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	<title>FGI Research &#187; market research</title>
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		<title>FGI&#8217;s Qualitative Research Capabilities Expand</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/fgis-qualitative-research-capabilities-expand/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/fgis-qualitative-research-capabilities-expand/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:32:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[qualitative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solutions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=991</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[FGI Research has been building custom communities and operating its own online research community, sourced from SmartPanel, for some time. Now we have added a way to integrate social media monitoring into community-based market research. Read about our success in online qualitative research and how the additions to our community will help our success expand.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In a recent <a href="http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=120046">press release</a>, FGI Research announced innovative updates to its online research community, the <a href="https://ld.fgiresearch.com/forums/sp/">FGI SmartPanel Community</a>. These changes come as part of an overall update to FGI’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/communities/overview/">online community offering</a>. In addition to the qualitative, forum-based discussion and quantitative “quick polls” at the heart of the original solution, FGI’s community now features a live feed from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> to track conversation on social media. The updated solution combines social media monitoring with the controlled, customer-driven discussion that has always been the force behind FGI’s online research community.</span></p>
<p><strong>Online Communities Drive Deeper Insight</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Our experts have <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/building-a-better-online-focus-group/">spoken</a> <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/online-communities-unlock-new-insights/">before</a> about the benefits of online-community-based market research. Industry news sources report that more and more companies use communities to fill a need that focus groups once did, attracted to the comparative flexibility and cost-efficiency of the Internet. Certainly, the online community and the focus group have a good deal in common –but they are different in very important ways.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Like in a focus group, moderators can ensure that forum discussion in the community stays on-topic and addresses objectives. However, the online format gives community members more opportunity to speak candidly. This frees insights to emerge from the discussion in a way that feels organic and authentic. Online research communities bring to light ideas that other research methods can miss, and businesses, as a result, are able to capture richer data from the qualitative research they conduct.</span></p>
<p><strong>Social Media Monitoring Captures Unscripted Feedback</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/social-media/overview/">Social media monitoring</a> collects qualitative data, but it does so in a different format than the online community. Social media monitoring captures spontaneous online interactions that are not moderated, and hence it harnesses thoughts that consumers might not express as freely under controlled conditions. The <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/social-media-mining-belongs-in-your-mr-toolbox/">social-media approach</a> gives businesses new ways to understand and respond to consumer behaviour. Researchers <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/04/02/twitter-the-killer-box-office-predictor-2/">found recently</a> that Twitter is an accurate predictor of box-office profits. The popular micro-blogging site sheds light on other subjects, too –which is why FGI Research chose to include data from Twitter in its community solution. With social media monitoring attached to our community solution, we can create a more complete perspective of any research project.</span></p>
<p><strong>What the Updates Include </strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup> community invites consumers to take surveys and participate in forum discussion in exchange for material incentives. The community portal features an online forum, quick surveys, and secure client- and user- access, among other features. Meanwhile, the new community solution offers the choice of whether to include, on the landing page, a module tracking forum discussion or a feed tracking buzz on popular social media sites. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Qualitative data from community-based research will help businesses refine existing quantitative studies, contextualize quantitative results, and define fresh business initiatives to better serve customers’ interests. For community members, the many features and opportunities to contribute to research make for a dynamic online experience. In short, the new community not only engages customers in online discourse, but it provides researchers with a larger volume of better data, for a better value.</span></p>
<p><strong>More About SmartPanel<sup>TM </sup></strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The FGI <a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/gw">SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup></a> is one of the most respected online consumer panels in the industry. It is an engaging and interactive platform that invites users to take surveys, exchange ideas, and interact with other panelists in exchange for rewards like cash and prizes. Cash and prizes are delivered promptly, securely and directly into survey respondents’ PayPal accounts. In addition, SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup> members are eligible to join the SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup> Community. To join SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup>, visit the SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup> Gateway (<a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/gw/">http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/gw/</a>).</span></p>
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		<title>Online Grocery-Shopping Expands Among Select Demographics</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/online-shopping-expands-among-select-demographics/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/online-shopping-expands-among-select-demographics/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:14:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grocery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=981</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Typically, when we hear "online shopping," our minds don't leap to purchases like groceries. However, survey data from an indepenent FGI Research study indicate that some consumers are starting to order their groceries online, whether to have them delivered or pick them up in-store. This TrendTruth explores who shops online, what motivates them, and how businesses can capitalize on the trend.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Who are these shoppers, and what do their choices reveal about the grocery industry overall?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">When you hear the words “online shopping,” you typically think of consumers buying items like books, clothing and electronics. “Groceries” probably does not appear on that list, but survey data from FGI Research suggests that perhaps it should.  A number of consumers are buying their milk and bananas online, whether they get their order shipped to them or pick it up in-store.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">This reflects a broader trend in retail: the growth of online shopping, which has revolutionized the industry and the way people shop.   In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that e-commerce represented 44.6% of all retail sales, bringing in approximately $89 million.  The stage is set for growth in Internet retail, and consumers are making a habit of buying goods online. As the options for buying groceries expand, it follows that more consumers will make that purchase online too. But there are still some obstacles to adoption. Just who uses online ordering, and why, is one question that FGI’s study explored in depth.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>CBS News Reports on Online Grocery Shopping</strong><br />
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<p><strong>Big Spenders Likelier to Buy Online</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">While most consumers still do their shopping in a brick-and-mortar grocery store, online grocery services are attracting the most valuable customers in the market. Among the online shoppers who spend $500 or more per month on groceries, approximately one third buy all of their groceries online.  Although there are just a handful of them, the online grocery shoppers who buy 100% of their groceries online are those who spend $1,000 or more on groceries every month.  In other words, the most loyal online grocery shoppers are those with the highest grocery expenditures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Even as online ordering catches on among customers who spend the most on groceries, those customers represent a small fraction of all shoppers. Most shoppers surveyed do not spend quite as much on groceries, especially online.  54% of respondents who order groceries online spend $200 or less per month on such services.  These results imply that online grocery-shopping is less a regular habit than an occasional indulgence, except among a small selection of shoppers. To make sense of this insight, FGI Research asked consumers to explain why they chose (or didn’t choose) to shop online for groceries.</span></p>
<p><strong>Shoppers Motivated by Time, Convenience </strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Among those who bought groceries online with home delivery, most did so as a matter of convenience (65%) or to save time (58%).  A surprising number (36%) said they did it to save gas. Interestingly, men most often cited convenience as their motivation, whereas women cited saving time.  One inference that this could support is that men simply don’t like going to the grocery store, while women don’t have the time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">As for shoppers who ordered online with in-store pickup, about half (49%) said they wanted to save time, and  2 out of 5 appreciated the convenience. Meanwhile, 29% said that they wanted to ensure they purchased only what they needed –perhaps indicating that these customers felt the physical act of browsing the aisles encouraged them to make more impulse purchases.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“Why do you use online grocery shopping with home delivery?”</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/homedelivery.png" alt="" width="489" height="437" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“Why do you use online grocery shopping with in-store pickup?”</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/instore.png" alt="" width="490" height="327" /><br />
<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Online Options Still Have Downsides<br />
</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Notwithstanding the benefits of convenience and saving time, many cited cost as discouraging them from buying groceries online. Customers who had used online ordering with home delivery were most irritated by having to pay an extra fee for the services (61%).  They were also annoyed by mix-ups (31%), such as items that were missing or incorrect in the final delivery, and when stores did not offer desired items or have them in stock (29%).  Despite these downsides, most online shoppers (77%) had used the home delivery option at some point.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Fewer shoppers (46%) had used the in-store pickup option, but those who had expressed frustration about the extra fee as well: 4 in 10 said it was a downside of the service. Furthermore, 35% were frustrated by the fact that they “still [had] to drive to the grocery store,” which might render moot the convenience of having their order picked out and bagged when they got there. A quarter of those who used the service were irritated about the protracted process of getting into the store, sorting out their orders, and getting out. 1 in 4 also said mix-ups were a problem.</span></p>
