We all are creatures of habit and we hate change. In fact, research shows that all of us exhibit similar buying behavior irrespective of our varied preferences. People, in general, despise change and our reluctance to change makes it an extremely difficult for companies to convince consumers to switch brands. It is in this context that that importance of market research tools becomes clear to businesses. Market research tools are priceless for business owners since they help predict consumers’ buying behavior and prevent instances of failed product launches. Market research tools give businesses give an edge, mainly due to their ability to measure the impact of initiatives, create an open communication loop, and make data-based business decisions. Such tools also help businesses predict product or service launch failures and take a call on whether to launch new products or remove existing product lines.
That being said, let’s take a look at some of the best market research tools that can help you drive and improve business value:
Consumer interviews
One of the most commonly used market research tools is consumer interviews. One-on-one interviews with current or past consumers can be done through a web conferencing software or over the phone. In this step, one of your company’s representatives will have to speak to a customer to get honest feedback about the product’s pricing or design. Consumer interviews are one of the most effective market research tools available today. They help companies to get opinions on sensitive topics, which they might not be able to discuss in an open or group setting.
Consumer surveys
Surveys are an important part of every market research process and are one of the most popular market research tools available for businesses. They help collate information, opinions, and ideas of the consumers. Surveys can be carried out online or distributed by a person or by email. The best part about this process is that it’s completely anonymous, so consumers can be as honest as they like. Surveys can be of various formats, such as multiple choice, long, and short formats. To get the most out of such market research tools, offer your respondents some incentives like gift certificates or coupons.
Focus groups
If you are unsure of what marketing messages to send to your potential consumers, focus groups are the right strategy to follow. Such market research tools help businesses in developing a pricing strategy for the goods or services being offered. Usually, focus groups are formed after a product is released and are made up of people who represent the target segment. In some ways, they are similar to consumer surveys but consist of at least six respondents, who give honest feedback about the product or service being offered. One thing to remember here is that every focus group requires a moderator who streamlines the discussion and submits the findings in a report format to the decision makers in your business.
Social media and online content
Today, with social media channels and blogging platforms gaining popularity among consumers, it has become important for businesses to leverage such platforms to get feedback about their goods or services. Market research tools such as this give consumers the option to express their opinion without a survey or consumer interviews. When it comes to social media, consumers are more than willing to share their honest opinions. Companies can also leverage online polls to gain better insights. Google Alerts is one of the best market research tools to find out what’s being said about your products or services on online channels.
