Market Research Thread poster: Dr Sarai Pahla, MBChB
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I am currently focusing on how to improve my marketing techniques via various channels and would appreciate some advice.
Ideally, in my opinion, good marketing starts with doing some market research to determine the needs of your potential clients. If you are close to your target market, I think this might be a bit easier - you could use traditional methods like surveys or book appointments with potential clients - but how do you go about doing this via the Internet? ... See more I am currently focusing on how to improve my marketing techniques via various channels and would appreciate some advice.
Ideally, in my opinion, good marketing starts with doing some market research to determine the needs of your potential clients. If you are close to your target market, I think this might be a bit easier - you could use traditional methods like surveys or book appointments with potential clients - but how do you go about doing this via the Internet? Unsolicited email is often interpreted as spam, and if you're culturally unfamiliar with the process of market research in your source language, you could come across as rude and potentially alienate the same clients that you are trying to win over.
Some guiding questions:
1. Do you go conduct market research online, and do you do it yourself?
2. Do you enlist the services of a company/person specialised in online marketing?
3. Do you use social media to conducting market research?
4. What advice would you give with regards to market research and how best to go about it?
5. Would you be wiling to partner with other language specialists to combine your efforts in this regard or would you rather do it solo? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Fabio Descalzi 
Uruguay
Local time: 00:47
Member (2004)
German to Spanish
+ ...
Hi Sarai
Sometimes I have used online surveys - for instance, an interesting tool is www.surveymonkey.com which you can use for free up to a maximum of 100 respondents. I create the survey and then I post it it on fora and social media where I know my potential clients might see it and have an interest in participating. And that's it.
Please, notice: the most interesting part of surv... See more Hi Sarai
Sometimes I have used online surveys - for instance, an interesting tool is www.surveymonkey.com which you can use for free up to a maximum of 100 respondents. I create the survey and then I post it it on fora and social media where I know my potential clients might see it and have an interest in participating. And that's it.
Please, notice: the most interesting part of surveys is not necessarily their statistical data ("do you look for clients abroad?" yes or no, "do you seek professional advice to resolve problems?" etc.), but the answers written on blank fields you leave purposefully. Many people write very interesting facts there, in form of critical comments or suggestions.
Making surveys is a profession, and it takes time to develop them into a powerful tool. So, maybe you won't reach your concrete clients that way, but for sure you will have hints, signs from the market, aspects you must consider (for yourself and your proposals) before you ever face those people that WILL be your clients in the end.
Wish you good luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Interesting technique! | Jun 5, 2013 |
Thanks for your feedback, Fabio - you use an interesting combination of a survey tool and targeted social media - indeed a helpful suggestion.
This is one of my very first attempts at marketing, so I feel confident that I can improve my techniques over time - there is a lot of information online, but not all of it is specifically targeted towards translation or online service sales, so every bit of information from other translators really helps!
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