User Guide 1: Writing Requests

Tips

1. Brief, clear title
2. Be specific
3. Where to put detail
4. Pricing
5. Timing
6. Use a Kathink Key®

Brief, clear title

The title of your request should attract a Business Thinker's attention if it's applicable to their skills, so make it concise and accurate.

Also remember that the full title isn't always displayed, so the word count should be kept to a minumum, and if the title is shortened the meaning should still be discernible.

So your title should:

• describe clearly what you want
• using as few words as possible
• and putting the key words up-front

Be specific

Your request should say clearly what you expect a Business Thinker to provide. For example, if you want information to be backed up with evidence from published research, state it as a must-have. But if you want someone to give their considered opinion on the future, now is the time to specify it.

Where to put detail

There are several opportunities to describe your request. As described above, the title should be used to attract Business Thinkers' attention, without being misleading.

The additional information that you provide is seen by a Business Thinker who selects the request. This information should be used to qualify the request, going into as much detail as is required to let a Business Thinker be absolutely clear on:

• whether it is a business issue where they can add significant value, and
• what will be required to fulfil the request

You may also add further detail when you commission a response from a Business Thinker, but this should only be used to inform the Business Thinker of changes to the requirements.

Pricing

The proposed fee given for a request can have an important impact on uptake. In general, take care to price your requests appropriately for the sector and amount of work involved.

If you price a request too low, it may not be seen by the best-qualified Business Thinkers, and you may not get enough good proposals to make a successful commission, which is not a good use of your time.

Timing

When you set the time window for your request, be realistic. Consider what timescale actually suits your needs right now, and don't be tempted to set too short a window of opportunity.

While shorter timeframes will get you results more quickly, your request will be seen by more Business Thinkers, and you will get better-quality results, by setting a longer period.

Use a Kathink Key®

The Kathink Key® is a simple tool that can help you identify those Business Thinkers who most clearly comprehend the specifics of your business issue at the time that they submit their Proposals to you.