<p><strong>Why Not?</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">FGI Research asked non-online-grocery-shoppers why they chose not to use the service. The top reason, which 36% identified, was the desire not to lose the experience of going to the grocery store and browsing the aisles. Some customers (35%) said their grocery store did not offer online ordering, and they did not want to have to switch stores in order to get the service. Finally, 1 in 3 said the extra fee was too high.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">With all of these factors to discourage them, as many as a third of those who never shopped online for groceries said that, no matter what, nothing could make them start.  The other two-thirds indicated that they might be likelier to try the service for a lower fee (36%), if they received tangible incentives such as freebies and discounts (34%), or if their grocery store started to offer the service (33%).</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“What would it take to make you start using online grocery shopping services?”</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/whynot.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The results of this study indicate that some consumers are starting to use online grocery shopping services, and that those who do not might be willing to try if certain circumstances changed.  Namely, if more grocery stores offered online services, and if the fee for the services decreased, more customers would be likely to use them.  As of this study, those who spend the most on groceries are likeliest to use online ordering. More research would lend insight into how to target non-users, including those with a modest grocery budget, and make the service more appealing to them. Some steps that grocers could take to capitalize on the online trend include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">For stores that do not offer      online ordering, fielding a concept test to see how customers would      respond to such an offering.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">For stores that do offer the      service but seek to expand or alter it, using an awareness/usage study to      find out whether customers are aware of – and if they are, whether they      use – online grocery-ordering.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">For stores that offer online      ordering but have identified concerns about mix-ups, long waits, high      fees, or other shortcomings, implementing a study on customer satisfaction      to find ways of improving their performance. A focus group, whether online      or in-person, would offer more detailed insight into what the service’s      strengths and weaknesses are, and how the company could alter its offering      to better meet customer needs.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary      access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is      available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>,      including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom      panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full      service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online      sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/" target="_blank">online      panel</a> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Respondents: 203<br />
Date of Survey: June 21-30, 2010<br />
Sample Source: </span><strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Going Green, Saving Green</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/going-green-saving-green/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/going-green-saving-green/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:11:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[going green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utilities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=966</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As companies worldwide endeavor to rebrand themselves as “environmentally friendly,” and stories about “going green” pervade the news, the cultural emphasis on sustainable living is becoming indisputable. This FGI Research study explores the ways that consumers save electricity in their homes and asks how they feel about Smart Grid. The results show that 9 in 10 think the new technology could save money as well as the environment.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>FGI Research study suggests consumers are willing to use smart-grid technology to reduce energy consumption, but some have lingering doubts.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">As companies worldwide endeavor to rebrand themselves as “environmentally friendly,” and stories about “going green” pervade the news, the cultural emphasis on sustainable living is becoming indisputable. Wal-Mart has announced <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/energy-environment/26walmart.html">an initiative</a> to make its outlets “greener” by 2015. Other companies are capitalizing on the green trend by using clean energy sources in their production processes, creating eco-friendly products (like Clorox <a href="http://www.greenworkscleaners.com/">GreenWorks</a>), or incorporating recycled materials in their designs. In a new study, FGI Research focuses on the question of saving energy from the consumer’s perspective. In it, we find that 9 in 10 respondents think reducing home energy consumption is “somewhat” or “very important.”</span></p>
<p><strong>&#8220;If you take steps to reduce your electricity usage, for what reasons do you do so?&#8221;</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/reduced-energy-reasons.png"></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Using FGI’s online panel, SmartPanel<sup>TM</sup>, we asked U.S. consumers whether they took conscious steps to reduce energy consumption and, if so, what their motivations were. The vast majority (93%) of those who responded said they took steps to save energy at home. As their impetus, many cited concerns about the environment and the economy. FGI Research delved deeper, asking about the ways that respondents saved energy and how they felt about technologies like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_grid">smart grid</a>, which increase efficiency. Are customers willing to give up control over some aspects of energy consumption to “go green” and “save green”?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Consumers Take Action to Save Energy</strong><br />
One of the most widely-recognized ways of saving energy is by purchasing appliances that bear the <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">EnergyStar</a> label. This label means the product meets EPA efficiency standards. Other ways of saving energy include turning off lights, using appliances at certain times, investing in home improvements, and using energy-conscious climate control. The FGI Research study asked which of these steps respondents took.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The most common way consumers save energy is by turning off lights upon leaving a room (95%), followed by using compact fluorescent bulbs (88%). Consumers also cut energy costs by keeping the thermostat at a reasonable temperature (88%) and wearing seasonable clothing to reduce the need for air conditioning or heating (78%). About three-fourths (74%) of those surveyed unplugged appliances and chargers when not using them. Slightly fewer people reported using appliances during off-peak hours (69%) and investing in home improvements to improve insulation (63%).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Smart Grid: the Provider Steps In</strong><br />
These energy-saving tactics are all consumer-driven. But the advent of smart-grid technology creates the opportunity to reduce energy expenses and consumption even more. Smart grid achieves this through collaboration among manufacturers, consumers and electric utilties. Specifically, energy providers have greater control over how and when power is used. The smart grid relies on two-way digital communication to monitor all electricity-use within a network. It may or may not incorporate smart meters or other devices that let customers see how much energy they use in their own homes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Customers receive incentives, such as paying lower rates, when they take steps to save energy like operating appliances at “off-peak” (lower-demand) hours –for instance, running the dishwasher late at night. Some smart grids allow a provider to link appliances to a network and turn them on or off remotely to suit these hours. Although this option takes control out of the user’s hands, it reduces the utilities bill at the end of the month and offers benefits to the system overall. These benefits include more accurate and timely monitoring, quicker service response, reduced risk of black- and brownouts, reduced pollution, and reduced need for additional power plants. Boulder, Colorado is an example of a smart-grid-enabled city (the first “Smart City”) already reaping such benefits.</span></p>
<p><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNzU5MjYyNjY2MTYmcHQ9MTI3NTkyNjI5MTQyNyZwPTEyNTg*MTEmZD1BQkNOZXdzX1NGUF9Mb2NrZV9FbWJlZCZn/PTImbz*zZWU1YWNjODdjZjY*NDNhYTBiYWQwY2QxODQxZjdhOSZvZj*w.gif" /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,124,0" width="344" height="278" id="ABCESNWID"><param name="movie" value="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="flashvars" value="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&#038;configId=406732&#038;clipId=6264311&#038;showId=6264311&#038;gig_lt=1275926266616&#038;gig_pt=1275926291427&#038;gig_g=2" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt.swf" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="344" height="278" flashvars="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&#038;configId=406732&#038;clipId=6264311&#038;showId=6264311&#038;gig_lt=1275926266616&#038;gig_pt=1275926291427&#038;gig_g=2" name="ABCESNWID"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Consumers Attracted to Economic, Environmental Pluses</strong><br />
FGI Research asked residential customers whether they knew what a smart grid was, whether they were attached to one or would be open to trying it. An overwhelming majority (96%) said they were either using one already or would use one, given the option. Nine out of ten respondents said the smart grid would save them money. Eight out of ten said the technology would save electricity.  Roughly two-fifths (43%) said that ceding some control to their utilities provider would actually <em>reduce </em>stress, since it would save them money and energy with minimal effort on their part.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Smart Grids or Not-So-Smart Grids?</strong><br />
Notwithstanding overwhelming support for the smart grid’s benefits, many worry about the disadvantages. 62% of consumers say they hesitate to have someone else decide when they can or cannot run appliances. Two out of five (41%) were particularly worried about having a loud appliance turn on in the middle of the night. About half (48%) expressed anxiety about technical difficulties or glitches in the system. Nevertheless, benefits of the smart grid appeared to outweigh the pitfalls. A mere 4% of respondents indicated they would not be open to trying the technology.</span></p>
<p><strong>&#8220;In your opinion, which of the following are disadvantages of Smart Grid/Smart Meter?&#8221;</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/problems-with-smartgrid.png"></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
The results of this FGI Research study illuminate several clear insights. First, customers want to save energy for economic as well as environmental reasons. Second, many are already taking individual steps to do so. Finally, most favor the idea of a smart grid, if they are not already attached to one, even if some see downsides to implementing the technology. Energy providers can benefit from this information in several ways, if they have the information and the opportunity to act.</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Providers can field an awareness/usage study to put in perspective their customers’ level of understanding of smart grids and, where necessary, take steps to educate them. Adequate education may lessen customers’ concerns about problems they see with grid updates.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Providers should undergo research to find out how <em>their </em>customers feel about smart grids and smart meters. Surveys can indicate the overall level of support for network updates, while online focus groups and communities can bring up subjective concerns of individual customers. New concepts and price points can be accurately evaluated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">As always, providers should engage in ongoing research to monitor customer satisfaction and respond with actions that make sense from a customer-service standpoint.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results      of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including      cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research:      click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>,      including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom      panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full      service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online      sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/" target="_blank">online      panel</a> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
Respondents: 131<br />
Date of Survey: May 25-June 1, 2010<br />
Sample Source: <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">This nationally-representative sample consists of adults aged 18 and up and is balanced to the US population using recent census data. One can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.</span></p>
