Online Focus Groups
The value and usefulness of focus groups as a market research methodology is generally well understood. Yet, attitude and life style changes have made traditional face-to-face focus groups more expensive and more challenging to conduct. Fortunately, improvements in information technology have meant that online focus groups now offer a more practical alternative.
Online focus groups provide an effective way of engaging with select groups using in-depth qualitative research techniques. Participants (and observers) can participate from the comfort and convenience of their own home or office.
Why Online Focus Groups
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Online focus groups offer many benefits. Here are just some:
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Cost Effective
Online focus groups cut out a lot of the costs associated with traditional face-to-face focus groups. Travel, room hire and catering are all additional costs that can be eliminated.
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Live Observation
Key client stakeholders can observe the online focus group live as it happens. Observers can pass virtual notes to the focus group moderator to enable in-direct communication with the group.
- Eliminate Geographic
Barriers
Online focus groups can be participated from anywhere where there is internet access. There are no geographic restrictions so participants can be sourced nationally or even globally.
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Access hard to get respondents
There are many reasons why some people are just impossible to get to a focus group. The increased convenience of an online focus group means these typically hard to get respondents are more willing to participate in an online focus group.
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Fast turn around
Face-to-face focus groups can take months to plan, prepare and complete. An online focus group can be conducted in a manner of days. Online recruitment can speed the process up tenfold giving you the insights you need, when you need them.
Interested in online focus groups for your next research project? Contact us now for further information.