Online marketing research is a powerful tool that can help you understand what customers and prospects think about your business, your products, and even the industry overall. Done correctly, it can provide valuable insight into how to grow your company.
But for all the information available to you through online marketing research, there are some important notes you need to remember before diving in. Here are 10 things every marketer should know about online marketing research:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Explore unconventional research methods. |
| 2. Embrace storytelling in research analysis. |
| 3. Utilize social media for audience insights. |
| 4. Incorporate visual data representation. |
| 5. Leverage online communities for feedback. |
| 6. Experiment with interactive surveys and quizzes. |
| 7. Use competitor analysis for benchmarking. |
| 8. Analyze user-generated content for trends. |
| 9. Combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. |
I. Web-Surfing
Web surfing is the practice of searching for information on the Internet. In web surfing, you will find out everything about your target audience and their needs.
The most important thing that you need to know is that if you want to be successful in your online marketing research, then you should conduct thorough research on the internet.
Web surfing can help you improve your understanding of your customers’ needs, wants, and desires. It can also help you understand what are those things which make them happy or unhappy with your company’s products or services.
Similarly, it will also tell you about what kind of content people like reading on their social media accounts like Facebook pages and blogs etcetera so that later when someone visits such website then he/she gets attracted towards it without any doubt!
If we talk about competitors then this method will give us all types of related information about competitor companies whether its products price range etcetera.
Conducting surveys is a valuable way to gather insights from your audience. Before you begin, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on 14 Tips Before Conducting a Survey, which covers everything from crafting effective questions to maximizing response rates.
II. Social Listening (Sentiment Analysis)
Social listening is a powerful tool that can help you identify new trends, opportunities, and competitors. If you are not using social listening tools to your advantage, then you are missing out on a lot of intelligence.
Social listening gives you access to millions of conversations happening every minute and lets you explore what people are talking about in any industry or niche.
The best thing about social listening is that it’s free! There are no costs associated with using these tools because they rely on simple algorithms that crawl through millions of data points every day looking for new information or trends.
Social Listening allows marketers to get more detailed insights into the conversations happening around their brand or product at any given time by analyzing various social media channels like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, etc.
The data collected from these channels will be used by brands as inputs for their marketing strategies along with other types such as surveys/questionnaires etc.
Here’s what we’ve found out from our Social Media Analysis Report:
Marketing research comes in various forms, each serving a specific purpose. Discover the significance of different research types by exploring our article on 16 Types of Marketing Research and Why You Need Them, and learn how they contribute to a well-rounded marketing strategy.
III. Search Engine Optimization
The most important thing to know about SEO is that it’s not just one thing. The acronym stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it refers to the process of improving the visibility of a website or web page in a search engine’s unpaid results through organic or non-paid means.
SEO may involve several technical and non-technical strategies from planning your content strategy (i.e. making sure you have the right information on your site) to understanding how Google identifies good content and uses that as a ranking factor for its searches.
The idea behind SEO is simple: when someone types something into Google, they want something useful or at least entertaining in return, not another site trying to sell them stuff!
IV. Content Marketing
Content marketing is a marketing strategy that uses content to attract and retain customers. It focuses on creating useful, relevant, and consistent content to drive brand awareness, traffic, leads, and sales.
The goal of content marketing is to create a buzz around the products or services offered by the company to encourage potential customers in getting connected with them.
Content marketing can be used across all industries to help brands show off their expertise through different mediums including blogs, infographics, videos, etc., which can then be distributed across social media channels for better reachability.
Content marketing has become extremely popular over time due to its effectiveness as it helps build trust among users since they know they’re reading information from an expert source such as you!
V. Video Marketing
Video marketing is a powerful way to reach your audience. Videos allow you to visually demonstrate how a product works or what it looks like.
It’s also an easy way to explain complicated concepts engagingly and entertainingly, which can help with brand awareness, loyalty, and customer engagement.
In addition to increasing brand awareness, video marketing can also increase sales. According to Hubspot, companies that use video receive 2X more leads than those that don’t and they make those leads 25% more valuable than non-video lead sources!
Videos are great for increasing traffic and search engine rankings too (since Google considers videos relevant).
Who would have thought that zombie movies could offer insights into marketing research? Uncover the surprising parallels by delving into our intriguing discussion on 11 Things Zombie Movies Can Teach Us About Marketing Research, and learn how to approach research creatively.
VI. Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to interact and connect with your audience. It’s also one of the most direct ways to promote your content and build relationships with subscribers.
For example, when you sign up for a newsletter or buy something online, you usually get an email that looks similar to this:
Hi [name], thank you for signing up! If there’s anything we can help you with please reach out at support@yourdomainname.com.*
This email is meant to create brand awareness by introducing yourself as a real person who cares about their customers.