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		<title>Building a Better (Online) Focus Group</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/building-a-better-online-focus-group/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/building-a-better-online-focus-group/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 16:48:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=953</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The focus group (online or in person) is a tried-and-true method for gleaning qualitative insight from a subset of your target audience. But with more flexibility, online research communities can capture the same insights that in-person focus groups do –at any time, in real time. Whether your objective is to target a specific set of concerns or to keep a constant eye on customer satisfaction, online qualitative research offers you a range of options and opportunities to see what your target audience is thinking.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>New ideas and spontaneous insights sprout in the “walled garden” of private online communities.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The focus group (online or in person) is a tried-and-true method for gleaning qualitative insight from a subset of your target audience.  One of the most attractive benefits of the focus group is the presence of a trained moderator, who can direct and manage conversations so as to target specific questions. The answers to these questions can produce valuable insights that drive marketing decisions and fuel additional quantitative research, both of which ramp up business performance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">But what are your options when you need qualitative reactions from a larger group of people?  Or if you’re not exactly sure what your focus should be?   What if you don’t even know what issues you need to address?  How do you reach your target audience and get them talking freely about what they like, what they don’t like, and what they’d like to see in the future?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">For many companies, the answer to this dilemma is to develop an <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_research_community">online community</a></strong>. In an online community, your customers can interact not only with a moderator, who sets the ball rolling on precise exercises, but also with each other.  This produces dual benefits. First, it lets researchers drill down on specific issues. Second, it provides ample opportunity for community members to raise new topics that may not previously have been considered priorities.  Keeping these communities invitation-only allows researchers and their clients a way to interact with customers within the proverbial “walled garden.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">FGI’s suite of <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/communities/overview/">community products</a> offers additional twists on the private online research community: the opportunity to run topic-driven sessions for short periods of time to deal with a specific set of concerns, <em>or</em> to run the community as a permanent website that is always available to members.  The short-term session is an excellent method both for defining the parameters of an upcoming quantitative study and for identifying future research paths to be explored. Long-term communities, meanwhile, let customers bring up concerns as they arise, allowing businesses to monitor subjective feedback in real time. Each type of online community has specific advantages that respond to different needs. Whether your intent is to keep a constant eye on customer satisfaction or to gauge their opinion on a time-sensitive decision, FGI can help you build a community to satisfy your objectives.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Heather Woodward<br />
Director, Online Research<br />
FGI Research</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">To learn more about online communities with FGI Research, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">contact</a> one of our representatives. You can also join FGI’s own <strong><a href="https://ld.fgiresearch.com/forums/sp/">SmartCommunity</a></strong>, our proprietary online community where <a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">SmartPanel</a> panelists contribute to independent qualitative research and offer their views on the latest trends.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
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		<title>Print Media Declines, but is it Dead?</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/print-media-declines-but-is-it-dead/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/print-media-declines-but-is-it-dead/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 17:15:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[publishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=941</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Online content is gaining ground, aided by the release of e-readers like the iPad, and it has hurt some print publications; but others are going strong, and three-quarters of consumers say they don’t want print media to disappear entirely. FGI Research did an independent study to see what print sources have been hardest hit, and why online subscriber fees may not be the ideal solution.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Online content is gaining ground, aided by the release of e-readers like the iPad, and it has hurt some print publications; but others are going strong, and three-quarters of consumers say they don’t want print media to disappear entirely.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Most media leaders concur that print media is floundering. Trends in technology, communication and markets reflect that fact (Steve Jobs just ushered in the next wave of online content readers with Apple’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEiUlf9BAYU">iPad</a>). An entire genre of journalism seems to have emerged just to cover the decline, not only in print but <a href="http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/">online</a>. According to the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/business/media/12pew.html">New York Times</a>, sixty-two percent of journalists think the Internet has forever altered their profession’s principles, eroding the standards of good journalism and the relevance of print publications alike. Still, new data from FGI Research indicates that print may yet have an audience. While 67% of consumers surveyed say they see a decline in the use of print versus other types of media to stay informed, 74% say they “would <em>not</em> prefer that online publications eventually replace print publications completely.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Subscriptions to and circulation of print media first began to drop in the 1920’s, when print started competing with radio for audience. The rise of television put a bigger dent in newspaper market share and ad revenue. But high-speed Internet has by far been the biggest threat to traditional print media, since online publishers offer content in a variety of formats that are not only easy to access but, for the most part, free. FGI Research asked consumers to tell us where they get their information, what they think about the decline of print media and whether they would be willing to pay for online subscriptions.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IQSKRWXyFw8&amp;feature" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IQSKRWXyFw8&amp;feature"></embed></object></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Rupert Murdoch comments on the rapid change in communication technologies.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Where News Comes From</strong><br />
Notwithstanding the rash of stories about how online sources threaten print, FGI’s data show that 1 in 3 (33%) consumers still use print publications “most often” to stay in-the-know, compared to 28% who use online content most often. 39% use both equally often.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>“Which of the following sources do you rely on for information?”</strong></span><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/preferredmediasource.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meanwhile, two thirds (69%) of respondents say they “use online publications to supplement print publications,” while 20% say they rely solely on online sources for information. 11% say they never use online sources. These results indicate that, while consumers may turn to online content for some information, they have not abandoned print altogether. Indeed, some do not even use online sources. It follows that traditional media still has a market. In fact, a little over half of consumers (52%) said they purchased print sources from newsstands and stores, compared to 48% who did not.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Consumers Still Read Some Print</strong><br />
This begs the question: what <em>kinds </em>of print media do readers use? In terms of subscribers, local newspapers and national magazines are the most popular, with 52% of consumers saying they subscribe to local newspapers and 46% saying they subscribe to at least one national magazine. Some print sources clearly are not experiencing the same losses as others. However, other print sources are in big trouble.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>“What kinds of print media do you subscribe to and pay for?”</strong></span><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/printsubscriptions.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>National Newspapers, Local Magazines Lag</strong><br />
According to the graph above, only 10% of consumers surveyed subscribe to a national newspaper. 11% say they subscribe to at least one local magazine. Meanwhile, 29% say they neither subscribe to nor pay for any kind of print media, though that does not guarantee that those consumers use online sources instead (they may simply not look at the news at all). Even so, the data suggests that some print sources have been hit harder than others.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Online Subscription Fees Not the Solution</strong><br />
Most readers use both online and print sources for information. Two thirds use online content to <em>supplement</em> print. This is partly the reason why print newspapers are worried about declining readership. Consumer opinion suggests they are becoming less relevant –and that they do not provide everything consumers want to read. Declining ad revenues and profits exacerbate newspapers’ anxiety.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">At the same time, subscription fees are not attractive to media consumers. National newspapers like the <em>New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, and <em>Los Angeles Times</em>, whose print readership has declined, but whose online content is king, have considered charging an online subscriber fee to stay afloat. But FGI Research’s data show they would have some convincing to do: 70% of consumers say they are unwilling to pay a fee for online content. Indeed, part of the attraction of online content –at least until now –has been the fact that it costs nothing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>The Search for the Perfect Subscriber Fee</strong><br />
Even if they had to pay to read, the vast majority of consumers (87%) say they “should be charged less than what [they] pay for print publications,” because of perceived lower production costs. Since “publishers aren’t spending money on paper/printing,” readers believe they should not have to pay a price reflective of those costs. Only 10% think they should pay “as much as” they pay for print subscriptions because they consider the services “comparable.” The remaining 3% think they should pay “more than what [they] pay for print publications” because of the wider array of information available. For the most part, consumers are opposed to the idea of paying for online content. This puts today’s print media in a bind. How can they satisfy all of their readers while generating enough revenue to turn a profit and satisfy shareholders?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
Declines in subscription, circulation and other performance measures have given today’s print media plenty of reasons to worry. However, FGI Research’s study indicates that they may still have an audience. As for how to respond to readers who have migrated online, while consumers may balk at the idea of a subscriber fee, some may sign on at the right price (less than what they pay for print). Overall, this data gives the print media industry some hope for the future –if they act now. How should publishers respond?</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Conduct research to find out what demographics use which sources, and organize content accordingly. Target your content and publications for the right audiences.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Using qualitative as well as quantitative data, find out the ideal price of an online subscriber fee. Begin testing now.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Use qualitative data to find out what draws readers to one publication over another, and respond to those data to maximize readership no matter where you publish. Use qualitative data to fuel future quantitative studies.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom      panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online      sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a> </strong>to participate in future studies.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><br />
Survey Methods</strong><br />
Respondents: 300<br />
Date of Survey: April 7th-14th, 2010<br />
Sample Source: <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">This nationally-representative sample consists of adults aged 18 and up and is balanced to the US population using recent census data. One can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.</span></p>
