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02.20.2012

Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy. The term is commonly interchanged with marketing research; however, expert practitioners may wish to draw a distinction, in that marketing research is concerned specifically about marketing processes, while market research is concerned specifically with markets.

Market research is a key factor to get advantage over competitors. Market research provides important information to identify and analyze the market need, market size and competition.

Market research, includes social and opinion research, [and] is the systematic gathering and interpretation of information about individuals or organizations using statistical and analytical methods and techniques of the applied social sciences to gain insight or support decision making.

Market research is for discovering what people want, need, or believe. It can also involve discovering how they act. Once that research is completed, it can be used to determine how to market your product.

Questionnaires and focus group discussion surveys are some of the instruments for market research.

For starting up a business, there are some important things:

Market information
Through Market information one can know the prices of the different commodities in the market, as well as the supply and demand situation. Information about the markets can be obtained from different sources, varieties and formats, as well as the sources and varieties that have to be obtained to make the business work.

Market segmentation
Market segmentation is the division of the market or population into subgroups with similar motivations. It is widely used for segmenting on geographic differences, personality differences, demographic differences, technographic differences, use of product differences, psychographic differences and gender differences. For B2B segmentation firmographics is commonly used.

Market trends
Market trends are the upward or downward movement of a market, during a period of time. The market size is more difficult to estimate if one is starting with something completely new. In this case, you will have to derive the figures from the number of potential customers, or customer segments.

Besides information about the target market, one also needs information about one's competitors, customers, products, etc. Lastly, you need to measure marketing effectiveness. A few techniques are:
Customer analysis
Choice modelling
Competitor analysis
Risk analysis
Product research
Advertising the research
Marketing mix modeling

The main point to consider in marketing research, as well as market research, is that the customer becomes the final product that the research and evaluation will lead to. Havnig the proper thinking towards customer satisfaction, as well as customer acquisition will lead any business model to a more productive and profitable state.

Click and view any and all of the links in this article to gain further insider information concerning all aspects of marketing. Internet Marketing Agency is dedicated to always providing cutting edge solutions to those needing increased business through proven methods.

Butch Hamilton
Internet Marketing by Butch Hamilton
Director of Marketing Veretekk