When you start a business of course you think your idea is amazing (if you don’t then why are you starting the business?!) BUT just because you think it’s great, it doesn’t mean that your target audience will think the same. This is where market research comes in.
That’s why is vital to incorporate market research into the early stages of your business.
Market research will allow you to base your decision on the views of 100s or 1000s of potential customers, rather than basing this important business decision on just your views. It’s going to avoid you making costly mistakes, and maybe give ideas which you hadn’t considered. Plus if you are hoping to secure funding then a research report with statistically significant data and figures around the size of market will enable the investment discussion to start in a favourable way.
Market research can help you to discover
- What are the trends in the industry? Is there a long term future for my product?
- What opportunity is there for growth? How saturated is the market?
- Is there a need for your product? Is it wanted? Will it be used in the way you think?
- How much should you charge? What pricing structure should you use?
- Who are the target audience? Do they actually exist?
- What are your competitors doing?
- What makes your brand stand out?
- What bits of your offering are most important for your customers?
- Do the values of your customers align with those of your business?
Obviously market research alone can’t ensure a product succeeds but it will ensure that unnecessary risks are avoided and it will give a strong foundation to enable your business to grow.
I’m always happy to talk research, so if this sounds like something you need then please get in touch.