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		<title>Energizing Market Research with Custom Panels and Online Communities</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/energizing-market-research-with-custom-panels-and-online-communities/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/energizing-market-research-with-custom-panels-and-online-communities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:55:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[custom panels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utilities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=934</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Custom panels and online communities help gas and electric utilities generate better, faster and more cost-effective market research. Learn how insights from innovative research methods propel better decision-making for utilities across the board, and support improvements in their overall performance.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>How leading utilities are benefiting from market research innovations.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In the last five years, custom panels have brought tremendous benefits to market research teams across multiple industries. More recently, online communities have started to replace traditional qualitative methods like in-person focus groups. At FGI Research, we help many of the country’s leading utilities draw maximum benefit from custom panels and online communities alike. Every utility client sees promising results as it adopts these up-and-coming market research methods. Below is a summary of key benefits that utilities are generating:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>#1 –Savings</strong>: Market research is a major expense for electric and gas utilities. Their core studies often include customer satisfaction trackers, concept and ad testing, and saturation studies. Altogether, the cost for these studies can eclipse a million dollars or more per year. Properly implemented, custom panels and online communities can help a utility’s MR department shave off 20-40% of these research costs. Even when trackers require multi-modal designs, the cost savings from using custom panels and online data-collection are huge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>#2 –Quality</strong>: Utilities dramatically improve the quality of their market research when they conduct studies from their own custom panel, for several reasons. First, a custom panel with FGI provides a private source of sample that we recruit from the utility’s customer file and use exclusively for <em>their</em> research. Second, FGI Research stresses the importance of appending in-house data such as segmentation scores and customer usage information to a utility’s custom online panel. Commercial online sample sources simply cannot match the depth, quality and reliability of data that such a well-constructed and -managed panel provides. Finally, a utility’s online community (especially when it incorporates both qualitative and quantitative elements) yields data and insights that go far beyond the results generated by traditional focus groups.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>#3 –Speed and Flexibility</strong>: Custom panels and online communities combine to form a ready and reliable platform for any number of real-time market research applications. For utilities, this means that studies launch quickly and field efficiently. In most cases, FGI’s utility clients can conduct multiple studies in the time it used to take to complete just one. They can much more rapidly determine the feasibility of a proposed study and design an approach that will meet their analytical, budget and timing requirements.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Custom panels and online communities help gas and electric utilities generate better, faster and more cost-effective market research for their internal clients, which in turn helps them satisfy those clients more effectively. Even better, new insights from innovative research methods fuel superior decision-making across the board, so a utility can see gains in its overall performance.</span></p>
<p><strong>David Wilson<br />
CEO<br />
FGI Research</strong></p>
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		<title>Store Brands Gain Acceptance and Momentum with Today’s Consumer</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/store-brands-gain-acceptance-and-momentum-with-today%e2%80%99s-consumer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/store-brands-gain-acceptance-and-momentum-with-today%e2%80%99s-consumer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:17:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grocery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[private label]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=880</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Store brands, or private label products, have an unfortunate reputation for being "cheap." In the past, associations with "generic" or poor quality have threatened private label manufacturers' market share. However, recent online survey data from FGI Research suggests that consumers actually have confidence in store brands' quality. As perceptions of store brand quality improve and economic challenges persist, 25% of consumers plan to buy more store brands than ever before. Quality market research will help manufacturers capitalize on that trend.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>As perceptions of quality improve and economic challenges persist, 25% of consumers plan to buy more store brands.</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Popular association with poor quality and “looking cheap” have often kept store brands (private label products) from enjoying broad acceptance and sustained market share. There is even a lingering perception among some consumers that “store brands” equate to “generics,” an antiquated association to be sure. Yet store brands also have a universal reputation for saving consumers money. Data from a recent FGI study shows that 97% of US consumers believe “store brands cost less than national brands.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our findings suggest that consumers are poised to expand their purchases of store brands. Not only do a third of those surveyed buy more store brands than they did a year ago, but 1 in 4 plans to increase his or her store brand purchases in the future. As this CBS report reveals, even brand loyalists are open to switching to store brands, especially when the perceived quality is as good as, or better than, the national brand.</span></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OwD8SG4WeHw" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OwD8SG4WeHw"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>A Massive Market is at Stake</strong><br />
Of the $500 billion dollars that United States consumers spend yearly across all categories, store brands claim only 17% ($84 billion), but that share is growing –and national brands large and small have felt the shift. Store brand sales have even seen gains in categories that national manufacturers used to consider “safe,” like baby food, feminine hygiene, health and beauty products, household cleaning goods, and oral care, among others. The change is less surprising when you look at other markets around the world. In Western  Europe, for instance, the market share of store brands is 2-3 times larger than that of national brands. As American consumers’ habits start to mirror this tendency, American companies are responding: <a href="http://www.storebrandsdecisions.com/news/2009/12/22/target-plans-to-add-100-more-up-and-up-products-in-2010">Target plans to add another 100 products</a> to their “UP &amp; UP” brand in 2010.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Store Brand Quality Catches Up</strong><br />
FGI Research asked US consumers how they view the quality of store brands vs. name brands. Specifically, we asked how much they agreed with this statement: “The quality of store-brand products is just as good as name brand products.” A full two thirds (65%) of consumers said they “strongly agree” or “agreed somewhat.” Furthermore, four out of five (79%) consumers strongly agree or agree somewhat that “store-brand products are an excellent value for the money.”</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“Store Brands are Just as High-Quality as Name Brands” </strong> <img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/storebrand_productquality.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">These data suggest strong consumer confidence in store brands on questions of quality and value. On the whole, consumers view store-brand products as comparable in quality to name brands. Given the 97% who believe store brands are less expensive than name brands, and the more than 60% who believe store-brand products give them a good value for the price, it follows that switching from name brand to store brand may be one way consumers can save money without sacrificing quality. But how many will actually make the switch? FGI answered that question with some data about purchasing habits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Store Brand Purchases Pick Up</strong><br />
Over a third (35%) of consumers said they were buying more store brands than a year ago. Asked to project their purchasing habits for the next year, 25% said they plan to increase their consumption of store brands. These results support industry predictions that store brand growth will be 13% annually. Should the US growth rate reach half of these levels, store brands could capture another $5 billion per year in consumer spending. This is a healthy “trial” statistic; retaining that share of wallet will ultimately depend on consistency of store brands&#8217; competitive quality and pricing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Grocery Store Brands Fare Best</strong><br />
FGI Research asked a few specific questions about store-brand <span style="text-decoration: underline;">food</span> products (groceries). Up to 79% of consumers believed store-brand food products were “just as nutritious as name brands.” A larger percentage (83%) was willing to serve store-brand food products to family members. Meanwhile, 63% of consumers said they were “extremely likely” or “somewhat likely” to buy store-brand food products compared to national brands, while only 15%  said they were “extremely unlikely” or  “somewhat unlikely.”</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“Thinking Only of Food Products, How Likely are You to Buy Store-Brand?”</strong> <img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/storebrand_howlikely.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Store Brands Gain Traction Across Categories</strong><br />
Store brands consumers were most likely to buy included food, household goods, and “general merchandise” (a broad category that encompassed seasonal items, school supplies, automotive needs, etc). Hair care products, over-the-counter drugs and baby care also fared well. Consumers were less likely to spend on store-brand apparel and home goods like appliances.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>&#8220;In which of the following categories do you purchase store-brand products?&#8221;</strong> <img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/storebrand_productsbought.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
This FGI Research study demonstrates growing consumer confidence in the quality, price and value of store-brand products, confidence which translates into higher consumption of store brands. Consumers are likelier to purchase store-brand food, household items, general merchandise, and health and beauty (less so home goods and apparel). So, what are some key actions to consider based on these findings?</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Retailers and      manufacturers should continue to invest in store-brand offerings. These products      usually bring higher margins for retailers and significant gains are possible      with the proper research, product development and marketing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Some store      brands’ packaging might need improvement. High quality, professional      packaging and attractive pricing will drive sales.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">National brands must stay abreast of      consumer preferences and behaviors, especially as regards leading store-brand offerings. Further erosion of their      market share is likely without aggressive research, product development      and real differentiation, and marketing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Private label manufacturers must remain aware of quality concerns to maintain their strong performance relative to national brands and even enhance their competitive edge. This means robust marketing and packaging research and conscientious response to consumer preferences. </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong>online panel</strong> to participate in future studies: <a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/gw?proc=1">here</a>.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
Respondents: 367 </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Survey: February 26th-28th, 2010 </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Sample Source: <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">This nationally-representative sample consists of adults aged 18 and up and is balanced to the US population using recent census data. One can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.</span></p>
