Market Research

A market forecast is a core component of a market analysis. It projects the future numbers, characteristics, and trends in your target market. A standard analysis shows the projected number of potential customers divided into segments.
Market Forecast - Example
The AMT computer store has a simple market forecast. The plan defines two target market segments, and […]

Every Web plan should include a clear explanation of the market segmentation, target market focus, and a market forecast. It should include detailed information about each of the target market segments.
To develop an effective plan based on your customers’ needs and nature, you should be able to answer these questions:

Who are they?
Where are they?
What do […]

The competitive analysis process presents an opportunity to describe your major competitors in terms of the factors that most influence revenues. This may include your competitor’s:

organization size
market share
comparative product quality
growth
available capital and resources
image
marketing strategy
target markets
and any attributes you consider important.

Industry associations, industry publications, media coverage, information from the financial community, and their own marketing materials […]

Most every organization will benefit from even the most elementary market research. If it does not provide new information, it will confirm what is known.
Market research is the process of gaining information about your market. Preferably, this is specific information about your target market and the key factors that influence their buying decisions. Market research […]

Market Data for Other Countries
As the power of the Internet spreads throughout the world, demographic and economic statistics are becoming more available. If you’re working on market data for your own country, check with your local business development agencies, business schools, and industry trade associations for help in finding the information you need. These Web […]

Relatively few marketing plans are blessed with budgets for professional market research. When you can’t pass the problem to professionals, then you have to make some intelligent estimates. Get comfortable with the idea of making good educated guesses. Many people think there is something magic about this, some technique they don’t know that the experts […]

Who competes with you for your customers’ time and money? Are they directly selling competitive products and services, substitutes, or possible substitutes? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How are they positioned in the market?
Your competitive analysis
A good competitive analysis varies according to what industry you’re in and your specific marketing plan and situation. A […]

A market forecast is a core component of a market analysis. It projects the future numbers, characteristics, and trends in your target market. A standard analysis shows the projected number of potential customers divided into segments.
This example of a simple market forecast defines two target market segments and projects the potential customers in each of […]

Relatively few marketing plans are blessed with budgets for professional market research. When you can’t pass the problem to professionals, then you have to make some intelligent estimates. Get comfortable with the idea of making good educated guesses. Many people think there is something magic about this, some technique they don’t know that the experts […]

Unless you are a new business without a customer base at all, your market research should begin with learning as much as possible about your present customers.

Who are they?
How did they find you?
What do they like about you?
What don’t they like?

Use customer surveys, random interviews, feedback sheets, and a lot of common sense to acquire […]