What to look for in a market research agency

Market research is essential for businesses looking to stay ahead of the competition and make informed decisions. It can provide insights into market trends, consumer preferences, and emerging opportunities, helping businesses to identify new growth opportunities and make data-driven decisions. Choosing the right market research agency can significantly impact the quality of insights you receive.

This blog post will discuss the criteria for choosing a market research agency that is right for your business. From relevant industry experience to methodology, data quality, reputation, cost, timeliness, and communication, we’ll cover why it is advisable to engage a research agency, and the essential factors businesses should consider when selecting a market research agency.

Why use a market research agency to conduct your research?

There are tools available to conduct simple market surveys, and businesses can hire internal teams to conduct their research. So, why engage a market research agency in the first place? Using a research agency can provide numerous benefits for businesses, including:

• Objectivity: A market research agency can provide an objective perspective on your business, market, and target audience. They can conduct research without biases or preconceived notions, resulting in more accurate and reliable data.
• Expertise: Market research agencies have a team of experts who specialize in various research methodologies, data analysis, and market trends. They have the knowledge and experience to design and execute research studies that will provide valuable insights.
• Cost-Effective: While conducting research in-house may seem like a cost-effective option, it can often be more expensive in the long run. Market research agencies have the tools, software, and technologies to conduct research more efficiently and accurately, saving you time and money.
• Saves time: Conducting market research can be time-consuming and can take away from other important business operations. By outsourcing the research to a market research agency, businesses can focus on their core operations while the agency conducts research and delivers insights.
• Access to a wider range of resources: Market research agencies have access to a wide range of resources, including databases, industry reports, and industry contacts. This allows them to provide businesses with insights that they may not have been able to uncover on their own.
• Competitive advantage: By leveraging the expertise of a market research agency, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by identifying market trends, consumer preferences, and emerging opportunities before their competitors.

A market research agency can provide businesses with numerous benefits, including objectivity, expertise, cost-effectiveness, time savings, access to resources, and competitive advantage. Outsourcing market research allows businesses to gain valuable insights that can help them make informed decisions and drive growth, from experts.

What to look for in a research agency

If you’re in the business of making data-driven decisions, as every business should be, you know the value of good market research. But market research agencies are not created equal. So, what should you look for when choosing a market research agency?

• Relevant industry experience: Look for an agency that has experience working in your industry. They should have a deep understanding of your business and your target audience, as well as the competitive landscape.
• Methodology: Ensure the agency has a well-defined methodology that is tailored to your specific needs. This should include how they gather and analyze data and how they will present their findings.
• Reputation: Research the agency’s reputation by reading reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Check their credentials, awards, and affiliations to assess their credibility.
• Data quality: The agency should have a robust quality control process in place to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data they collect.
• Timeliness: Effective research is timely, to solve the problems faced at a given time. The agency should have a track record of delivering results within the agreed-upon timeframe. Ask about their turnaround time and how they handle tight deadlines.
• Cost: Cost should not be the only factor when choosing a market research agency, but it is important to understand the agency’s pricing structure and how they determine the costs of their services. Ultimately, the cost should be in line with your budget but should also provide value for the money spent.
• Communication: The agency should be responsive to your needs and be able to communicate effectively throughout the research process. Look for an agency that will work closely with you to ensure that the research meets your requirements.

Finding the right market research agency can help you make better decisions and stay ahead of the competition. Look for an agency with relevant industry experience, a well-defined methodology, a good reputation, robust quality control, a history of delivering results on time, transparent pricing, and effective communication.

Conduct market research with GeoPoll.

Every year, GeoPoll conducts hundreds of consumer research for brands and businesses of all sizes across several industries. We pride ourselves on having one of the largest coverages throughout emerging markets, and our unique research platform and methodologies are tailored to produce timely, high-quality data. Our global team includes experienced researchers working together to provide professional end-to-end research solutions.

Contact us to learn more about our capabilities and how we can help your business make data-driven decisions.