local culture. Tasting a “home cooked” meal can explain better than any textbook what is important to the people of a given region.
Description- Solution
“Foreign Foodie Friends” is a web-based network for locals and visitors to connect and share a culinary experience. Each member will be able to utilize the site both as a foreigner and as a host. The network will allow members to post a profile of what “home cooking” means to them and also allow dietary restrictions to be made known.
Action Plan
Develop the foundations of the site within 6 months.
§ Build the site
o Profile layouts
o Search functions
o Rating/recommendations
Initially, we may start in a hyper local scene and expand out, allowing word of mouth to catch on. The expansion should be progressive, adding new locations every few months.
As we expand, we will need to increase advertising and marketing efforts both in established markets and new markets.
After the launch we will keep members excited with local meet-ups, new ideas, restaurant coupons, and shared stories.
Once again, this is a strong solid concept.
ReplyDeleteThe writing in the first two sections of this summary are succinct and tight. It adds to the fantastic idea.
By only observation is the sense of uncertainty in the final section. Be careful using a word such as “may” because it sounds as if the plan lacks confidence and finality. My suggestion would be to state it as fact and sound sure of your plans.
Also the use of “we” is suspect. Is this me and you? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?
Instead of “we” this is a perfect chance to mention the name or brand of the idea. In a pitch you can never overuse the name of the product or service.
Once again, though, bring on the experience. I want to eat out.
You’ve laid out a strong case with an interesting idea. The concept is intriguing wanting me to hear more. Your opening statement gives a nice explanation of the concept.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the word “we” in graph five, but I don’t know who the other people are. Is it your design team?
Are you requesting funding? If so how much? I’d be interested to know who this concept is being pitched to.
Lastly, you mention members. Is there a membership fee?
Again, nice idea!
I’m going to pick on this sentence again, because you used it again.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest regrets in travel is an unsuccessful attempt to find traditional, local, “home cooked” meals.
One of the biggest regrets in travel? Is there a list of regrets in travel? Within travel? In the world of travel? In traveling? Do we all have a list of regrets in traveling that you compiled? Or is this one of your biggest regrets, since you cannot speak for the rest of us? And do you have a lot of smaller regrets? Because you strike me as someone with few regrets at all.
And don’t get me started on “an unsuccessful attempt.” You mean, a failure?
I’m not nitpicking or trying to be snide. This is about saying what you want to say.
I hate that I can never find an authentic home cooked meal when I travel.
Now let’s take the you out of it.
It is hard to find a home cooked meal when you are from out of town. Introducing ForeignFoodies.com, trading in-home authentic dinners around the world since 2011.
Maybe you should slip the word travel in there somewhere.
The structure of your proposal is good. I like this:
Food has a powerful way of allowing outsiders an intimate understanding of local culture.
Food gives an outsider an intimate understanding of culture. It is concentrated travel.
Let me try again.
An authentic meal gives an outsider an intimate understanding of a culture through cuisine and conversation. It is concentrated travel.
The rest of this is fine for a first draft, but it is just the first turning of gears. Its simplicity doesn’t say that you’ve thought every detail through, but the opposite.
A website especially is about its design. A proposal would have to describe exactly how it would work. Facebook took away MySpace’s dominance with design. Having a great idea is not enough. You must then execute it so that no one can trump you.
How does Couchsurfing work? Where did it make mistakes? How could you address swapping better, more safely, and more intuitively with design than they did? Do some research and make specific plans.