online market research: the future of customer insight
TRANSCRIPT
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An overview of the session
Introduction
• An introduction to the key drivers of online market research
– Socially integrated research trends
– Omnipresence of mobile
– The rise of the agile research paradigm
• Online customer insight research tools and practices
– An introduction to the tools
– Effective practice for online diary studies
– Effective practice for online focus groups
• Customer insight research demonstration
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Who will be speaking
Introduction
Paul HudsonCEO & Founder
Paul has over fifteen years of market research experience. A regular speaker at AQR and ICG events, Paul is an online qualitative research expert actively involved in developing new research techniques for online application.
Charlotte PearsonClient Services Manager
With a background in research and significant experience running projects for FlexMR, Charlotte has an in-depth understanding of cutting edge online tools and research methodologies.
Maria TwiggeAssociate Director
Maria has an innate understanding of human behaviour. This, combined with numerous years heading online research projects, sees her delivering bespoke initiatives creatively via FlexMR for actionable results time after time.
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Socially integrated research trends
Key Online MRX Drivers
Communities
Consumer blogs
Social listening tools
Tool
Availability
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• Social listening tools the basis for online brand analysis
– Provide data regarding online mentions of brands and products
– Used for understanding and evaluating online influence
– Advanced tools can incorporate an element of sentiment analysis
What are social listening tools?
Key Online MRX Drivers
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• Dedicated blogs provide participants platforms to discuss brands
• Capitalise on social integration and community building features
• More advanced than social listening and brand-centric
• Interactive conversations between brands and consumers
What are consumer blogs?
Key Online MRX Drivers
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What are research communities?
Key Online MRX Drivers
Social members area Drives participation through competitive, sharing and social status
initiatives
Consumer blogsGive engaged customer a voice to discuss topics important to them
ForumEncourages natural interaction and conversation between participants
Individual promotingFollow up on points raised by community members on an
individual basis
Specific Sampled ResearchQuick Polls, Surveys, Focus Groups etc.
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62%
Omnipresence of mobile
Key Online MRX Drivers
Market penetration of smartphone
industry
80%
Percentage of mobile users who
use search features
34.6 million
Number of UK smartphone users
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Benefits of Mobile Research
Key Online MRX Drivers
In the moment
Speed of insight
Accessibility
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• In-situ or in the moment research
– Closer to point of purchase and interaction with brands, products and services
– Reduces the time between experience and feedback
– Range of feedback options including audio, video & picture
• Accessibility
– There are more smartphone users than non-users
– 62% of the UK population have access to a smartphone
– 73% of smartphone users research products with their phones
• Speed of insight
– Mobile feedback is instant
– Real time data analysis
Benefits of Mobile Research
Key Online MRX Drivers
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Quick Consumer Read
The rise of the agile market research paradigm
Key Online MRX Drivers
Quick = addressing a particular business need in a timely and relevant manner
Consumer = focused on the end user
Read = a closer reading of the market needs
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• Agile market research is a quick and iterative process
– It is characterised by short research cycles and speed of insight
– Desktop and mobile research has enabled real-time feedback
The rise of the agile market research paradigm
Key Online MRX Drivers
Long term research goals
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Report 1
Report 2 Report 3
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Diary studies
The Tools
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• Vox pops through video integration
• Range of question types
• Fully smartphone compatible
Create diary tasks to guarantee participant feedback on key areas
Choose from a range of question types both open and closed, allocate to individuals, groups or segments and schedule in advance
• Set multiple tasks
• Automated scheduling
• Image gallery
DiaryMR
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Diary studies
The Tools
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• Fully smartphone compatible
Invite your customers to feedback on their own terms
Enable participants to record personal video messages as well as observational footage bringing your research to life
• Open ended feedback
• Image gallery
JournalMR
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Focus groups
The Tools
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• Moderator, observer and host roles
• Quick polling of participants
• Upload a topic guide
Just like a real focus group but from the comfort of your own desk
Upload your questions and stimuli to reveal when ready, leaving you free to probe interesting points on the fly
• Client viewing area
• Full smartboard capability
• Range of stimuli options
Live ChatMR
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Focus groups
The Tools
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• Embed images and video
• Range of formatting options
Categorise threads for simple navigation and allocate different bulletin board focus groups to different participant segments
More control for you, more convenience for your customer
• Set completion targets
• Individual private prompting
• Consumer group controlled
Bulletin BoardMR
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Effective use of diary studies
The Tools
• Set participants specific tasks
– Structure tasks around business goals and research objectives
– Provide participants with flexibility in their answer format
• Encourage free-form comments
– Instant feedback negates distorted memories
– Free-form comments encourage expression
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Effective use of diary studies
The Tools
• Encourage mobile usage
– Mobile research is in-situ and free from the fog of memory
– Mobile engagement moves research closer to the point of purchase / interaction
• Combine multimedia & written feedback
– Multimedia feedback methods broaden choice and interaction
– Richer data provides more points of comparison and parity
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Key considerations in diary studies
The Tools
Over recruit
• To allow for change of participant circumstances
Incentives
• Accurately reflect the level of contribution required
Number of tasks vs. length of
study
• Avoid over-facing participants with too many tasks at any one time in the study
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Effective use of focus groups
The Tools
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• Encourage stakeholder engagement
– Get stakeholders involved in from the start
– Make use of virtual viewing platforms to monitor feedback in real-time
– Allow stakeholders to interact with participants in a controlled setting
• Set group limits of 8-10
– Smaller groups encourage participation among all group members and a variety of discussion topics
– Remember to over recruit; confirm 12-13 participants for 8-10 to attend
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Effective use of focus groups
The Tools
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• Carefully consider moderation
– Provide enough time for participants to type responses
– Use topic guides to as instant prompts
– Carefully select follow up questions
• Use multimedia stimuli and tasks
– Deliver photo, video and audio stimuli to engage participants
– Use interactive tools such as smartboards or polls for greater insight