You have an idea you know will work, but how do you convince other people in your organization to get on board? Getting buy-in from key stakeholders can often be challenging, even if your idea has clear benefits. In an experiment highlighted in the Harvard Business Review, managers were more likely to discard the very same ideas that made customers excited.

Innovative ideas can seem unfeasible at first, especially if they entail large-scale changes that will alter the status quo. But by doing your homework and gathering the right evidence to support your thesis, you can make a much more persuasive case and increase your chances of being heard. Using third-party analysis and industry data is essential to making a rational, defensible argument — and that’s where market research can help take your pitch to the next level.

The telecommunications sector has always handled large volumes of data related to customers, operations, and transactions. Over the years, telecom service providers have used a variety of techniques to work with these data sets including statistical analysis, data mining, knowledge management, and business intelligence. However, according to a new white paper written by the research firm Mind Commerce, big data and analytics is profoundly different from previous trends.

"Content is still king,” according to Rob Granader, Founder and CEO of MarketResearch.com, and that fundamental idea drove the acquisition of the Freedonia Group, a leading global provider of reliable and unbiased market research reports and consulting services for more than 30 years.

“This is a great day for our company as we officially welcome the talented Freedonia team to MarketResearch.com,” said Rob Granader.

What is business intelligence, and why is it so important now, given our current market environment? To explore this topic more deeply, we asked thought leaders, executives, and consultants to share their insights. These industry experts touch on a variety of compelling benefits that stretch across different business functions — from marketing to sales to customer service. Here are ten ways business intelligence can enhance your organization and help decision makers make more informed, effective choices.  

Launching a business can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor. But passion and vision are not enough. You also need the right tools and strategies to get your business off the ground and turn it into a lasting success.

Today, we’re interviewing author and entrepreneur Jenn Aubert for her tips on starting a business and researching your market. Her first book Women Entrepreneur Revolution: Ready! Set! Launch! explores the mindset, motivation, and behaviors of successful female entrepreneurs. She is also the co-founder and CEO of LearnSavvy, an online education marketplace and community for women business owners. Read the Q&A below to learn Jenn's practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

As Americans spend more time on digital devices, pet retailers are finding new, inventive ways to engage consumers online. According to a recent report by research firm Packaged Facts, one of the best storytelling methods available is online videos.

“There’s nothing like being able to show a pet interact with a product,” writes George Puro, the report’s author. “Online videos allow marketers to pull at the heartstrings of pet owners, whether it’s through humor or through a heartwarming tale.”

Take Purina’s “Dear Kitten” video series as a prime example. Created in partnership with BuzzFeed, the original video has now surpassed 25 million views. It has since been developed into a franchise with multiple episodes across different platforms.

If you are currently working as a market research analyst or aspire to be one someday, there’s good news. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for market research analysts is expected to grow 19 percent over the next 10 years, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

What is the fastest-growing market in the IT industry? According to MarketsandMarkets, it’s business intelligence and analytics software. The global business intelligence and analytics software market is expected to increase from $17.90 billion in 2014 to $26.78 billion in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4 percent.

Given today’s competitive business environment, many companies are looking for ways to optimize their operations and improve tactical and strategic decision-making. Business intelligence and analytics software can help a variety of employees — including executives, financial analysts, marketing managers, security personnel, and others — monitor and visualize real-time data across an organization. These BI software tools include dashboards, visual analytics, and reporting capabilities that help business professionals make sense of data and identify new opportunities to improve ROI.

New education technology companies have entered the market and are attracting millions of dollars in funding from venture capitalists. In different ways, these companies are working to provide innovative solutions to on-going problems in education.

To learn more, check out the eight education tech companies listed below. The startups highlighted in this article are less than seven years old and have all been profiled in the Ed Tech Startup Dashboard Q3 2015 by Simba Information, a leading provider of market research and analysis.

MarketResearch.com partners with more than 700 publishers to offer users the most comprehensive collection of market intelligence. This week, MarketResearch.com is spotlighting multi-industry research provider Barnes Reports. We asked Barnes Reports to share more information about their reports and what differentiates them from other market research companies. Read on to learn what they had to say.