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		<title>Some Super Bowl Ads Have Sizzle But Lack Staying Power</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/some-super-bowl-ads-have-sizzle-but-lack-staying-power/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/some-super-bowl-ads-have-sizzle-but-lack-staying-power/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:04:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ad testing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=807</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We may have conducted this research on Super Bowl advertising a little after the fact, but our results produced actionable insights for marketers. We found out not only what advertisements viewers found most entertaining, but which ones consumers could actually remember –and which were most effective in producing intent to buy. Sometimes, as many as 44% of viewers couldn’t even remember who made an ad, much less decide if they wanted to buy the product advertised. Which ads were more successful? Read this TrendTruth to find out.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">While many market research companies launched research programs aimed at measuring how well consumers liked Super Bowl ads, FGI conducted an independent study to determine the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">effect</span> of advertising during the Super Bowl. We fielded this study later than others to see if consumers could <em>really </em>recall the ads they saw. It turns out that only 44% of those who saw the most “memorable” ad could recall its sponsor. We determined that while viewers may respond favorably to some ads in the moment, they forget them after a few days. The best Super Bowl commercials are memorable as well as dazzling, as our online survey results demonstrate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Super Bowl is an American tradition, a broadcast phenomenon, and an advertising bonanza. With <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35298021/ns/entertainment-television/">106 million pairs of eyes</a> on the screen, the potential to reach consumers is huge. No wonder companies will shell out millions of dollars for thirty seconds of airtime. Nearly as much money goes into making the ads themselves. An entire culture has arisen around ranking ads according to how funny, exciting, or appealing they are. Those who win –win big. Those who fall short face big losses. During this annual affair, the pressure’s on to make a splash with the most memorable, effective, and best-liked ad. If you don’t, you could be out several million dollars. But what qualifies as a good ad? FGI’s SmartPanel gave us some ideas.</span></p>
<p><strong>Most Likeable Ads<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">We looked at ten different ad concepts and asked how effective they were, which were most memorable, and which consumers liked the most (or least). Our panelists said they “liked” or “strongly liked” spots from the following sponsors:</span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/likeable-ads.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">By this account, HomeAway, CareerBuilder.Com and Google lost out: fewer than 35% of respondents liked or strongly liked their ads. But being likeable is not the same as being <em>impactful</em>. We also asked which ads had the greatest influence on intent to purchase. As it turns out, the commercials consumers liked weren’t necessarily the ones that made them go out and shop.</span></p>
<p><strong>Snickers and Doritos Scored a Touchdown<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Doritos and Snickers saw some wins. 39% of respondents said they were likely or very likely to purchase products from Doritos after viewing the Super Bowl ad.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Intent to Buy: Doritos</strong><br />
<img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/intent-to-buy-doritos.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meanwhile, 36% of respondents said they would be likely or very likely to buy a Snickers bar after watching the Betty White ad that made so many chuckle.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Intent to Buy: Snickers</strong><br />
<img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/intent-to-buy-snick.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong>Some Ads Missed the Mark<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Bud Light and Volkswagen did not see the same benefits in terms of intent to purchase, notwithstanding how funny the Bud Light ads were, or how endearing the VW “punchbuggy” concept. Only 17% of respondents were “likely” or “very likely” to buy a Volkswagen after viewing the Super Bowl ad. 24% said they would want to buy a product from Bud Light, compared to 42% who described themselves as “not likely” or “not very likely.” These figures may affect decisions companies make about advertising in the future. They suggest that what’s cute or funny, even when viewers like it, may not always be what convinces them to buy. Moreover, not everyone may use the product advertised to begin with.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Failure to Recall<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The SmartPanel study uncovered another blind spot in Super Bowl advertising: whereas viewers remembered some ad concepts better than others, they often failed to link concept to sponsor. One of the more memorable ads was CareerBuilder’s “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1FxwagDP8A">Casual Friday</a>,” which exactly half of viewers could remember. When asked, however, 56% said they couldn’t recall which brand the ad endorsed. The ad was also one of the least-liked, and only 22% of those surveyed said they were “likely” or “very likely” to use CareerBuilder’s services –as opposed to 38% who were “not” or “not very” likely.</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Coca-Cola experienced similar problems. Whereas 46% could remember an ad concept that involved “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FlUl1nxaH8">The Simpsons</a>,” only 25% could remember the ad belonged to Coke –compared to 65% who could not. Coca-Cola also saw losses, although not quite as significant, in intent to buy: 35% “not likely” or “not very likely” compared to 32% “likely” or “very likely” to purchase.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">On the other hand, 79% of all surveyed said they could remember an ad involving “Betty White playing football”; this made it the most memorable ad of all. What’s more, 41% could remember the ad belonged to Snickers, versus 41% who could not. That ad was also a favorite among viewers, and Snickers saw the most positive results in terms of intent to buy. In this case, having a memorable ad had definite benefits for Snickers.</span></p>
<p><strong>Viral Impact<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Much as viewers enjoyed the Snickers ad, they still didn’t watch it on YouTube after the game. To get a sense of each ad’s viral impact, we asked viewers how likely they would be to look up ad concepts on that site after the fact. 26% reported they would be “likely” or “very likely” to look up the Betty White ad online, compared to 54% who would not.</span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Viral Impact: Snickers</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/youtube-snickers.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong>Actionable Insights<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Overall, our data indicate that the success of an ad depends on more than one variable. Just being memorable, visually stimulating, funny, or likeable is not enough. The ideal Super Bowl ad is all of these things and more. It captures the viewer’s attention, enhances the brand, reminds the viewer who is advertising, and leaves a lasting impression. To accomplish these objectives, companies should test every detail of creative copy, recall, impact, brand fidelity, and investigate the potential for viral sharing. The foremost research methods are imperative to this process. Even then, there’s a certain <em>je ne sais quoi </em>that makes the most dazzling ads so dazzling. A mix of intuition and targeted research is the key to finding that magic mix of elements.</span></strong></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NEH1omnG77c" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NEH1omnG77c"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Survey Methods<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 2/18/2010<br />
Total Responders: 227<br />
Sample Source:</strong> <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
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		<title>From the &#8220;Brick&#8221; to the Boutique: Mobile Shopping on the Rise</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/from-the-brick-to-the-boutique-mobile-shopping-on-the-rise/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/from-the-brick-to-the-boutique-mobile-shopping-on-the-rise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:34:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wireless]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=729</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In 1984, Motorola unveiled the first cellphone. Today, cellphone technology is advancing at the speed of light. Advanced market research methods gave FGI some insight into the latest mobile trend: online shopping through your phone. Up to a third of consumers are making purchases this way, according to our survey data. Read about these and other findings in this TrendTruth.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">A study by FGI Research shows that over 30% of consumers polled shop online using mobile devices. Phones, it seems, do a lot more than help users keep in touch with friends. A bit of history shows how far mobile has come since the technology emerged.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>From the Brick&#8230;</strong><br />
In 1984, Motorola unveiled the first cellular phone: nicknamed &#8220;the brick,&#8221; it weighed two pounds, offered a half-hour of talk time per battery charge and sold for $3,995. In twenty-six years, mobile technology has transformed at warp speed. Not only are most devices the size of matchbooks, but phones are inexpensive and readily available. Some boast a battery life of up to a week, and features like games, unlimited texts, and Internet are standard. Through texting, many companies have found a new avenue for marketing to consumers. Some users have even started to shop online –with their phones. FGI turned to SmartPanel to get insight in this trend.</span></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ptbJZ9HBw2k" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ptbJZ9HBw2k"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>&#8230; to the Boutique</strong><br />
Among those surveyed, 59.67% reported that their phones had Internet, whereas 40.33% did not. When we drilled down the data by provider, the percentage of customers with Internet sometimes jumped as high as 75.9% (with Sprint) or 70.9% (with AT&amp;T).<sup>1</sup> Across the board, customers believed the Internet connection on their phones was secure. When asked if they felt safe using mobile Internet to make a purchase, 87.93% answered “yes.” Customers’ overall faith in the web that they accessed through their phones may help explain the purchasing habits of those who used the technology to shop.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">However, not as many customers were shopping online with their phones as their level of comfort might portend. As many as 67.6% of respondents said they did not use their phones for online purchases. Even among mobile customers who had Internet, the number of respondents who shopped online through their phones was relatively low. Nevertheless, the 32.4% of users who said they <em>did </em>shop online were making purchases in a range of categories.</span><br />
<img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/items.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>What they Bought</strong><br />
Most (81.03%) were buying apps for their smartphones. Yet respondents also purchased other products, including electronics, clothes, shoes and accessories, books, food, and household items. Some said they also looked up information about what cars to buy. The industries that dominated were fashion, books, electronics and food. All of this data begs the question: who is the customer here?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Who&#8217;s Buying</strong><br />
The majority of those who shopped with their phones, up to 67.2%, were male. 32.8% were female. When women did use their phones to make purchases, they spent most of their money on household goods or on clothes, shoes and accessories. Men, meanwhile, spent a fair penny on food, books and electronics.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">A breakdown in terms of income revealed even more about these mobile shoppers. Nearly two-fifths were in an income bracket between $75k and $100k. One fifth was in the bracket of $100k or more. A little over 30% made between $20,000 and $75,000 a year.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mobile-income.png" alt="" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>What they Spent</strong><br />
No matter who was shopping, customers tended to use their phones for small purchases: 43.1% of those surveyed said they spent less than $50 per month, and 24.14% reported that they spent between $51 and $100. A few said that they spent as much as $200-$300 on purchases through their phones. Among these, most were spending money on food (33.3%), automotive goods (30.0%), or clothes and accessories (27.8%).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
Ultimately, the diversity of purchases that customers made through their phones –buying not just apps but tangible goods and services –indicates that this trend should influence how companies adapt their marketing plans to respond to mobile technology. By finding out what customers shop online, which ones use their phones to shop online, and what they buy, multiple industries can move towards marketing efforts aimed at this demographic. The way to gain an edge in the emerging mobile market is by using top-notch research methods. One thing is for sure: both mobile Internet and online shopping are here to stay. As the former becomes more ubiquitous, the tendency to use phones for online purchases could increase, or at least stay steady. Further research would reveal even more insight into this possibility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 2/5/2010<br />
Total Responders: 300<br />
Sample Source: <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></span></p>
<p>1. We wanted to know what mobile providers respondents relied on and what features were on their phones. We found that the leading providers were Verizon and AT&amp;T, while T-Mobile and Sprint claimed a smaller –though substantial –share of the market.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/mobile-company.png" alt="" /></p>
