What features could Unibuddy add to its virtual events platform to increase student participation and interaction?

Introduction

To increase student participation and interaction on Unibuddy's virtual events platform, we need to identify and implement features that enhance engagement, foster meaningful connections, and provide value to both students and educational institutions. I'll approach this challenge by first clarifying our understanding of the current product, analyzing user segments, identifying pain points, generating solutions, and prioritizing our approach.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• Looking at the product context, I'm thinking Unibuddy might be targeting both prospective and current students. Could you clarify the primary user base for the virtual events platform?

Why it matters: Determines the focus of our feature improvements Expected answer: Primarily prospective students exploring universities Impact on approach: Would prioritize features that aid in university selection and application process

• Considering user behavior, I'm curious about the current engagement metrics. What's the average participation rate and duration for virtual events on the platform?

Why it matters: Helps identify baseline metrics for improvement Expected answer: 60% participation rate with 45-minute average engagement time Impact on approach: Would focus on features to boost both metrics if they're below industry standards

• Regarding pain points and position, how does Unibuddy currently differentiate itself from competitors in the virtual events space for education?

Why it matters: Informs our strategy to maintain or enhance competitive advantage Expected answer: Unibuddy's strength is in peer-to-peer connections Impact on approach: Would emphasize features that further strengthen this unique selling point

• Considering company alignment, what are the key business objectives driving this improvement initiative? Are we looking at user growth, retention, or monetization?

Why it matters: Ensures our feature suggestions align with overall business goals Expected answer: Focus on improving user retention and event quality Impact on approach: Would prioritize features that enhance the value of each event and encourage repeat participation