There are many ways in which online market research can benefit your
business. As well as allowing for precise demographic breakdowns, online
market research can be invaluable for lowering overheads, and for
dealing with time sensitive marketing and customer satisfaction
campaigns. Overall, though, online market research can provide you with a
wide range of data that can be used to learn more about potential and
existing customers.
Demographic Breakdowns
It’s possible to access a global network of different users online –
whether through email queries, or via online test groups and
competitions, you can take advantage of the reach of the Internet to
focus on very narrow, but lucrative demographics.
Lower Overheads
Online market research is particularly useful for small businesses
that cannot afford the overheads of physical research; queries and forms
can be generated and automated to be sent out to large groups of
people, and don’t require significant amounts of time to set up.
Time Sensitive
Another benefit to online market research is being able to get time
sensitive campaigns sent out as quickly as possible; you can email out
campaigns, while also being able to target users via social networks
with a strict time limit. In this context, you may want to get some last
minute reassurance over a new product launch, or you may be after some
data to reinforce a presentation.
Search Engine Queries
By researching keywords, and by using Google Analytics to see what
kind of phrases and search terms directed users to your company’s
websites, you can get a better perspective on what customers expect from
your brand; doing so can also help to build stronger Search Engine
Optimisation campaigns.
Sentiment Analysis
It’s worth looking at how your brand is being discussed across social networks and blogs; tools such as Sentiment 140 for Twitter
can be used for free, and can provide some valuable insights into how
your brand is being talked about. This kind of approach can be combined
with other qualitative measures, which might include interviews and
online surveys, to help improve the strength of your brand.
The Reach of Social Media
There’s few places where you can engage with so many potential
customers than social media – most of the online market research
involved with social media relates to qualitative studies; conversations
and Q and As can help you to build up a community of loyal consumers.
Focus Groups
You can also set up online focus groups that run in similar ways to physical focus groups; online forums
and groups can be used to test customer responses to videos and
content, as well as to breakdowns of new products prior to their wide
release in stores.
Mobile Marketing
All businesses should have a mobile marketing plan in mind, and
should be able to use mobile specific QR codes and short surveys to get a
better sense of consumer preferences on the go; short online surveys
tied to a customer being in a physical store can help to get a more
rapid sense of their satisfaction.
Author Bio: Liam James writes about technology, from fibre optics to the latest innovations. In his spare time he enjoys reviewing and testing the latest gadgets.
Taken from http://idealtechblog.com
How Can Online Market Research Benefit Your Business ?