As the market research industry continues to evolve to an online-driven world, communities have become an increasingly popular and effective tool for clients, with their promise of quick turn-around and cost-efficient studies. C+R Research has been at the forefront of this evolution, having built and maintained communities and panels for numerous clients over many years.
I stood on the loading dock marveling at how the driver backed the trailer truck into the tight parking space to offload his cargo. What is it today? It could be several of any products I’m expecting. “Are you with C+R Research?” The driver bellows, while he begins the process of engaging the truck’s pneumatic lift-gate mechanism. This action signals to me that this is going to be a heavier load than usual.
Years of experience hosting online long-term communities helped us at C+R to develop a set of best practices that maximize the value clients receive.
It is clear that Online Communities are a growing research method. But, what are communities exactly. It is not an idle question, as I was reminded this week when I was asked to explain them to a marketing manager who had never used them.
By Bob Relihan, Senior Vice President
The title is meant to be a bit clever. I am not talking about actual focus groups; I am referring to the term. I have always suspected that focus group was used to refer to any casual, open-ended, small sample, non-projectable research method. And, I always thought that those who used the term this way were misinformed. Well, I have to throw in the towel. I have no better authority than the Pew Research Center.
By Bob Relihan, Senior Vice President
No, I am not about to present a sociological treatise here. I want to talk about what it feels like to be a member of a community -- a research community. We quite literally ask questions of a good deal of community members. Most of the time we don't give much thought to them, as long as they are there ready to do their job. Is that fair? Is that short-sighted?
