In this series, we are taking a closer look at specific publishers on Profound. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about the reports they publish and what kinds of problems they help clients solve. Today, we’re interviewing MarketsandMarkets, a market research company that produces 1,200 high-level, strategically analyzed studies each year. Learn more about them in the Q&A below.

In yesterday’s post, we interviewed Founder and CEO Rob Granader to find out what distinguishes MarketResearch.com from other business intelligence providers. We delved into MarketResearch.com’s new business strategy and explored its unique mix of innovative market research solutions.

Today, we continue our discussion with Rob and highlight several other attributes that help shape MarketResearch.com’s company culture and the overall customer experience.

The ups and downs of the world economy clashed and converged with the growth of MarketResearch.com — since its start at the end of the dot com bubble in 2001. MarketResearch.com has weathered a series of economic storms including the tech bubble, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the Great Recession of 2009. Many of these downturns occurred at pivotal moments in the company’s history. Most pronounced, soon after MarketResearch.com finalized a large acquisition focused on the financial services market, the world’s banks went into a nosedive.

Despite these challenges, MarketResearch.com has become the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services, which are used by more than 5,000 companies a year and 89 percent of the Fortune 1000.

Promoting your business to anyone and everyone is not an effective marketing strategy. To efficiently drive sales and increase brand awareness, you must focus on your target audience. But who is your target audience, exactly? How do you know if your marketing will appeal to them?

Consumer research is a vital step that can help you find the answers you need. Below, three experts share questions you can ask to help identify your target audience, assess buyer behavior, and optimize your marketing strategy. Their suggestions go beyond the basics — and some of their ideas may surprise you. Read on to find out more.

Once a darling of Wall Street, the Whole Foods brand is facing increasing competition in a rapidly changing marketplace. Some investors have sarcastically nicknamed the company “Half Foods,” because its shares have dropped 31 percent this year. To remain competitive, Whole Foods recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by 1.6 percent, or 1,500 jobs.

Although Whole Foods has struggled recently, the natural and organic foods market has experienced strong, steady growth overall. Last year, retail sales of natural and organic foods and beverages rose 5.5 percent to nearly $53.5 billion. That figure is 53 percent higher than sales in 2009, according to Packaged Facts.

Market researchers respond to rapid-fire deadlines and competing client demands. When one set of projects end, there’s often little forewarning before the next ones begin. To be successful, market researchers have to prioritize effectively and move quickly through their to-do lists.

Although there’s no substitute for hard work, certain time-management strategies can eliminate needless tasks and help you complete projects faster. Curious to learn more? Here are three research strategies to help you save time and improve your overall results.

In September, construction spending reached its highest level in 7-½ years, according to U.S. News & World Report. On Monday, the Commerce Department reported that construction increased 0.6 percent to $1.09 trillion.

The construction of single-family homes rose 1.3 percent, and the construction of condominiums and apartments grew 4.9 percent.

In fact, the apartment and condominium construction industry has had one of the quickest recoveries within the residential construction industries since 2010, according to IBISWorld.

Many entrepreneurs hope to be the next Mark Zuckerberg. But even with an innovative idea, it’s difficult to launch a successful enterprise on your own. That’s where start-up incubators come in — these innovative programs offer would-be entrepreneurs expert advice, community support, and access to an influential network.

Some well-known start-up incubators are private, while others are sponsored by universities. About 32 percent of North American business incubators are run by academic institutions, according to the International Business Innovation Association.

In this new blog series, we provide an inside look at specific publishers on Profound. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about the reports they publish and what differentiates them from other publishers on the market. Today, we’re interviewing MicroMarketMonitor, a publisher that provides in-depth insights into 5,000 granular markets. Learn more about them in the Q&A below.

Oprah Winfrey is shaking up the $65 billion U.S. weight loss market. Last week, she bought a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers International and joined its board of directors. As a result, the diet company’s stock more than doubled in value.

Oprah’s endorsement comes at a critical juncture for the struggling company, which has experienced 10 straight quarters of declining sales. More and more consumers are turning to high-tech activity trackers and Smartphone apps to manage their diets, and some investors question whether Weight Watchers can remain relevant in an increasingly competitive environment.

Will Oprah’s endorsement help turn around the company’s flagging revenue, or do the problems at Weight Watchers extend too far? In this article, we turn to research firm Marketdata Enterprises for some possible answers.