It encourages people to keep engaging by providing contact information, but not too much it doesn’t want the recipient getting overwhelmed by too many emails from them (and it wouldn’t be good if they could just try calling!).
VII. Paid Search
Paid search is a great way to get the word out about your business. If you have a new product and want to bring it to market, paid search is the fastest way to get your business in front of the right audience.
For example, if you have an online store for pet supplies and are launching a new line of cat food, the paid search could help you reach people who are actively looking for cat food or pet accessories.
Paid search can also be used as part of an existing campaign or even on its own as long as it’s working with specific targets or goals that align with your overall marketing strategy.
VIII. Consumer Behavior Research
How to do consumer behavior Research: This is the first step in any online marketing research. You need to know what your consumers are interested in and how they go about making their purchasing decisions.
- What should you look for in consumer behavior research?
- Understand their needs, wants, and inclinations
- How do they make buying decisions?
- What are their attitudes toward brands?
- How do they perceive your brand?
How can you use consumer behavior research: Use this information to create better strategies for reaching out to consumers at the right time, place, price, and through the right channels (social media, etc).
Once you understand their behaviors on an individual basis, it becomes easier for you as a marketer to target them with personalized messages that resonate with them more effectively than generic ones would have done before!
Market research doesn’t have to break the bank. Discover strategies to conduct insightful research without spending a dime by checking out our guide on How to Conduct Market Research for Free. Uncover cost-effective methods that can provide valuable data for your marketing decisions.
IX. Social Advertising
Social advertising is a type of advertising on social media platforms.
Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become immensely popular in recent years because they allow users to easily share information and interact with others through comments and likes.
This ability to share information has turned these sites into powerful tools for businesses that want to market their products or services to consumers quickly.
Social advertising allows you to reach your target audience by showing ads based on the user’s demographic data (age, gender, location) and interests (e.g., sports).
X. Mobile Targeting And Retargeting
Mobile marketing is a great way to get your message out. Mobile devices are now the dominant device for accessing the internet, and this is only growing as more people make the switch from desktops to laptops.
However, mobile marketing can be used to target specific customers within a niche or market segment depending on how granular you want to be and with retargeting and re-engagement ads.
You can reach them again and again until they become customers or followers of your brand.
Is traditional market research falling short of expectations? Explore the limitations and potential pitfalls in our thought-provoking article, Why Market Research is Broken. Gain insights into the challenges of conventional research methods and explore alternatives to improve decision-making.
Conclusion
As we’ve discussed, if you’re willing to step outside the box, there are so many opportunities to do some creative things with your marketing research. You might come up with a new way of doing it that no one else has ever tried before! Have fun and experiment with different ideas.
Even if you don’t end up getting the results you want from them, there’s always something valuable to be learned from trying something out and who knows? Maybe other marketers will learn it from reading about your experience in an article just like this one.
Further Reading
Top 10 Advantages of Online Marketing for Professional ServicesDiscover the key benefits of incorporating online marketing strategies for professional service businesses. Learn how online marketing can boost your visibility, credibility, and client engagement.
Internet Marketing: A Comprehensive GuideDive into a comprehensive guide on internet marketing and explore various tactics and strategies to maximize your online presence and reach your target audience effectively.
Top 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Digital MarketingExplore lesser-known facts about digital marketing that can shape your understanding of the field. From emerging trends to surprising statistics, this article offers insights to enhance your marketing knowledge.
And here’s the “FAQs” section:
FAQs
What are the advantages of online marketing for professional services?
Online marketing offers numerous advantages for professional service businesses, including increased visibility, wider reach, improved credibility, and enhanced client engagement. By leveraging digital platforms, professionals can connect with their target audience more effectively.
What does internet marketing encompass?
Internet marketing, also known as online marketing, includes a wide range of strategies and techniques aimed at promoting products or services through digital channels. It covers various aspects such as social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and more.
What are some lesser-known aspects of digital marketing?
Digital marketing holds several interesting and lesser-known facets. From the influence of user-generated content on purchasing decisions to the impact of voice search on SEO strategies, there’s a lot to explore beyond the basics.
How can professional services benefit from digital marketing?
Professional service providers can benefit from digital marketing by establishing a strong online presence, showcasing their expertise, and connecting with potential clients. Through targeted strategies, they can position themselves as industry leaders and attract a loyal client base.
How can I stay updated with the latest trends in digital marketing?
To stay updated with the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, consider following reputable industry blogs, attending webinars, participating in online communities, and engaging with thought leaders on social media platforms. Keeping up with emerging trends can give you a competitive edge in the digital sphere.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.