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		<title>What Should Drive Your Business Decision: Intuition or Insight?</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/what-should-drive-your-business-decision-intuition-or-insight/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/what-should-drive-your-business-decision-intuition-or-insight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:38:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thought leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=693</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, Blink, advises readers to go with their gut when deciding things quickly. As is often the case, a competing viewpoint (and book) has arrived to suggest another approach. In Think Twice, Michael Mauboussin advocates for a more measured approach to decision-making, one relying on facts and analysis. Who is right: my gut or my research?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Malcolm Gladwell, in his much-celebrated book, <em><a href="http://www.gladwell.com/blink/index.html">Blink</a></em>, advises people to go with their gut (which is based on experience) when deciding things quickly. As is often the case, a competing viewpoint (and book) has arrived to suggest another approach, at least in certain circumstances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Michael Mauboussin, in his new book, <em><a href="http://www.michaelmauboussin.com/bookshelf/thinktwice.html"><em>Think Twice</em></a></em>, advocates for a more measured approach to making certain decisions. He argues that we can put too much stock in our personal intuition and experience… and not enough in rigorous, fact-based, contemplative methods. Specifically, he calls us to engage the &#8220;wisdom of crowds,&#8221; which in the marketing research world means online communities and social media mining; statistical models, such as regression, conjoint, and MaxDiff; and best practices of data collection, which includes online surveys, custom online panels, RDD telephone data collection, and more.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mauboussin believes that the <em>Blink</em> model is best left for use in predictable environments, where results from prior/similar decisions are well-known, and where we can see an obvious cause-and-effect relationship. While our gut instincts may be useful in such situations, <em>Think Twice</em> suggests that we more often find ourselves in situations that are totally new, where cause-and-effect models are not immediately obvious. As Mauboussin succinctly puts it: &#8220;Intuition is losing relevance in an increasingly complex world … more is different.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">So, who is right: my gut or my research? In these videos, the authors speak for themselves.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B8q-GNUjVI&amp;feature=fvw"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5B8q-GNUjVI" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5B8q-GNUjVI"></embed></object></a></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r-ZeGv3HJXo" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r-ZeGv3HJXo"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In my view, both Gladwell and Mauboussin make compelling cases for their views. Instant decision-making can serve us well in the right situations. When we&#8217;ve &#8220;seen this movie before,&#8221; we should confidently decide, act and move on. We can thump our chests and declare: &#8220;He who hesitates is lost.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">On the other hand, we must also acknowledge that we live in a complex and rapidly changing world. I have seen too many costly mistakes made because companies failed to invest in marketing research. They failed to seek the opinions and insights of the very customers whom they were in business to serve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In order to successfully navigate this world, to choose correctly when we face our toughest decisions, we should take full advantage of the powerful marketing research tools and methods that are now at our disposal. We can use custom online panels, social media mining, online communities, quantitative models, prediction markets, and other advanced methods to inform our choices. During these times, we&#8217;ll turn to the data, while calmly reminding those around us that: &#8220;Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.&#8221; Some days we&#8217;ll blink and others we&#8217;ll think twice. The trick is to know when to rush in and when to hesitate. Do you have an instant opinion about the issue…or to you need to conduct some more research?</span></p>
<p>David W. Wilson<br />
CEO<br />
FGI Research</p>
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		<title>Making it Work: The Impact of Scarce Job Opportunities on Marriages in the U.S.</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/making-it-work-the-impact-of-scarce-job-opportunities-on-marriages-in-the-u-s/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/making-it-work-the-impact-of-scarce-job-opportunities-on-marriages-in-the-u-s/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:43:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the job market continues to decline, FGI Research began questioning the impact of economic recession on married couples and their lifestyles; mainly: was job scarcity causing married couples to have long distance relationships?  We turned to our online panel for some insights.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">As the job market continues to decline, FGI Research began questioning its impact on married couples and their lifestyles. Mainly: was job scarcity causing married couples to have long distance relationships?  We turned to our SmartPanel for answers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Advanced Research Methods Lend Insight into Demographics</strong><br />
We polled a significant number of respondents who were nationally representative in terms of their demographics using our tested method, known as iGAGE.  Our study showed that 10.3% of married couples, with at least one working partner, were in long distance relationships.  Of these, 70.83% said that the separation was due to the U.S. economy.  Interestingly, respondents over the age of 30 were much more open to the idea of a long distance relationship than those ages 21-29.  Of those who said that they’d be willing to live apart, 86.4% were over age 30.  Exploring this further, we discovered that the majority (62.2%) of respondents would only be willing to maintain this type of relationship for less than 3 years.  Finally, although 50% women said that they would live in a long distance relationship for ‘as long as necessary’ only 19.6% of men agreed.</span></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xVHPo5HiOSk" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xVHPo5HiOSk"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>How Couples Communicate</strong><br />
Finally, FGI Research discovered some interesting ways in which couples keep their lines of communication open during separation.  Social media has emerged as a viable way for married couples to keep up with each other.  Our survey showed that 52.2% of these married couples use social media to keep in touch with their spouse.  The most popular site for communication for this purpose is Facebook (40.4%), followed by MySpace (23.4%) and Twitter (8.5%).  Surprisingly 72.3% of these social media users are between ages 30-54.  This is an unexpected shift in usage by age for media outlets that were once almost exclusively dominated by the 18-24 year old group one year ago.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-576" title="TT006 GRAPH" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/TT006-GRAPH2.jpg" alt="TT006 GRAPH" width="632" height="424" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
How will demographic changes like this affect the market? If consumers experience instability in their interpersonal relationships, it could influence their purchasing habits in any number of ways: increased travel, increased use of social media (as our research found), changes in how they prepare or buy meals, living situations, lifestyles, and so on. To stay abreast of trends like these, companies should research not just what consumers buy but <i>why</i> they buy &#8211;the lifestyles behind the purchasing habits, the everyday realities that impact how, where, and what people buy. Advanced research methods like custom online panels can help businesses understand these things, as can, more importantly, online communities where customers can share spontaneous insights about their daily lives. Combined with surveys on standard topics like packaging, brand, and advertising, research into customers&#8217; daily habits and life situations can make for a more effective business model.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 10/07/2010<br />
Total Responders: 233<br />
Sample Source:<strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
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		<title>Student Loans have Reached New Heights</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/student-loans-have-reached-new-heights/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/student-loans-have-reached-new-heights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:04:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=565</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, student borrowing for college has reached a record high. As students across the nation headed back to school, FGI Research conducted an online panel survey in response to this trend, where respondents who had borrowed money for a higher degree were asked about their experiences.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574388682129316614.html">Students Borrow More Than Ever for College</a>,” student borrowing for college has reached a record high.  Just last year, the amount of borrowing for educational loans grew nearly 25% where such borrowing had once been as low as 1.7%.  As students across the nation headed back to school, FGI Research conducted a study to learn more about respondents who had borrowed money to pursue higher education.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Where Aid Comes From</strong><br />
Of those who responded, 83.92% said they had qualified and used Financial Aid.  Respondents were asked to share all forms of financial aid that they received for their education.  The majority of this aid came from Stafford Loans (76.98%), followed by Perkins Loans (36.51%) and then private loans (29.37%). While most respondents were female, the gender distribution of those seeking financial aid were mostly equal. Moreover, respondents receiving financial aid were diverse ethnically and in terms of age, making it apparent that this trend has affected multiple demographics since the country’s economic downturn.</strong></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ppZJ9vhWypc" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ppZJ9vhWypc"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Consumers Turn to Social Media</strong><br />
The subject of student loans has also hit social media outlets.  Facebook has seen a rash of groups, notes, and blogs to discuss the issue of financial aid. 34% of students got their information from the popular social-networking site. Respondents also cited <a href="http://www.youtube.com">YouTube</a> as a source for information about student loans. 23% of those surveyed said they had used YouTube to inform their decisions about financial aid.  And it’s not just students using social media to discuss the issues surrounding Financial Aid.  In June 2009, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi posted a note on Facebook with information to make students aware of the many benefits available to help them manage their student loans. Again, we see the rising role of social media not just in campaigns but in the daily act of governing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>The Loans Linger</strong><br />
Approximately half of our respondents are still paying off student loans. Not surprisingly, 82% of them reported that the debt affects their standard of living.  65% reported changes in their spending habits with regards to leisure activities, food and household purchases; 40% said loans have prevented travel; and 32% said they have postponed major milestones such as marriage, starting a family, or purchasing a house. If the economic downturn persists, the question remains as to how to reap the benefits of higher education without incurring the risk of overwhelming debt from student loans.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-595" title="TT005" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/TT005.png" alt="TT005" width="496" height="324" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
Given that students said they had changed their purchasing habits to cope with debt, studies like these have very real implications for many industries. Young adults are a demographic with considerable sway in the market. If many of them are cutting back on discretionary spending to cope with student loans, it helps to know what <i>will</i> attract their business. The way to find out is through advanced research methods. <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/social-media/web-monitoring/">Social media monitoring</a> is especially pertinent in this case, since so many young people are using tools like Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, and now Twitter. Yet online survey data can always lend deeper insight into consumer trends. Robust research can help any business cope with this and other symptoms of economic downturn.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Survey Methods<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 9/22/2009<br />
