Improving B2B Market Research Studies in 4 Steps
Qualitative Market research studies don’t amount to much if those recruited to participate in surveys, in-depth interviews, paid medical surveys,
or focus groups aren’t properly screened. Recruiting qualified study
participants who can bring insight to the subject matter being explored
is a crucial component of market research and is not something to be
taken lightly. If this critical step of market research is done poorly,
then it’s not worth the money, time, and effort to complete the research
project. When recruiting is poorly executed it can spell disaster, as
the opportunity to capture qualified participants who are capable of
fully participating in a study is missed. Market research recruitment
needs to be given as much priority as any other component in market
research studies by market research recruiting firms.
Unfortunately,
many B2B market research studies are poorly executed and aren’t
uncommon. There are a number of reasons for this. Sometimes B2B tech
companies aren’t fully clear about who their market research teams
should connect with or research deadlines aren’t realistic and study
participants are hurriedly recruited. Getting a top-notch study entails
focus and finesse. Finding appropriate participants for B2B studies
requires specialized and contextual knowledge of the industry and
subject matter at the heart of the study. One way to better understand
why context matters, is to think of your own workplace: two people
working for the same organization doesn’t mean they have the same
understanding or relationship with their employer. One could be a
security officer and one could be an executive. Context is important and
it’s an important part of the market research recruiting process.
Here are four ideas for improving recruitment for your B2B study:
- Don’t go too broad.
Recruiting isn’t about looking for warm bodies to fill your study, it’s
about finding qualified people. The first step is spending time
figuring out who your target audience is. The second step is creating a
robust screening guide that filters out people who don’t meet the
requirements. It’s not enough to declare, “I want to interview
journalists” and start recruiting. “Journalist” is a broad category and
includes feature writers, columnists, editors, investigators, and so on.
Narrow down the categories and then aim to recruit a diversity of
people within the category.
- Details matter.
You need to get really specific when thinking about your target
demographic. Every subject area branches off into many sub-categories.
Going back to the above “I want to interview journalists” example again,
if you’ve identified “feature writers” as the group you want to target,
you’ll soon realize even that is too broad. “Feature writers” can be
further broken down, so knowing precisely the category of
feature writer you want to target, will shape how and who you recruit.
You want to recruit people with the experience that matters to your
study.
- Knowing where to look. Nationwide qualitative research firms
are active across many platforms, from professional networks, to social
media, and trade organizations. After you’ve identified the demographic
you want to target, the next step is looking for them where they’re
most likely to be engaged. It’s rare to find all potential recruits in
the same space. Typically, you will need to cast a wide net across
different platforms to get to the ideal number of recruits for your
study.
- Project Management.
Once you’ve identified qualified participants, you need to get
commitments from them to participate in your study. There are many
privacy matters that need to be considered, especially if you’re
collecting personal information. Don’t be surprised if you have
participants who need to drop out of the study, life happens and it
isn’t uncommon. Be prepared by having a few additional backups.
When
properly executed, B2B market research studies provide invaluable
insights. If you’re considering a B2B study for your company it’s best
to hire a neutral market research firm that can design and execute the
process from beginning to end. Successful studies aren’t happenstance.
Original Reference: https://bit.ly/3cQwYfu