Market research is one of the most important business services to help your company grow. It does a variety of things, including identifying a target audience if you’re starting out. Marketing research also helps identify trends and market opportunities with insights.
This article unpacks the value of this type of expertise and helps your small business find the right firms and services. Maybe you’re looking to become a research analyst. The median pay was $30.73 per hour in 2021. And there’s predicted growth until 2031 of 19%.
The Importance of Market Research Services for Businesses
Market research provides insights into customer behaviors, business conditions, and the competitive landscape. Plus, other factors like forecasting potential sales for goods and services.
Understanding Market Research
This type of analysis provides SMBs with insights and information. They get a better understanding of their strategies and the market.
This research uses several different methods to gather data. Like focus groups, surveys, and interviews, to name a few. The insights gathered benefit shop owners. To get more clients, find new opportunities, and deliver on their goals.
The Role of Focus Groups in Market Research
This involves a small marketing research group that represents your target audience. Getting insights means doing a few things, like asking methodical questions in chronological order. This research needs to be structured, so you must set boundaries when they answer.
Choosing the Right Market Research Services for Your Business
You’ll need a good marketing research firm to work with. Explore your options using the following tips for good analysis and excellent expertise.
Look for Flexibility
The one you finally choose should provide excellent insights. And great support. Meeting clients personally to phone and email communications should be included. And some other features.
Look For Experience
Any service should have specialized expertise and insight into your industry. How do they gather data? What methods do they use to interpret details?
What Are The Methods and Techniques Used?
Are open-ended qualitative research questions used? Does the candidate uncover market opportunities using website analytics and tracking? Does the prospect use in-depth interviews to gather data? Dig down to find out what techniques are employed. Find out if they use traditional surveys and focus groups to uncover your market share.
Services Offered by Market Research Companies
There are different research and marketing services offered to clients. These include:
Consumer Surveys: These provide clients with data on consumer behavior and preferences. And the way a target market perceives their brand.
Focus Groups: This type of qualitative research drills deep. Businesses get direct feedback from customers.
Product Testing: This allows for early feedback and data before a project or product launches. This is the stage where the design can be tweaked. And it reports how customers will react.
Market Analysis: Companies that supply information from data analysis and statistical models provide customers with overviews highlighting opportunities and risks.
Where to Find Reliable Market Research Services for Your Business
Following is a list of businesses that supply research data and support.
IPSOS
This business has been supplying research services since 1975. They offer a variety of different services and approaches to data, including survey questions with an interactive dashboard.
Forrester Research
This organization is a proven leader. They even offer certification courses as a way to support your research project by teaching employees.
Market Strategies International
Marketing Strategies International is now called Escalent. This research firm was founded in 1989. They cover a wide swath of different projects in industries like healthcare.
Kantar
This company provides research to stakeholders in over 75 different markets. They boast the power of AI-enabled analytics. Their global office is located in New York.
Nielsen Holdings
Nielson Holdings is a company offering a number of good service packages. They include market optimization, audience measurement, and media planning to name a few.
The case studies available on their website include one quantifying the impacts of Tik-Tok advertising.
Frequently Asked Questions about Market Research Services
Many market research tools can help your business in a variety of different ways. Consumers looking for specific answers to common questions can find them below.
What are market research services?
These services help small business to define their target markets. To accomplish this goal, the company will analyze and interpret data. The right service will provide information and technical support services to help businesses decide about consumer preferences in fields like healthcare, packaged goods, or even event planning services.
A good service will supply key insights into trends and patterns.
What is the role of focus groups in market research?
A focus group is a big part of the process. The insights they add to any marketing project are valuable to its success.
They are often used early in any project to uncover how consumers feel about a product or service. They are also useful for other primary requirements like generating ideas or comparing graphic design services or campaigns. Ideas can get redeveloped after input from one of these groups.
How do I choose the right market research service for my business?
Check the site of the company you’re considering. Look at the research methods they use. Like surveys, customer observation, and interviews.
Then you need to match those up with your defined objectives and goals. Ask yourself what specific market research questions you need answered for specific projects. For example, if you’re looking into video production services for a new ad campaign, you may look for research companies specializing in surveys revolving around video content or advertising.
Are you exploring new opportunities or analyzing the competition? Don’t forget to look for a place that offers excellent features like dedicated project managers before filling out a form.
Once you have that information, match everything up with a budget.
Where can I find reliable market research services for my business?
There are several primary places where you can find good market research services. Quirk’s Media is an excellent source of global options.
Other places match you up with the right service. Professional organizations like the Market Research Society(MRS) are a good bet.
You can get good suggestions from colleagues and even recommendations from other business people in your network. Local directories can also point you in the right direction. Remember, you’ll need to vet any candidates. Asking to see case studies is an excellent way to review their capabilities.
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This article, "Where to Find Market Research Services for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends