Know How to Initiate a Successful Market Research Process

2022-09-22 10:37:36

By : JSB Market Research

In : BLOG

A market research process is important for every business to get answers to the questions they have for their product and offering, collect data, input the research methodologies, interpret and analyze the information to get to the solution, and understand what needs to be done to position their service or product in a higher place for the audience and customers. In this post, we will take you through how to prepare and undertake a market research procedure for your needs.

1. Identify the Problem

Define the problem that your company is facing. And only then you can work on solutions for it. Then, you have set the research objectives as to the reason for the research, the timeline for the project completion, the details you need to gather, the help you require, and others so that the time and resources invested are worth spending on it. Share the same properly with your team members, so that they can diligently work on it.

To widen the understanding of the problem, you can discuss about it with stakeholders and internal departments to update any priorities and thoughts. This will allow you to strengthen the investigation and brainstorming and point out any missing information and set a bigger picture for the goal. It will also aid in getting started with positivism and the practicality to scoop out the right matter for the next step in the market research process.

For instance, if your product is new in the market, then the initial problem is to generate leads and customers who will buy the product. The research objectives could be identifying the target audience and marketing techniques to reach out to the audience so that sales take place.

2. Develop a Research Plan

After identifying the problem and setting the research objectives with questions to ask, the next level to undertake is to form a research plan. Here, you have to prepare a plan for the precise information and answers you need to fulfill the objectives. Only then you can detail the budget and timing for the project and develop a path to design the research. You must know how to analyze the collected information and the types of details available with secondary data sources and research.

If you are using material from customers directly, the primary research collection method needs to be decided and this will assist with the direction and insight required on a small as well as large scale. The primary and secondary data will then have to be analyzed, so have an analysis plan in place to meet the outcomes of the project, which are also ready for straight disposal.

Try to keep the research design simple, but a powerful result is what your target should be even if you are using a complex design. Lastly, you have to plan the interpreting methodologies on your research findings and the ways the same are supposed to be reported. External and internal research will give you a mix of information and potential findings that can be validated for clarity and prepare for the market research process better.

For instance, look for the data needed such as metro area demographics, attitudes of probable customers, duration to complete the project, say 2 months, and type of spending – internal resources or sponsors. Data collection through surveys or interviews, or social media outreach? Data from published materials or market research reports? Analysis by internal experts or outsourced on? Analysis with help of internet tools or software? Interpretation is done personally or by the team and the key findings and results are perhaps reported to the CEO.

3. Conduct the Research

Now that you have identified problems and other presets, with data collection methods, understanding, and reporting the findings, the next step is to conduct the research in a useful manner so that you are able to complete the market research process by acknowledging the investment and justifying the same. You need to adopt marketing techniques that will answer the information questions fully and offer deep introspection on the solutions.

Accurate results are what you should aim for. For this, you must be aware of the target audience’s behavior, preferences, and thought processes so that it becomes easier to conduct the research. If there is existing data to study, take that up, and use scientific methods to arrive at an analysis. The satisfactory research method is the one that includes the right individuals to perform the study as well as approach the right people for the answers.

For instance, a short survey or requesting people to fill a form answering questions in it, study the reaction of the audience on a blog post or video broadcast, read their feedback and comments, offering some discount on the product to observe the sale graph.

4. Analyze and Report Findings

Transform the primary and secondary data collected into meaningful information through core analysis tactics. For this, you need to know which analytical technique to apply. Do you have a predicted model that can notice the patterns and draw results? Or do you have a formula and tool in place to insert the data and look for interpreted information? Or do you have to manually study the matter and come to a conclusion?

A good analysis will make the most of the market research process and give the solution you need. Take recommendations from superiors to help you with analysis and meticulously comb through the data. Tap into unstructured data for additional help and see if you can get an overview of competitors. Incorporate project analysis and interpretation in the format helpful for discussion and pointing out the nuances of the task. Note down the takeaways for references in the future.

For instance, now that you have a demographic profile in place, what do you make out of it? Try to look for the section of the audience that is most interested in the product, their preferences, and their need for the offering, along with the possibility to communicate with them better so as to reach them faster with your product.

5. Take Action

After the market research is done and recommendations and presentations are prepared and delivered to the reporting agency/person/authority, the market research process has to move to take an action step. Here, you have to decide what to do with the vast information accumulated and how to put the findings in a direction and means that will solve the queries and problems at hand. The interpretations have to be translated into the application stage to get the desired benefit for your product.

Is a new shift required for the product or you can move on the same path with a few changes? Or you are doing the right things and need preparations to think of the next challenge? Does the research result indicate opportunities to explore, like investments and refocusing the team of experts into thinking something new? Do you need an executive team to flow into the course of action for the product in the market?

For instance, market research tells that your customers like your product but they need more interesting packaging for it and that will help generate greater sales. So, you need the design team to cooperate with the sales and marketing team and find the right design for the packaging, and a room of experts who can work on the creatives and relaunch a saleable packaging for the product.

Final Thoughts

Market research is crucial for business in more than one way. Thus, it is a must to know the market research process, and the above-given pointers will surely assist you with it.