How to Do Market Research!

Two Cents
14 Aug 201907:47
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script emphasizes the importance of market research before investing in a business idea. It illustrates the concept with the example of 'Groomio', a hypothetical beard oil for dogs, and contrasts it with Ruth's artisanal soap business. The speaker advises against relying on gut feelings and instead advocates for a data-driven approach to assess market viability. The video outlines various types of market research, including secondary research using existing data sources like reports from the American Pet Products Association and primary research through surveys and face-to-face conversations to identify 'market pains'. It also highlights the value of online tools like Google Trends and the necessity of understanding industry regulations. The script concludes with a cautionary note on the importance of objective honesty in market research, as demonstrated by the low interest rate in Groomio from dog owners.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Market viability should be thoroughly investigated before making significant financial commitments to a business idea.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Data-driven predictions are crucial for assessing the potential success of a product in the marketplace.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Market research reports can provide valuable insights such as market size, growth rate, and consumer demographics.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Expensive market research reports may not be accessible to everyone, but there are free or cheaper alternatives available.
  • ๐Ÿพ Understanding consumer spending habits, like the average annual spending on pet grooming supplies, is vital for pricing strategy.
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Analyzing competitors is a major part of market research, which includes knowing their pricing, popular ingredients, and financial stability.
  • ๐Ÿ” Utilizing search engines and social media can help identify industry leaders and trends, and assess keyword competition.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Google Trends can reveal patterns in search terms over time, offering insights into consumer interests and regional preferences.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Primary market research involves collecting original data and can help refine the product to meet specific consumer interests.
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Face-to-face conversations with potential customers can uncover 'market pains' โ€“ problems that the product could solve.
  • โ™ป๏ธ Addressing market pain, such as concerns about packaging waste, can differentiate a product and make it more appealing to consumers.
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ Online comments and reviews can be a source of market pain insights, helping to identify areas for product improvement.
  • ๐Ÿšซ It's important to be aware of federal regulations that may apply to the industry, such as FDA approval for animal cosmetics.
  • ๐Ÿค” The results of market research should be approached with objective honesty, even if it means revising or abandoning a beloved idea.
Q & A
  • What is the importance of market viability in the context of starting a new business?

    -Market viability is crucial as it involves a realistic, data-driven prediction on whether a product can succeed in the marketplace. It helps potential investors and entrepreneurs make informed decisions before investing significant resources.

  • Why is it recommended to conduct market research before starting a business?

    -Market research helps to understand market size, growth rate, demographics, and industry trends. It can prevent financial loss by revealing whether there is a real demand for a product before significant investments are made.

  • What does the American Pet Products Association report indicate about the pet product market?

    -The report indicates that U.S. spending on pet products and services has been growing at an average rate of about 5% annually, which is above the GDP average, and pet ownership, especially among millennials, is increasing, with dogs being the most popular.

  • What is the significance of analyzing competitors during market research?

    -Analyzing competitors helps to understand successful brands, pricing strategies, popular ingredients or scents, and the financial stability of the competition. This information is vital for positioning a new product in the market.

  • How can search engines and social media be utilized in market research?

    -Search engines and social media can be used to identify major players in an industry, assess keyword competition, and understand trends. Tools like Google Trends can provide insights into seasonal demand and regional preferences.

  • What is the difference between primary and secondary market research?

    -Secondary market research involves using existing data that can be purchased or found for free. Primary market research, on the other hand, involves collecting data directly from the target audience through surveys, interviews, and other methods. It is often more expensive and time-consuming but provides more tailored insights.

  • Why is it important to talk to potential customers directly when conducting market research?

    -Direct conversations with potential customers provide insights into their emotions, needs, and pain points. This helps in identifying market pains, which are the frustrations or inconveniences that a product could potentially solve.

  • What is the role of face-to-face conversations in primary market research?

    -Face-to-face conversations allow for a deeper understanding of customers' emotions and needs. They often reveal honest feedback and market pains that might not be apparent through online surveys or reports.

  • Why should you avoid asking friends and family for feedback during market research?

    -Friends and family are likely to provide biased and overly positive feedback. Market research requires brutal honesty to identify potential issues and areas for improvement that friends and family might overlook.

  • How can the comments section on the internet be useful for market research?

    -The comments section on competitor's websites or product reviews can reveal customer complaints and desired features. This can help identify market pains and areas for product improvement.

  • What is the role of objective honesty in market research?

    -Objective honesty ensures that the research findings are taken at face value, regardless of personal attachment to the idea. It helps entrepreneurs and investors make rational decisions based on data rather than emotions.

  • What resources are available for entrepreneurs who want to conduct market research but may not have the funds for expensive reports?

    -There are free or low-cost resources such as non-profit association reports, online tools like Google Trends, and government organizations like the Small Business Administration that provide free market reports and connect entrepreneurs with advisors.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿ’ผ Market Viability and Research for Entrepreneurs

The first paragraph emphasizes the importance of market research before making significant financial investments in a business idea. It suggests that relying on gut feelings is not a strategy for serious investors. The speaker introduces the concept of market viability, which involves a data-driven approach to predicting a product's success. They discuss the necessity of understanding market size, growth rate, and customer demographics, using the example of a hypothetical product 'Groomio', a beard oil for dogs. The paragraph also highlights the value of analyzing competitors and conducting surveys to gather primary market research, which can be more expensive but ultimately more beneficial in the long run. It concludes with the story of Martin, who uses primary market research to avoid wasting money on an unpopular ingredient in his food truck's new sandwich.

