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Resource Lists Home > Your Marketing Plan > Research and Data Analysis
Marketing Analysis Resources
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Research
Information Sites
The Department of Computer Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison publishes The Scout Report. The newsletter, which reports online resources, is targeted to researchers and educators.
ResearchBuzz, published by Tara Calishain, updates members on the topic of Internet research. The site and newsletter provide articles and review research resources in a variety of topics, industries, and geographies. A basic newsletter subscription is free. Tara also publishes a paid subscription newsletter, ResearchBuzz Extra, which includes a research tips newsletter and additional resources.
Conducting Research
With SurveyMonkey, you can create and administer your own customer surveys. Their basic subscription is free. Expanded services are available for a minimal charge.
Zoomerang helps you design, send out, and analyze surveys. The basic service, with limited capabilities, is free. Subscriptions are available starting in the mid-$$ and up. They also offer respondent list rental services.
Insight Express will help design and implement a survey according to one of several goals. Among others, you can research visitor profiles, site impact, pricing, banner effectiveness, and product usage. Survey prices start in the mid-$$
NetReflector combines leading-edge online data collection technology with market research design and project management expertise. NetReflector provides everything from initial program planning and design considerations, to survey development, through final analysis and reporting.
Statistics and Trends
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The Census Links directory site includes links to census information in 20 countries. The nearly 7,000 U.S. links are further divided into state and county.
The U.S. Census Bureau and The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics jointly publish the Current Population Survey. You can access the survey and other government data from this site.
U.S. Federal Agencies with Statistical Programs page has a list of all Federal agencies that publish statistics. For each, there is a link to the agency Website, where most have tables and reports accessible directly from the Internet.
Statistical Resources on the Web from the Documents Center at the University of Michigan includes useful links to statistical data under 24 categories and numerous sub-categories.
Survey-Net runs on-going surveys on various subjects as well as a web user demographic survey. Up-to-date results are available on the Website.
The U.S. Census Bureau site is quite user friendly. You can run and download reports right from the Website.
Researchers and Analyst Sites
Pew Internet & American Life is an academic organization that conducts original research about the Internet’s effects on society. Full reports are available on their Website.
Find SVP offers a free “ELetter”, Best of the Business Web, that reviews business research sites. They also offer a quick consulting/research service (They search available secondary research and send their search results to you.) as well as custom research.
Forrester Research allows registered users view press releases and broad-based data at no charge. Registration is free. Forrester, a respected and often quoted online research firm, also sells detailed reports. Baseline reports are about 17 pages long and contain information from industry executives and expert analysis. The reports generally cost in the mid-$$ each. Packages of three to five related reports are also available.
The Kelsey Group conducts on-going research focusing on local online commerce, as well as other specialized areas. Free registration gives you access to top-line results on the Website. Clients receive full reports from the Local Commerce Monitor (LCM) program.
The NPD group tracks and reports on consumer trends as well as e-commerce in a variety of industries. Reports are available for purchase. Cost is generally in the thousands of dollars.
FSiteCentric LLC is a research firm whose goal is to help clients “understand how your product meets (or misses) the needs of your current customers”. The Website has a useful Links & Resources section. Additionally, they offer consulting products for your business. The authors of The Handbook of Online Marketing Research, Knowing Your Customers Using the Net, Joshua Grossnickle and Oliver Raskin, are its creators.
Consultant and Freelance Sources
Elance is a marketplace to hire professional service providers for your projects. You can search their database to find potential consultant/freelance candidates. There is no charge to post a project.
Smarterwork is a managed marketplace for business services. Businesses post projects for certified experts to bid on. Project categories include Research, Market Research, and General Research.
Monster.com’s Talent Market matches free agents with employers who are searching for independent contractors to complete finite project(s). You can post your project to the site for mid-$.
Guru.com is a community of “gurus” (experienced people who have decided to freelance) and businesses that have a need for freelancers or consultants. Businesses post available projects, then the Guru.com software matches the project to appropriate individuals. Freelancers and businesses can also search the site for relevant project/freelancer matches. Guru charges a 5% match fee when you find talent through them.
Online Focus Groups
E-FocusGroups conducts online focus groups as well as online forums and Internet interviews. Online focus groups start well into the $$$$.
Greenfield Online pioneered the development of online focus groups and was granted a patent on their process. Through FocusChatASPSM you can run your own online focus groups, conducted by Greenfield’s professional moderators. You can choose participants from their 1.2 million-member panel, via random Internet sampling, or from your own contact list.
Chat Rooms and Communities
ParaChat's basic personal chat rooms are free. The paid subscription service provides both chat room technology and support. The professional service costs mid-$ for a one-time set-up fee, plus an annual subscription in the mid-$$. A low-$ monthly subscription is also available.
TheFreeSite.com includes links to several different free chat room hosting services.
BuildACommunity offers a suite of community software products that allow you to add interactivity to your site. They offer 15 individual software titles, such as "Auto-Quiz Pro" and "CommunityForums", as well as several combined packs. Choose to purchase or sign up for a monthly hosting package.
These resources were originally developed as companion to the strategic marketing plan development book How Much for Just the Spider? Strategic Website Marketing for Small-budget Businesses. I've updated them as additional appropriate resources come to my attention. In developing these resource lists, I scoured the Web for resources useful to small-budget businesses and entrepreneurs. I looked for sites and services that would help you learn more about Internet Marketing and help you get things done efficiently. My focus is on services that appear to be designed for the needs and time frames of small businesses. Bobette
To the best of my knowledge, resource information was accurate at the time of this writing. Current programs may vary from those reported here. Please let me know if you find any outdated information. Although my intent is to list only upstanding products and services on the site, I cannot personally make any guarantees. It is wise to check any company out before purchasing, signing any agreement, or making a commitment. Online fraud bureaus and consumer groups are one way to do this. Among them are The Better Business Bureau (and BBBOnline), Fraud Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complain Center , Complaints.com, and Scambusters. Bobette
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