There are so many ways to collect consumer data now and days that market researchers sometimes find themselves in data heaven. Some consumers don’t like the idea of having their information too readily available. But unless you live without internet, one way or another your information will be collected.
Old School
Of course there is the most obvious way of data collection, and a more traditional approach turned digital, surveys. Many of the online survey banks pay consumers for their time through direct cash or other incentives, such as being entered into a contest. If you are seeking to elicit your own surveys, programs like Survey Gizmo or Survey Monkey can provide their services for free for some of their features. There are other old school methods such as online focus groups and video interviews that have turned digital.
Social Media
Another way of gathering consumer data is through social media. Have you ever found an ad on your Facebook page related to your location or something you recently posted? Facebook collects information on your page so businesses can effectively target you. That is some of the harmless data collection. Employers use Facebook as well to collect information about you. If you are looking to get hired but have a picture of yourself getting drunk or something else of similar standing, and employer may not hire you. I’ve spoken to many employers who have found questionable content about their employees and job applicants on their Facebook pages. Employees were soon released from their positions and job applicants were no longer considered for the job. Moral of the story: Remove questionable content from your social media sites and keep them clean.
Twitter, on the other hand, can be a very valuable asset. There are many online twitter programs used by market researchers to discover what people are talking about, where they are talking about it, and who exactly is talking. Programs like TweetDeck help us stay updated on the latest trends of certain topics. And like I mentioned in my previous post Twitter is used very often by news and media.
Market research is done with other social sites as well in similar ways, but Facebook and Twitter, I believe are the primary sites.
Twitter, on the other hand, can be a very valuable asset. There are many online twitter programs used by market researchers to discover what people are talking about, where they are talking about it, and who exactly is talking. Programs like TweetDeck help us stay updated on the latest trends of certain topics. And like I mentioned in my previous post Twitter is used very often by news and media.
Market research is done with other social sites as well in similar ways, but Facebook and Twitter, I believe are the primary sites.
Blogs, Websites, Search Engines
What better way to learn about consumers than to visit the most voiced group of their market? Well-known companies can visit the sites of bloggers to learn what in-depth insight consumers have about their product. Information is not just collected from what the blogger says, but what their readers are saying when they comment on the blog/vlog posts. Entrepreneurs looking for a problem to solve can also look at these blogs and the comments for a potential market.
A couple of other methods for online data collection are directly through the business's website and through search engines, with Google being most famous for the topic. As I mentioned before, the internet is an online goldmine for consumer data. Every click and search term you type is searchable and collectible. When you are on a shopping website, they often give you product recommendations based on what you have previously searched and looked at in the past. Since many businesses and websites use Google advertising, much of what we search in Google is tailors what advertisements we see on websites.
A couple of other methods for online data collection are directly through the business's website and through search engines, with Google being most famous for the topic. As I mentioned before, the internet is an online goldmine for consumer data. Every click and search term you type is searchable and collectible. When you are on a shopping website, they often give you product recommendations based on what you have previously searched and looked at in the past. Since many businesses and websites use Google advertising, much of what we search in Google is tailors what advertisements we see on websites.
I know sometimes online advertisements can get pretty ridiculous when targeting consumers. Sometimes the data collection does not always work. For example, I post one status in a different language and start getting advertisements in that language, whether I’m able to read the ad or not.
What are some strange online advertisements you have seen?
Leave a comment and let me know!
What are some strange online advertisements you have seen?
Leave a comment and let me know!