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Motivational Market Research

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Market Research Applications

Motivational research seeks to thoroughly understand the oft-unspoken motives and beliefs held by customers and prospects in regard to a brand or product category. We typically begin a motivational research exploration with qualitative research in a personal one-on-one interviewing setting, and when appropriate, use photo ethnography to "see" the behaviors and underlying motives -- thru diary reports and depth interviews.

Motivational research seeks to uncover basic buyer and customer needs, as economic decision makers, and as human beings. It also seeks the tangible and intangible ways a company, product, or service meets those core needs, and how the competitive set of brands is perceived. Often the intangible image dimensions of the brand perception are the most useful in uncovering opportunities. Thus, motivational research is frequently included in the opportunity scan stage of the Decision Pathway.

When we conduct motivational research, qualitative market research is the usual starting point. We concentrate on a particular subcategory of qualitative research known as non-directive qualitative research. The emphasis here is on listening to people talk in response to a minimal number of specific questions, which are for the most part open-ended. We avoid hammering study participants with a long list of questionnaire questions. In stead, we listen, we let respondents think and ponder, perhaps over the course of a few days using time-extended depth interviews, about the product category, and the brand or brands we are exploring. We will stimulate respondents' thinking by using projective techniques, this exposing them to visual or aural stimulus then allowing respondents to respond to prompting questions and then engage in free-flowing and creative descriptions of their needs and how they are being met in relation to the stimulus provided.

Marketing Consulting Services :: Summary Overview

Marketing Strategy Consultants

As marketing strategy consultants, our consulting firm will work with you and your company and management team in a professional engagement one of several ways according to the nature of the consulting project: monthly retainer, fixed project fee, or daily rate. Since each client company or firm is unique with its own set of issues and opportunities, we often begin our relationship with a Decision Mapping engagement. This identifies the problems, opportunities, and issues most relevant, and serves to clarify the decision agenda. We believe this is a crucial step to ensure as consultants to your company, that an expert, professional engagement meets your specific management requirements. Further, Decision Mapping saves both time and money as it sharpens focus as to the exact work which needs to be accomplished in our remaining consulting or market research work for your company.

Experts in Marketing Strategy

As experts and specialists in marketing and market research, we are well qualified in these strategy arenas: positioning, segmentation, advertising strategy, corporate and product naming, company branding, brand name development, naming research, brand equity measurement, pricing, sales systems and research, product development, brand development, brand strategy, product concept testing, identifying opportunities, positioning, customer satisfaction research and customer loyalty building.

Functional Marketing Research Experience

Our consulting company has deep experience working with large and small firms, although typical clients include Fortune 500, Fortune 100, or middle market companies. Our team members have been involved as executives and board members of technology venture start-ups, conducting research and assessments used by venture funds, and venture capital firms.

Industry Consulting and Market Research Experience

First, we are not industry specialists or experts. Our philosophy is that we bring a tool kit of analytical and management skills to the table. You bring deep industry knowledge of your business. The blending of our functional and management expertise, and your knowledge of your own business and industry, makes for a productive decision-focused engagement.