Total Responders: 143<br />
Sample Source:</strong> <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
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		<title>The Future of Market Research?</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/the-future-of-market-research/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/the-future-of-market-research/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:18:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best practices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thought leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=618</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The market research industry has seen big changes in the last 30 years, including new technology for phone, mail and online surveys. These changes are transforming the face of marketing research. As leaders in the field, we bear the onus of maintaining best practices that have carried us this far while finding new and creative ways to answer clients’ business needs, using all the tools available to turn their research questions into actionable intelligence.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">The changes in the market research industry over the past 30 years have been significant; the widespread adoption of the CATI system for telephone interviewing, predictive dialers to help us reach our respondents more efficiently, the use of sophisticated scanning techologies to speed the processing of mail surveys, and, more recently, the implementation of online research using both qualitative and quantitative methods that allows us to present audio and visual stimuli more easily, shorten field windows, and even reach audiences that had previously been unreachable through random digit dialing.  So, what&#8217;s next?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">As market researchers, the onus is on us to help our clients find new and creative ways to get answers to their business problems, without sacrificing the best practices that make those answers actionable.  This could mean combining multiple modes of data collection to ensure we reach our target population where they &#8220;live&#8221; (web, phone, mail, mobile), finding new environments for clients to interact with their customer base (custom panels, communities, social networks) or investigating new technologies to get at information that might not be revealed using traditional research methods (social media monitoring).  The world is changing faster than ever before &#8211; we all need to be ready to move with the times.</span></p>
<p>Heather Woodward<br />
Director, Online Research<br />
FGI Research</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Do It Yourself: Men and Women Motivated by Different Factors</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/do-it-yourself-men-and-women-motivated-by-different-factors/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/do-it-yourself-men-and-women-motivated-by-different-factors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:48:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[People do do-it-yourself projects for a number of reasons: enjoyment, to learn new skills, to save money. FGI Research, in an effort to understand how homeowners are saving money this year, conducted some independent market research on the subject of DIY projects. What they found out about men and women DIYers might surprise you.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">FGI Research, in an effort to understand how homeowners are saving money this year, conducted an independent study on the subject of DIY projects.  Social media sites are full of information about how to do everything from simple at-home repairs to large DIY upgrades. American consumers reported that using social media sites greatly increased their ability to do DIY projects.  The social media sites they use most frequently include Facebook (29%), YouTube (24%), and personal blogs (15%).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Economic Downturn Causes Uptick in DIY</strong><br />
Of people who do DIY projects regularly, 28% report doing more DIY projects now than they did 12 months ago. The frequency of people doing DIY projects is not only increasing because of the educational opportunities on the internet, but also because of the downturn in the economy.  In fact, 33% of DIYers said that they do more DIY projects specifically because of the down economy.  Furthermore, 58% of people who do DIY regularly said that part of their motivation is expense.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Gendered Motivations</strong><br />
Our analysts also looked at differences in DIY preferences by gender.  The majority of respondents who did ‘light DIY’ projects were women (69%); as opposed to those who said they do ‘medium and heavy’ levels of DIY, who were overwhelmingly male.  Furthermore, women had performed only 1-2 DIY projects in the past 12 months. Most men reported doing 3-5 or more in the same time. The reasons why people chose to do DIY projects also differed by gender.  25% of those who said that ‘completing DIY projects gives me a sense of satisfaction’ were male.  Of those who said their main motivation was expense, or that they ‘enjoy learning how to do DIY projects,&#8217; most were women.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-598" title="TT004" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/TT004.png" alt="TT004" width="600" height="397" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
It is important to note the differences in appeal to both men and women when thinking about the DIY market.  The main motivation behind a woman&#8217;s purchase of DIY products may be to save money or learn a new skill; a male consumer may simply be motivated by the sense of satisfaction he gets with a job well done.  This could influence how a business markets to each demographic. Research into the differences in gender demographics, using targeted sampling and specific survey questions, can help inform marketing plans to each gender.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Survey Methods<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 8/24/2009<br />
Total Responders: 259<br />
Sample Source:</strong> <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Effects of Order Bias on Price Elasticity Measurement</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/the-effects-of-order-bias-on-price-elasticity-measurement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/the-effects-of-order-bias-on-price-elasticity-measurement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:45:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pricing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fgiresearch.com/?p=580</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Would you still buy recycled paper products if you knew they would cost extra? What if they were less expensive? Where does commitment to a “green lifestyle” fit in the equation? Recent data from FGI Research measured the potential price impact of including recycled content in paper products. See what we found out.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In a recent survey, FGI measured the potential price impact of including recycled content in a paper product that had not previously been available with this content.  The intent was to measure the degree to which there was a change in respondents&#8217; expectations of price based on this alternative content.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Traditionally, surveys are designed to present price options on a basic scale, without methodological regard to the order in which the price deltas are presented to the respondents.  In this survey, a random half of the respondents were presented the pricing variation choices from low-to-high (i.e. 30% less to 30% more), and the other half were presented the price variations in the opposite order (30% more to 30% less).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Data from the “low-to-high” respondents skewed toward paying <span style="text-decoration: underline;">less</span> for the product, while data from the “high to low” respondents skewed toward paying <span style="text-decoration: underline;">more</span> for the products.  The same number said “about the same” in both cases; “about the same” was the midpoint of each scale. This finding reflects  a classic example of order bias.</span></p>
<p>Dino Fire<br />
Director, Marketing Science<br />
FGI Research</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-581" title="dfblog" src="http://www.fgiresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/dfblog.jpg" alt="dfblog" width="600" height="450" /></p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Cash for Clunkers Aids Auto Makers</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/cash-for-clunkers-aids-auto-makers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/cash-for-clunkers-aids-auto-makers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:31:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[auto industry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://test.fgiresearch.com/?p=356</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we have discussed in many other places, social media mining is the wave of the future of marketing research. This month, FGI Research conducted several social media scans on a wide variety of subjects. The insights we uncovered on the Cash for Clunkers program are especially compelling.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Using innovative mining techniques, FGI has been scanning social media sites to unearth consumer insight in a variety of subjects. Michael Jackson&#8217;s recent death dominated the discussion, understandably. But FGI also found out this month that social media sites are abuzz with consumer talk about the &#8220;Cash for Clunkers&#8221; program. Even then, the frequency with which social media users talked about the term depended on demographics. Middle-aged people and Hispanics were less likely to be aware of the program, whereas other groups showed greater interest.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Google Trends: &#8220;Cash for Clunkers&#8221; is &#8220;Volcanic&#8221;</strong><br />
&#8220;Cash for Clunkers,&#8221; for those who are unfamiliar, is a government stimulus program that promises incentivies to trade in an inefficient &#8220;clunker&#8221; for a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. News about and discussions involving this term have had a huge impact on social media. FGI Research noticed an enormous spike in blog traffic surrounding the subject, and Google Trends rated the term &#8220;Cash for Clunkers&#8221; as &#8220;Volcanic,&#8221; meaning it earned the top spot on their most-frequently-searched list.  Although this trend is spreading rapidly on the internet, the question for automakers is:  Is this social media trend really &#8220;volcanic&#8221; for all consumers, or do demographics make a difference?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Demographics: Look Who&#8217;s Talking</strong><br />
FGI Research turned to SmartPanel panelists to uncover who, exactly, was behind the demonstrated interest in &#8220;Cash for Clunkers.&#8221; We asked those surveyed if they were aware of the program. 82% of respondents said that they had heard of it, but we discovered that awareness depended on demographic factors; for example, 70% of Hispanics said they had heard of this program, as opposed to 84% for non-Hispanics.  There was also a significant drop in the awareness of people ages 31-34 (57%) when compared to the average respondent awareness (87%). Those between 35-44 and over 65 demonstrated the highest awareness of the program. More research into social media use by these demographic groups could reveal if they are also responsible for the spike in Internet traffic of the subject.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Who Will Use the Program?</strong><br />
The study also included questions about who might benefit from &#8220;Cash for Clunkers.&#8221; Our results suggest that the future looks brighter for the auto industry.  Only 12% of respondents said that they had bought a car in the past six months, but 23% said that they planned to buy a car in the next six months.  Of respondents who had not bought a car in the past six months, and had not heard of “Cash for Clunkers” before taking the survey, 17% said that they were more likely to buy a new car after learning of the program.  It’s easy to see what a tremendous impact this government program has on the American consumer in terms of new car purchases. The chart below illustrates consumer sentiment on the subject of “Cash for Clunkers.”</span></p>
<p><img title="Cash For Clunkers" src="../wp-content/uploads/2009/08/CFC-TT0031.gif" alt="Cash For Clunkers" width="676" height="331" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
We can take a number of insights away from this research. First, social media has demonstrated a powerful influence on consumer awareness of a subject, and a powerful ability to <i>reflect</i> consumer interest in that subject. People get information from social media, and they also express their views through social media, which means there are opportunities to use social media for marketing as well as research into marketing. FGI&#8217;s independent study suggests that &#8220;Cash for Clunkers&#8221; has great potential to positively impact auto purchases this year, yet only if all demographic groups are aware of it. Depending on who uses social media, companies could use it as a tool to reach every demographic effectively, inform them of the program, and so benefit from online marketing. More research into the demographics of social media use could further support those efforts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Survey Methods</strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 7/31/2009<br />
