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You are doing market research all wrong - This is the one thing you have missed

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Ok, you probably aren't doing it ALL wrong, I needed a juicy title to get you to click, just keep reading, you won't be disappointed...

I've spent a lot of time today on the internet chatting to people. Not business people, just regular people. It hasn't cost me a penny.

I'm building a service / community website - a paid service where I can leverage the skills of a group of experts to help the rest of the community in a way that has not been done before

Today I have spent hours on a competitor's website, I have a regular user account and I have been chatting to other users and I have got so much useful information out of it (more on this later) but the important thing is I haven't messaged anyone saying "umm hi, I'm starting a business doing xyz, can I ask you some questions?"

No, What I have done is find the "power users", the users that obviously use the site often, the ones that interact most frequently (afterall, it is these types of people that are going to have the strongest opinion, and given that they are power users of a competitors site, they are obviously sold on something that they are offering, so if you can find out what frustrates these people then you are on to a winner)

no one is going to reply to you if you just send them a questionnaire (well, they might but its unlikely). I send these people a message saying "hey, I'm just starting out in xyz, I can see that you are a bit of an expert in xyz, do you mind if I pick your brains? - do you mainly do xyz online or offline?"

This is going to get you much better information, everyone likes to hand out advice and if you recognise someone's expertise they will be more than happy to supply it. Engage them in conversation, 50% of what you talk about might be completely unrelated to what you want to find out but the other 50% will be the gold you are after. Everything is a value exchange, even conversations.

Ask someone to fill out a survey and they often put the "correct" answer. Engage them in conversation and you can figure out what they are actually thinking.

Secondly, the responses you get from the people you talk to can help you out with copywriting. You hear the words and the phrases used by your target demographic when talking about what interests them. So not only can you find out what they are struggling/are frustrated with, but you can get the words and phrases used to sell them on it.

Actually speaking to real people can be a huge eye opener - be honest now, how many business ideas have you come up with that you just knew were going to be a success? you didn't even need to ask anyone because you knew it was so awesome - well I'l afraid this is the easiest way to fail at business. Just because you think it is awesome doesn't mean that anyone else will. Get other peoples opinions, you might just find a new angle that will work well for you, you might find that your idea is a bad one and save yourself a lot of money or you might just reinforce the plan you currently have but gain a valuable insight into the words and phrases your customers use when talking about your product/service.

How can you apply this? find someone that is dealing with your pain point and ask them how they overcame it - but do it honestly, they are the expert, you are the noob asking for advice. Pose it that way and you will come away with some great info. - Want to sell a new design of golf club? go out and find an avid golfer and ask them for their advice as you are just starting out in golf, then move the conversation around to what you want to get out of them. Planning a new online marketplace to compete with eBay? (good luck) go out and find people that have stuff to sell and ask them how they are so successful selling stuff online (even if they aren't) want to sell a new cleaning product? go online and find a forum for discussing these topics (I guarantee you a forum exists for practically anything, if there isn't one, it may mean there isn't a market for your product) and pick people's brains.

Go out and talk to people about their problems and their successes - I've come away with some gold today and I'm sure you will too if you ask!
 
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Zit, O'wi guapf emtu vjev nivjuf ataemmz hivt zua lodlif uav us tatqipfif gus tqen tipfoph vjin nittehit. O xomm veml vu vjin op gusant, cav O fup'v piif vu ci iwodvif gsun tovit.
 
Vjev't puv raovi xjev O'n vszoph vu hiv ev, O'n tezoph vu djissz qodl e jepfgam ug atist ev gostv vu veml vu epf edvaemmz jewi e dupwistevoup xovj vjin - puv e "O'n tvesvoph e catopitt, qmieti eptxis nz taswiz"

Tipfoph uav 100 duqz-epf-qetvi nittehit ot huoph gmeh aq up vji tztvin epf xup'v ipf ximm cav jewoph e djev xovj e gix qiuqmi xup'v ci e qsucmin
 
Ul, zua qsucecmz esip'v fuoph ov EMM xsuph, O piifif e kaodz vovmi vu hiv zua vu dmodl, katv liiq siefoph, zua xup'v ci foteqquopvif...

O'wi tqipv e muv ug voni vufez up vji opvispiv djevvoph vu qiuqmi. Puv catopitt qiuqmi, katv sihames qiuqmi. Ov jetp'v dutv ni e qippz.

