Whether you’re launching a product, improving customer service, or expanding your business beyond your niche, market research is an essential component of your success. Every business owner knows that risks come with the territory. Since resources are limited, you want those risks to be calculated.

Remember that, on a fundamental level, all consumer behaviour depends on context. Market research gives you insight into which type of context is most likely to encourage sales. This will help you tailor your products and marketing campaigns to current trends, ideal customer profiles, locations, and market size.

In this article, we will discuss the key aspects of market research, outlining the main reasons why companies conduct it and some of the common mistakes to avoid.

What Is Market Research?

Companies use market research to determine whether new business opportunities are feasible. It’s the process of collecting information about your niche, target audience, and buyer persona to determine the extent to which there is a demand for your products or services. Once the data is analyzed, if the results do not reflect an adequate demand, the business opportunity will likely not be profitable.

Depending on the source of information, there are two types of market research: primary and secondary.

1. Primary Research

As the name suggests, primary research involves firsthand information regarding your market and customers. You can use online surveys, phone interviews and focus groups to assess brand awareness and customer preferences.  Primary research allows you to dig deeper and uncover the real gems – your target audience’s specific needs, wants, and pain points. Think of it as having a direct conversation with your ideal customer.

Primary research is valuable when segmenting your market and establishing the different buyer personas you want to appeal to. Exploratory research is focused more on problems a marketing campaign might face and less on market trends. It’s usually done as a first step and involves surveys or open-ended interviews with a few people. Specific research is then used to dig deeper into the issues identified during exploratory research. It centres on a more precise audience segment and tries to ask the right questions to find solutions to suspected problems.

2. Secondary Research

Secondary research is based on trend reports, industry content, market statistics, and sales data—all public and internal records from which you can conclude. Thus, it is beneficial when assessing your competitors.

Public sources such as government statistics are the most accessible data for this research. Commercial resources such as market reports compiled by research agencies like Pew, Forrester, or Gartner can also be very insightful, but you will have to pay to obtain access.

Then, you have internal sources. These are the data your company already has in-house: customer retention rates, average revenue per sale, and market history of previous products. These can all assist you in determining what buyers are interested in right now.

Main Benefits of Market Research

1. Better Understanding of Your Customers

Who will purchase the product? Who is your target audience, and what is the profile of your ideal customer persona? How often can you expect your target audience to make purchases? What do your customers need, want, and expect?

Market research is essential to a company because the answers to these questions are valuable. You’ll need to create a detailed profile of your ideal customers, considering factors like location, age, gender, income, values, and lifestyle. These details allow you to develop the most effective advertisement and pricing strategies.

2. Evaluate Your Competitors

As we already mentioned, another major benefit of market research is that you can use it to track industry and economic trends, which will allow you to adapt your business to an ever-changing environment.

Your competitors are doing their studies to increase their chances of success as much as possible.  It would be best if you did the same. You can analyze their ads, websites and social media campaigns to see if there are any gaps you can use to your advantage and what strategies are most effective in your sector.

3. Test Products or Services

Every business decision comes with a risk, which is why you want to test it before full implementation. This will protect you from launching unrewarding products onto the market, and the additional expenses entailed.

You can never be 100% sure that customers will respond positively to a new business venture, but market research will reveal what message resonates best, what features are most valued if your product adequately responds to consumer needs and trends, and the best time and place to launch it.

4. Opportunities for Growth

Any company’s goal is to expand operations and grow, but this is easier said than done. To achieve such a goal, you need the right information to create a strong business plan that allows you to keep generating profit as you expand into different markets.

Market research will help you detect viable business opportunities, understand the demands of new target audiences, plan successful marketing campaigns and minimize losses.

Common Market Research Mistakes

1. Underestimating the Value of Market Research

If you’ve spent years conducting business in your sector, you may think you already understand your customers very well —to the extent that you don’t need market research. Unfortunately, experience tends to make us accumulate a lot of preconceived notions regarding what customers need and want. We’re not always quick to adapt to changes. Avoid this common mistake by testing your assumptions with up-to-date insight into consumer trends.

2. Using Only Secondary Research

As we explained, there are two types of market research: primary and secondary. Because of the additional cost of conducting surveys and focus groups, many business owners prefer only secondary research. Although this type of research is a good starting point and gives you greater clarity regarding your industry, you will still need to understand consumer demand and expectations in real time.

3. Starting without a Clear Idea of the Information You’re after

Lastly, another common mistake is starting without a clear idea of what you want to discover through your research. Market research is an investment, so you want explicit objectives to help you decide which methodologies to use and what questions to ask.

A Step By Step Guide to Conducting Market Research

Step 1: Define Your Objectives

Start by clearly defining what you want to achieve with your market research. Are you looking to enter a new market, launch a new product, or better understand your competition? Setting specific, measurable objectives will guide your research and help you stay focused.

Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience

Understanding who your customers are is a critical aspect of market research. Segment your audience based on demographics, psychographics, behaviour, and needs. This step is essential for tailoring your research and ensuring the data you collect is relevant and valuable.

Step 3: Choose Your Research Method

There are two main types of market research: primary and secondary. Primary research involves collecting new data directly from surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Secondary research involves analyzing existing data from reports, studies, and other publications. Decide which method best suits your objectives and resources.

Step 4: Collect Data

Design your data collection tools for primary research, such as questionnaires or interview guides. Ensure your questions are clear, unbiased, and relevant to your objectives. For secondary research, identify credible sources and gather relevant data. This could include industry reports, academic papers, or market analysis studies.

Step 5: Analyze the Data

Once you have collected your data, it’s time to analyze it. Look for patterns, trends, and insights to help you make informed decisions. If necessary, use statistical tools and software for a more in-depth analysis. The goal is to translate data into actionable information.

Step 6: Report Your Findings

Prepare a comprehensive report that summarizes your research findings. Include critical insights, data visualizations, and recommendations based on your analysis. This report will be crucial for informing stakeholders and guiding business strategies.

Step 7: Take Action

Finally, use the insights gained from your market research to make informed business decisions. Whether you’re modifying a product, targeting a new market segment, or adjusting your marketing strategy, ensure that your actions align with your research findings.

Step 8: Monitor and Update

Market trends and consumer behaviours are constantly evolving. Monitor the market regularly and update your research to stay ahead of changes. This will help you maintain a competitive edge and adapt to new opportunities and challenges.

By following these steps, businesses can conduct effective market research and gain valuable insights into their market and audience. Remember, market research is an ongoing process that can significantly contribute to your business’s success and growth.