Total Responders: 295<br />
Sample Source: <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></span></p>
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		<title>Don’t Go It Alone: Partner with Experts Who Stay Invested in Your Success</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/don%e2%80%99t-go-it-alone-partner-with-experts-who-stay-invested-in-your-success/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/don%e2%80%99t-go-it-alone-partner-with-experts-who-stay-invested-in-your-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:01:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best practices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thought leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://test.fgiresearch.com/?p=186</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You don’t rent a jeep and a rifle and go on safari without a guide. Why would you start a research project without experts to help you target the right data? In our experience, marketing research tools are maximized when experts are in the trenches, helping clients put them to use. Find out how human experts can guide you on your own research safari.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">You don’t rent a jeep and a rifle and go on safari without a guide. You don’t rent a scalpel and stents and proceed to repair your own heart. No, you insist that the experts stay with you to guide, lead and assist you on the journey to success. In the new world of market research, we believe that custom panel and online survey tools can only take you so far. You need and deserve expert advice and help along the way. You need a dedicated support team full of people who stay invested in your success every step of the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In our experience, custom panels and other marketing research tools are maximized when experts are in the trenches helping clients put them to use. Many companies experience frustration and failure when they put too much faith in tools alone to power their research. For example, custom panels are powerful tools, but only when best practice sampling methods are applied. Without proper sampling, custom panel studies may yield the desired number of completed surveys, but with data that is totally unreliable for downstream decision making.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Similarly, social media mining is a powerful, must-have research tool. However, unless key social media trends are properly validated using proven quantitative methods, errant conclusions can be drawn and huge mistakes can be made by decision makers. The point is this: the proliferation of marketing research tools and methods puts an even greater premium on the need for expert help execute all the critical details and make it all work.</span></p>
<p>David Wilson<br />
CEO<br />
FGI Research</p>
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		<title>Online Communities Unlock New Insights</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/online-communities-unlock-new-insights/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/online-communities-unlock-new-insights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:46:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thought leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://test.fgiresearch.com/?p=180</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Customers are comfortable meeting in online communities to share their thoughts and ideas. Unlike quantitative studies, participants are free to share ideas and insights that go beyond the structured questionnaires used in surveys. Unlike traditional focus groups, participants are free to express their opinions without being dominated by groupthink. How can you implement this developing technology to suit your research needs?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wikipedia, an online community itself, defines <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_community">online communities</a> this way: “A virtual community, e-community or <span style="text-decoration: underline;">online community</span> is a group of people that primarily interact via communication media such as…email, internet social network service or instant messages rather than face to face, for social, professional, educational or other purposes.” For our market research purposes, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/communities/overview/"> online communities</a> are private online areas designed for customers and other invited participants, which are used to explore specific ideas or questions on behalf of the client.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Customers are comfortable meeting in online communities to share their thoughts and ideas. Unlike quantitative studies, participants are free to share ideas and insights that go beyond the highly structured questionnaires used in online surveys. Unlike traditional focus groups (in person or online), participants have more freedom to express their opinions without being dominated by groupthink or strong personalities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Used correctly, and smartly integrated with other methods, private <span style="text-decoration: underline;">online communities</span> can unlock needs, ideas and insights that simply are not possible via traditional means (quant or qual) and even newer methods such as social media mining. As a result, online communities deserve to have a prominent seat at the market research table.</span></p>
<p>David Wilson<br />
CEO<br />
FGI Research</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Custom Panels</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/custom-panels/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/custom-panels/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:45:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights in Action: the FGI Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[custom panels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research methods]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://test.fgiresearch.com/?p=178</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Custom panels (often called proprietary panels or advisory panels) are pre-recruited groups of people which can include customers, prospects or members. Companies and other organizations continuously engage these groups using a wide variety of survey and research methods. FGI Research’s dynamic approach to panels offers marketing research benefits that have made the company a leader in the field.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/custom-panels/overview/">Custom panels</a> (often called proprietary panels or advisory panels) are pre-recruited groups of people which can include customers, prospects or members. Companies and other organizations continuously engage these groups using a wide variety of survey and research methods.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">In many respects, the custom panel should form the foundation of today’s market research. It provides a trusted source of sample that can be readily tapped to unlock critical opinions and ideas. The custom panel can be enriched with transactional data, segmentation scores and other behavioral and attitudinal information. Unlike third party sample sources, custom panels give companies immediate access to the voice of their customers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once established, the custom panel serves as a trusted platform from which to launch a host of compelling research methods, including quantitative surveys, quick polls, online communities and focus groups, trackers and social media validation studies. For companies with active market research efforts and a sufficient number of customers, custom panels have quickly become a must-have solution.</span></p>
<p>David Wilson<br />
CEO<br />
FGI Research</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Seniors Unlikely to Retire with Economic Uncertainty</title>
		<link>http://www.fgiresearch.com/seniors-unlikely-to-retire-with-economic-uncertainty/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fgiresearch.com/seniors-unlikely-to-retire-with-economic-uncertainty/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:43:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Trend Truth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[demographics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economic recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrendTruth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://test.fgiresearch.com/?p=164</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rising unemployment rates and a financial system marked by chaos in recent months have many US consumers worried about their own personal finances. During the past three months, more than 95,000 people have blogged about their retirement prospects. To gauge the level of concern the average American has about his or her retirement, FGI Research surveyed consumers on SmartPanel, with sobering results.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
Rising unemployment rates and a financial system marked by chaos in recent months have many US consumers worried about their own personal finances. During the past three months, more than 95,000 people have blogged about their retirement prospects. On April 18, 2009, FGI Research observed a significant spike in traffic on social media sites regarding the subject of retirement. Just the day before, 60 Minutes had aired a show dedicated to the discussion of changes affecting seniors’ retirement plans in the midst of the recession.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Seniors Express Worry</strong><br />
In an effort to gauge the level of concern the average American has about his or her retirement, FGI Research conducted an independent survey entitled, “Consumers in Crisis.” The survey was designed to identify and measure how American consumers are reacting to changes in the economy. We asked respondents, with demographic qualities that reflect the 2000 census data, for their opinions. A clear majority of the seniors we contacted voiced concerns about their financial futures. In fact, the study revealed that 56% of seniors (aged 65+) are worried about having enough money on which to retire. As noted in the 60 Minutes report, “Many [seniors] fear they will never get to retire.”</span></p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/11wNAdpyefg" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/11wNAdpyefg"></embed></object></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>All Demographics Feel the Pinch</strong><br />
Seniors today aren’t the only ones interpreting ill omens. When asked about their personal finances, half of all respondents said that their financial situation has &#8220;gotten worse than it was a year ago.&#8221; So, what is the answer for those Americans who are struggling to weather the financial storm? 63% of those surveyed are resolved to save more money in the next twelve months. Reflecting recent events, 53% believe that a government-insured savings account is the safest place for their investments, highlighting perceptions of economic instability. Indeed, the public is worried and looking for a safe investment. Companies competing for business in today’s economy would do well to address this issue in an effort to reassure consumers. Establishing, or in some cases, re-establishing, trust is a significant step along the path toward brighter futures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Actionable Insights</strong><br />
The economic recession has obvious effects, on multiple levels, for anyone involved in business. Marketing must be oriented to express sensitivity to economic instability while still convincing consumers to buy. Pricing must shift to reflect tighter budgets for everyone. Internal restructuring will help companies save money, too. Where and how consumers save, invest their money, or spend money, all impact purchasing decisions and have real implications for those attempting to reach those consumers. The best way to survive the recession is with targeted research to follow the trends. Using survey data supported by the most advanced research methods, companies will have the know-how and resources to help them get through tough times along with everyone else.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Next Steps You Can Take</strong></span></p>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Learn more about the results of this study: complimentary access to the data in this report, including cross-tabulated results, is available upon request from FGI Research.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Contact FGI Research: click <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/how-can-we-help/">here</a> or call us at (919) 929-7759.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Explore FGI Research’s <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions">market research solutions</a>, including <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#customPanels">custom panels</a>, <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/#research">full service research</a>, and our <a href="http://www.fgiresearch.com/solutions/fgi-panel/overview/">online sample</a> (SmartPanel).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: normal;">Join FGI Research’s <strong><a href="http://ld.fgiresearch.com/fgireportbuilder/sp/">online panel</a></strong> to participate in future studies.</span></li>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></p>
<p><strong>Survey Methods<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Date of Study: 5/11/2009<br />
Total Responders: 1402<br />
Sample Source:</span></strong> <strong>FGI SmartPanel</strong></p>
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