User Research & Validation Plan
A comprehensive 8-week research plan to validate SkillSwap's core assumptions before development investment.
Key Assumptions to Validate
Problem Assumptions
| Assumption | Risk | Method | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbors have skills they'd be willing to exchange for non-monetary compensation | High | Interviews, observation | 70%+ have marketable skills to share |
| Current solutions (Craigslist, Nextdoor) are inadequate for skill exchange | High | Competitive analysis + interviews | Specific pain points documented |
| People feel awkward asking neighbors for favors directly | Medium | Interviews, scenario testing | 60%+ confirm this barrier |
| Suburban communities have sufficient density for skill matching | Medium | Geographic analysis, interviews | 3-mile radius yields 50+ potential matches |
| Retirees and young professionals have complementary skill sets | Low | Interviews, skill inventory | Clear complementary patterns identified |
Solution Assumptions
| Assumption | Risk | Method | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal time credit system (1 hour = 1 credit) is perceived as fair | High | Prototype testing, interviews | 80%+ accept system as fair |
| Community vouch system builds sufficient trust | High | Trust scenario testing | 70%+ willing to exchange with vouched members |
| Users will engage with 3-credit starter system | Medium | Prototype testing, surveys | 60%+ complete first exchange within 2 weeks |
| Monthly credit expiration encourages active participation | Medium | A/B testing of policies | 40%+ increase in monthly activity with expiration |
| AI-powered matching within 3-mile radius is effective | Low | Matching algorithm testing | 75%+ satisfaction with match quality |
Business Assumptions
| Assumption | Risk | Method | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20%+ of active users will convert to premium ($4.99/month) | High | Pricing tests, surveys | 10+ paying customers in pilot |
| HOAs will pay $99/month for community dashboard | High | Sales conversations, proposals | 3+ HOA letters of intent |
| Average user completes 2 exchanges/month | Medium | Usage tracking, surveys | 1.5+ exchanges/user/month |
| Communities maintain 40%+ retention after 6 months | Medium | Pilot community tracking | 35%+ retention acceptable |
Customer Discovery Interview Guide
Interview Framework (60-90 minutes)
Part 1: Background & Context (10 min)
- Tell me about your home and neighborhood
- How long have you lived here?
- What do you like most about your community?
- What role do you play in your neighborhood (HOA board, active resident, etc.)?
Part 2: Problem Exploration (20 min)
- Walk me through the last time you needed help with something at home
- What skills do you have that neighbors might find valuable?
- How often do you help neighbors or receive help?
- What's been your experience asking neighbors for favors?
- What tools or methods do you currently use to find local help?
- What's the biggest frustration with finding help locally?
Part 3: Current Solutions (15 min)
- What have you tried to solve [specific problem]?
- What do you like about these solutions?
- What don't you like about them?
- Have you ever used Nextdoor or Facebook groups for this?
- What would make you switch to a new solution?
Part 4: Solution Exploration (15 min)
- If I told you about a platform where neighbors exchange skills using time credits...
- What would be most valuable about that?
- What concerns would you have?
- What would it need to have for you to try it?
- How would you feel about giving piano lessons and receiving lawn care in return?
- How much time would you realistically spend on this each month?
Part 5: Wrap-up (10 min)
- On a scale of 1-10, how valuable would this be to you?
- Who else in your neighborhood would be interested?
- Would you be willing to help us test this in your community?
- What's the best way to reach you about updates?
Survey Design
Screening Survey
- What type of community do you live in?
- How long have you lived in your current neighborhood?
- On a scale of 1-10, how well do you know your neighbors?
- How often do you help or receive help from neighbors?
- What skills do you have that others might find useful?
- What services do you wish you could get from neighbors?
- Are you involved in any neighborhood organizations?
- Would you be interested in a 30-minute interview about community help? ($50 gift card)
Validation Survey
- How interested would you be in a platform for exchanging skills with neighbors?
- What's your biggest concern about trading services with neighbors?
- How important is it that skills are valued equally (1 hour = 1 hour)?
- What would you expect to pay for premium features?
- How likely would you be to verify new community members?
- Van Westendorp pricing questions (too cheap/expensive)
- Demographics for community segmentation
Validation Experiments
Landing Page Validation
Headlines to Test:
- "Trade skills with your neighbors - no money needed"
- "The neighborhood help network that builds community"
- "Piano lessons for lawn care? Your neighborhood skill exchange"
Success Criteria: >5% signup rate, <10% email bounce, >50% scroll-to-bottom rate
Prototype Testing Options
Wizard of Oz MVP
Manual skill matching via email
Cost: $0 + time
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Concierge Service
High-touch for 10-20 users
Cost: $500 + time
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
8-Week Validation Timeline
Week 1-2
Problem Validation
Week 3-4
Solution Validation
Week 5-6
Pricing Validation
Week 7-8
Prototype Testing
Key Milestones:
- 20+ customer discovery interviews completed
- 200+ survey responses analyzed
- 1,000+ landing page visitors with 50+ signups
- 5-10 pre-orders at target pricing
- Wizard of Oz MVP tested with 10+ users
Go/No-Go Decision Criteria
| Metric | Target | Actual | Pass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem validation rate | 80%+ confirm pain | - | ☐ |
| Landing page signup rate | >5% | - | ☐ |
| Premium conversion interest | 20%+ at $4.99 | - | ☐ |
| Pre-order conversions | 10+ customers | - | ☐ |
| Trust system acceptance | 70%+ with vouches | - | ☐ |
Research Synthesis Template
Problem Validation Summary
- Top 3 validated pain points with user quotes
- Unexpected discoveries about community dynamics
- Segments with highest vs. lowest pain points
- Assumptions that were validated vs. invalidated
Solution Validation Summary
- Most compelling features and messaging
- Trust system effectiveness and improvements needed
- Credit system fairness perception
- Community features that drive engagement
Go-to-Market Insights
- Best community entry points (HOAs vs. organic)
- Key community champions identified
- Optimal launch strategy and timing
- Partnership opportunities uncovered