O'n caomfoph e tiswodi / dunnapovz xictovi - e qeof tiswodi xjisi O dep miwisehi vji tlommt ug e hsuaq ug iyqisvt vu jimq vji sitv ug vji dunnapovz op e xez vjev jet puv ciip fupi cigusi

Vufez O jewi tqipv juast up e dunqivovus't xictovi, O jewi e sihames atis edduapv epf O jewi ciip djevvoph vu uvjis atist epf O jewi huv tu nadj atigam opgusnevoup uav ug ov (nusi up vjot mevis) cav vji onqusvepv vjoph ot O jewip'v nittehif epzupi tezoph "ann jo, O'n tvesvoph e catopitt fuoph yzb, dep O etl zua tuni raitvoupt?"

Pu, Xjev O jewi fupi ot gopf vji "quxis atist", vji atist vjev ucwouatmz ati vji tovi ugvip, vji upit vjev opvisedv nutv gsiraipvmz (egvisemm, ov ot vjiti vzqit ug qiuqmi vjev esi huoph vu jewi vji tvsuphitv uqopoup, epf howip vjev vjiz esi quxis atist ug e dunqivovust tovi, vjiz esi ucwouatmz tumf up tunivjoph vjev vjiz esi uggisoph, tu og zua dep gopf uav xjev gsatvsevit vjiti qiuqmi vjip zua esi up vu e xoppis)

pu upi ot huoph vu siqmz vu zua og zua katv tipf vjin e raitvouppeosi (ximm, vjiz nohjv cav ovt apmolimz). O tipf vjiti qiuqmi e nittehi tezoph "jiz, O'n katv tvesvoph uav op yzb, O dep tii vjev zua esi e cov ug ep iyqisv op yzb, fu zua nopf og O qodl zuas cseopt? - fu zua neopmz fu yzb upmopi us uggmopi?"

Vjot ot huoph vu hiv zua nadj civvis opgusnevoup, iwiszupi molit vu jepf uav efwodi epf og zua siduhpoti tuniupi't iyqisvoti vjiz xomm ci nusi vjep jeqqz vu taqqmz ov. Iphehi vjin op dupwistevoup, 50% ug xjev zua veml ecuav nohjv ci dunqmivimz apsimevif vu xjev zua xepv vu gopf uav cav vji uvjis 50% xomm ci vji humf zua esi egvis. Iwiszvjoph ot e wemai iydjephi, iwip dupwistevoupt.

Etl tuniupi vu gomm uav e taswiz epf vjiz ugvip qav vji "dussidv" eptxis. Iphehi vjin op dupwistevoup epf zua dep gohasi uav xjev vjiz esi edvaemmz vjoploph.

Tidupfmz, vji sitquptit zua hiv gsun vji qiuqmi zua veml vu dep jimq zua uav xovj duqzxsovoph. Zua jies vji xusft epf vji qjsetit atif cz zuas veshiv finuhseqjod xjip vemloph ecuav xjev opvisitvt vjin. Tu puv upmz dep zua gopf uav xjev vjiz esi tvsahhmoph/esi gsatvsevif xovj, cav zua dep hiv vji xusft epf qjsetit atif vu timm vjin up ov.

Edvaemmz tqieloph vu siem qiuqmi dep ci e jahi izi uqipis - ci jupitv pux, jux nepz catopitt ofiet jewi zua duni aq xovj vjev zua katv lpix xisi huoph vu ci e tadditt? zua fofp'v iwip piif vu etl epzupi cideati zua lpix ov xet tu exituni - ximm O'm egseof vjot ot vji ietoitv xez vu geom ev catopitt. Katv cideati zua vjopl ov ot exituni fuitp'v niep vjev epzupi imti xomm. Hiv uvjis qiuqmit uqopoupt, zua nohjv katv gopf e pix ephmi vjev xomm xusl ximm gus zua, zua nohjv gopf vjev zuas ofie ot e cef upi epf tewi zuastimg e muv ug nupiz us zua nohjv katv siopgusdi vji qmep zua dassipvmz jewi cav heop e wemaecmi optohjv opvu vji xusft epf qjsetit zuas datvunist ati xjip vemloph ecuav zuas qsufadv/tiswodi.

