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By Angela Briggs


Market research is one of the most important aspects of a business. It is an opportunity for the business to understand its environment and make decisions that will help it to grow and to serve its clients better. The business environment entails all the forces that influence the behaviour of the targeted clientele including competitors, legal frameworks, consumer preference and so on. There are a number of things on market research Orlando businesses need to know even as they undertake the exercise.

Market research may be done by a pre-existing business or one that is yet to be started. For those yet to be established the most important information is that which relates to the variety of goods and services in the marketing, their pricing, their demand and their supply. It is important to establish the factors that influence both demand and supply. This process may take a variable amount of time depending on the type of business.

Research helps in achieving market segmentation. This is simply the division of the consumer pool into various groups depending on various criteria that may include age, sex, preferences and so on. The importance of this is that the business will be in a better position to serve each of the created segments as each is affected by similar challenges. This is more efficient as compared to situations where the whole market is considered as a single unit.

Business trends can also be determined through research. Trends indicate the general direction that various aspects of the business are taking as observed among the participants in the industry. For example, there may be a shift in the demand of a certain product over time or consumers may be continuously asking for specific modifications. Suppliers may also change the manner in which they are interacting with the business. All these things are important for a business to know so as to make the necessary adjustments.

The best way to go about the process is to use the SWOT analysis. This is an abbreviation that denotes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is a systematic method that ensures that all the important aspects of the business are addressed. The SWOT analysis is particularly important during the creation stage of a business but experts advise that it should be continuously used in the life of a company.

The actual process is a study that has a number of stages. The first stage is known as problem identification and involves the justification for the study. Objectives to govern the process are formulated and these are to be used as a guide for everything else. Once this has been completed successfully, the person to conduct the study is identified.

The next step is to pick the method to be used. Different problems are studied using different method and one may need to consult with an expert for advice on the most appropriate technique to be employed. Examples of methods used include telephone interviews, email surveys, face-to-face interviews and so on. The data collected is then prepared, tabulated and analysed. A report with recommendations is then generated.

If they intend to do market research Orlando businesspersons should ensure that have some background training in the process. This will help avoid confusion and frustrations. It is wise to consult with an experienced colleague or a consultant. While the costs involved may appear quite high the long term benefits are tremendous.




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