05:03
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Conducting Interviews and Identifying Market Pain

The second paragraph focuses on the practical aspects of market research, including conducting interviews and identifying market pain points. It advises against relying solely on friends and family for feedback, as they may not provide the necessary honesty. The example of Ruth, who takes her handmade soaps to a farmer's market to gather feedback, is used to illustrate this point. The paragraph also mentions the use of online comments sections as a source of market pain information, with the story of an electronics company that develops products based on Amazon reviews. It concludes with a cautionary note about the importance of objective honesty in market research, using the speaker's own survey results about 'Groomio' as an example. The paragraph ends with a reminder of the availability of resources for market research and the importance of avoiding็›ฒ็›ฎ enthusiasm that could lead to financial loss.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กInvestment Opportunity
An investment opportunity refers to a potential business or financial venture that is expected to generate profit. In the video, the speaker humorously introduces 'Groomio', a beard oil for dogs, as an exciting investment opportunity, emphasizing the importance of market research before investing.
๐Ÿ’กMarket Viability
Market viability is the ability of a product or service to be successful in the market. It involves a realistic, data-driven prediction of whether the product can succeed. The video stresses the necessity of investigating market viability before making significant financial commitments.
๐Ÿ’กMarket Research
Market research is the process of gathering and analyzing information about a product or service's potential buyers or the market as a whole. It is crucial for understanding market trends, competition, and consumer behaviors. The video discusses the importance of market research for Ruth's homemade soap business and the proposed 'Groomio' product.
๐Ÿ’กPet Products and Services
Pet products and services encompass a wide range of items and services designed for the care and well-being of pets. The video references a free report from the American Pet Products Association, highlighting the growth of the pet products market and its potential for new products like 'Groomio'.
๐Ÿ’กCompetitor Analysis
Competitor analysis involves studying the competition to understand their strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and popular offerings. In the context of the video, it is suggested as a part of market research for Ruth's soap business to understand the successful brands and their strategies.
๐Ÿ’กGoogle Trends
Google Trends is a tool that shows the popularity of search queries in Google Search over time. It can be used to gauge interest in certain topics and to identify emerging trends. The video mentions using Google Trends to analyze the search terms 'dog grooming' and 'beard oil'.
๐Ÿ’กPrimary Market Research
Primary market research involves collecting data directly from respondents through surveys, interviews, or other means. It provides original insights about consumers' preferences and needs. The video gives an example of Martin conducting surveys to avoid wasting money on an unpopular ingredient for his food truck's new sandwich.
๐Ÿ’กMarket Pain
Market pain refers to the problems or frustrations that consumers experience with existing products or services. Identifying and addressing market pain can lead to successful product development. The video illustrates this with Ruth's observation that consumers are concerned about packaging waste, leading her to use recyclable materials for her soap business.
๐Ÿ’กRecyclable Materials
Recyclable materials are those that can be collected, processed, and transformed into new products after their initial use. The video discusses Ruth's decision to use recyclable materials for her soap packaging to address the market pain of environmental concern.
๐Ÿ’กSmall Business Administration (SBA)
The Small Business Administration is a US government agency that provides support, resources, and guidance to small businesses. The video mentions the SBA as a resource for free market reports and connecting with counselors or advisors.
๐Ÿ’กObjective Honesty
Objective honesty refers to an unbiased and truthful assessment of a situation, without personal feelings or preferences influencing the judgment. The video emphasizes the importance of objective honesty in market research to avoid investing in ideas that may not be viable.
Highlights

Investment opportunities should be backed by thorough market research rather than gut feelings.

Market viability is crucial for both large corporations and small businesses.

Market research can provide data-driven predictions on a product's success in the marketplace.

Reports from marketing research companies cover market size, growth rate, and demographics.

Free or affordable market research options are available, such as the American Pet Products Association report.

Pet product and service spending in the U.S. grows at an average of 5% annually, outpacing GDP growth.

Increasing pet ownership, especially among millennials, is a positive sign for pet product businesses.

The average dog owner spends $84 annually on grooming supplies and services.

Analyzing competitors is a major part of market research.

Business credit scores are publicly available and can indicate financial stability in an industry.

Search engines and social media simplify the process of gathering competitive information.

Google Trends can reveal industry trends and consumer interests over time.

Secondary market research uses existing information, while primary market research involves collecting new data.

Primary market research, though more expensive and time-consuming, helps refine the target audience and product features.

Martin's food truck survey reveals a mismatch in customer preferences for bacon and truffle oil.

Face-to-face conversations can uncover 'market pains' that products could potentially solve.

Avoid relying solely on friends and family for feedback; seek brutal honesty.

Ruth identifies a market pain related to packaging waste and adjusts her business strategy accordingly.

Online comments sections can provide insights into customer complaints and unmet needs.

Market research should include understanding industry lifecycle, market penetration, and federal regulations.

The Small Business Administration offers resources for free market reports and business counseling.

Objective honesty is crucial in market research; be prepared to adjust or abandon ideas based on data.

Transcripts
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