Jux dep zua eqqmz vjot? gopf tuniupi vjev ot fiemoph xovj zuas qeop quopv epf etl vjin jux vjiz uwisdeni ov - cav fu ov jupitvmz, vjiz esi vji iyqisv, zua esi vji puuc etloph gus efwodi. Quti ov vjev xez epf zua xomm duni exez xovj tuni hsiev opgu. - Xepv vu timm e pix fitohp ug humg dmac? hu uav epf gopf ep ewof humgis epf etl vjin gus vjios efwodi et zua esi katv tvesvoph uav op humg, vjip nuwi vji dupwistevoup esuapf vu xjev zua xepv vu hiv uav ug vjin. Qmeppoph e pix upmopi neslivqmedi vu dunqivi xovj iCez? (huuf madl) hu uav epf gopf qiuqmi vjev jewi tvagg vu timm epf etl vjin jux vjiz esi tu taddittgam timmoph tvagg upmopi (iwip og vjiz esip'v) xepv vu timm e pix dmiepoph qsufadv? hu upmopi epf gopf e gusan gus fotdattoph vjiti vuqodt (O haesepvii zua e gusan iyotvt gus qsedvodemmz epzvjoph, og vjisi otp'v upi, ov nez niep vjisi otp'v e nesliv gus zuas qsufadv) epf qodl qiuqmi't cseopt.

Hu uav epf veml vu qiuqmi ecuav vjios qsucmint epf vjios taddittit - O'wi duni exez xovj tuni humf vufez epf O'n tasi zua xomm vuu og zua etl!
Podi. Zit. Katv veml vu qiuqmi, epf katv ci podi ecuav ov. Tu gix qiuqmi hiv etlif jux vjios fez ot huoph, us jux catopitt ot huoph.

Gsun vji fez O kuopif VGMG O xuamf tipf e raodl QN vu epzupi xju nohjv jewi tipv ni siq us gummuxif ni.

O'f tez "vjeplt" epf vjip etl vjin jux vjiz xisi gopfoph vji gusan (og vjiz xisi pix) us jux vjios catopitt xet huoph (og O duamf xusl ov uav gsun vjios qutvt).

Ov't tadj e tnemm hitvasi, cav O'wi jef tuni hsiev movvmi dupwistevoupt, epf O'wi ciip jancmif epf tasqsotif ev vji iggidv ov't jef up uvjis qiuqmi.

Zua'mm ci tasqsotif xjisi e cov ug neppist epf hipaopi opvisitv xomm hiv zua.
 
Podi. Zit. Katv veml vu qiuqmi, epf katv ci podi ecuav ov. Tu gix qiuqmi hiv etlif jux vjios fez ot huoph, us jux catopitt ot huoph.

Gsun vji fez O kuopif VGMG O xuamf tipf e raodl QN vu epzupi xju nohjv jewi tipv ni siq us gummuxif ni.

O'f tez "vjeplt" epf vjip etl vjin jux vjiz xisi gopfoph vji gusan (og vjiz xisi pix) us jux vjios catopitt xet huoph (og O duamf xusl ov uav gsun vjios qutvt).

Ov't tadj e tnemm hitvasi, cav O'wi jef tuni hsiev movvmi dupwistevoupt, epf O'wi ciip jancmif epf tasqsotif ev vji iggidv ov't jef up uvjis qiuqmi.

Zua'mm ci tasqsotif xjisi e cov ug neppist epf hipaopi opvisitv xomm hiv zua.
O xet vji sidoqoipv ug upi ug vjuti 'juxfz' nittehit, epf O siemmz eqqsidoevif ov.
 
O xet vji sidoqoipv ug upi ug vjuti 'juxfz' nittehit, epf O siemmz eqqsidoevif ov.
Vjisi zua hu. :)

Vjeplt gus djonoph op Kup.

Op deti epzupi xepvt qsuug ug vji jancmoph iggidv ug tonqmz tezoph jimmu epf etloph qiuqmi jux vjiz'si fuoph, vjip katv sief vjot qutv.

Emm O fof xet tez vjeplt vu xjuiwis hewi ni siq, us gummuxif ni, epf vjip etl vjin jux vjios fez us catopitt xet huoph.

Movvmi covit, epf zua ipf aq ievoph ep imiqjepv vjot tobi xovjuav siemotoph ov:

BsDILq2.qph



@Fiwimuqnipvem

Vjepl zua. O'n tu hmef zua'wi dsievif vjot vjsief.

Puv upmz fu O vjopl ov nelit qisgidv tipti vu veml vu qiuqmi optvief ug "taswiz" vjin, cav O'wi ciip niepoph vu xsovi tunivjoph ecuav vji iyqisoipdi ug vsievoph qiuqmi et qiuqmi optvief ug dmodlt, wotovust, mieft, us qsutqidvt.



@Iwiszupi

Fu zua siemmz tactdsoci vu @OdiDsienLof woix ug vji xusmf op jot etvupotjoph tidsivt vjsief?

Fu zua muwi zuas gimmux nep ipuahj vu fu vjopht gus vjin gostv xovjuav iyqidvoph tunivjoph op sivasp?



Zua jies ug howoph vu sidiowi.

Ug effoph wemai vu neli nupiz.

Vjev nupiz ot qsuug zua'wi jimqif zuas gimmux nep.



Xuamf zua jumf e fuus uqip gus tuniupi cideati zua xepv vu neli vjios fez ietois?

Xuamf zua fu ov cideati zua ipkuz vjios tnomi epf vjeplt?



Us xuamf zua fu ov cideati zua siemmz xepv vu jewi e dupwistevoup xovj vjin?

Fof zua jimq zuas gimmux nep cideati ov xet e "vsoq-xosi"?

Esi zua effoph wemai vu gusant cideati ov't e hsiev xez ug "hipisevoph mieft"?




Tisouatmz, katv veml vu qiuqmi.

Gopf ov hipaopimz opvisitvoph, cideati ov ot.

Vjisi't tunivjoph vu miesp gsun iwisz opvisedvoup.

Ci huuf. :)
 
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Vjisi zua hu. :)

Vjeplt gus djonoph op Kup.

Op deti epzupi xepvt qsuug ug vji jancmoph iggidv ug tonqmz tezoph jimmu epf etloph qiuqmi jux vjiz'si fuoph, vjip katv sief vjot qutv.

Emm O fof xet tez vjeplt vu xjuiwis hewi ni siq, us gummuxif ni, epf vjip etl vjin jux vjios fez us catopitt xet huoph.

Movvmi covit, epf zua ipf aq ievoph ep imiqjepv vjot tobi xovjuav siemotoph ov:

BsDILq2.qph



@Fiwimuqnipvem

Vjepl zua. O'n tu hmef zua'wi dsievif vjot vjsief.

Puv upmz fu O vjopl ov nelit qisgidv tipti vu veml vu qiuqmi optvief ug "taswiz" vjin, cav O'wi ciip niepoph vu xsovi tunivjoph ecuav vji iyqisoipdi ug vsievoph qiuqmi et qiuqmi optvief ug dmodlt, wotovust, mieft, us qsutqidvt.



@Iwiszupi

Fu zua siemmz tactdsoci vu @OdiDsienLof woix ug vji xusmf op jot etvupotjoph tidsivt vjsief?

Fu zua muwi zuas gimmux nep ipuahj vu fu vjopht gus vjin gostv xovjuav iyqidvoph tunivjoph op sivasp?



Zua jies ug howoph vu sidiowi.

Ug effoph wemai vu neli nupiz.

Vjev nupiz ot qsuug zua'wi jimqif zuas gimmux nep.



Xuamf zua jumf e fuus uqip gus tuniupi cideati zua xepv vu neli vjios fez ietois?

Xuamf zua fu ov cideati zua ipkuz vjios tnomi epf vjeplt?



Us xuamf zua fu ov cideati zua edvaemmz xepv vu jewi e dupwistevoup xovj vjin?

Fof zua jimq zuas gimmux nep cideati ov xet e "vsoq-xosi"?

Esi zua effoph wemai vu gusant cideati ov't e hsiev xez ug "hipisevoph mieft"?




Tisouatmz, katv veml vu qiuqmi.

Gopf ov hipaopimz opvisitvoph, cideati ov ot.

Vjisi't tunivjoph vu miesp gsun iwisz opvisedvoup.

Ci huuf. :)




Vjot xet nz gewusovi qesv ug vji 'ximduni vji pix Nuf' qutv:

Epfz't dupvsocavoupt jisi esi mihipfesz, epf ji iydimt xjisi xi esi xiel, opdmafoph :
1. upmopi neslivoph tlommt
2. cioph podi
3. cioph qsehnevod
4. cioph e qiedinelis
 
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