Competitive intelligence sounds like a useful concept in theory, but should it be considered an ongoing business priority? We asked a variety of executives, entrepreneurs, and consultants to weigh in on this question. Here, we’ve gathered their insights in a series of quotes to highlight a range of unique perspectives. Read on to learn more about the value of tracking your competitors and keeping a close watch on emerging market trends.

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.

Most B2B companies that regularly conduct market research typically focus on developing a deep understanding of three primary areas:

• Market metrics (size, growth, and share)
• Competitive landscape (competitors, strengths, and weaknesses)
• Product and service performance with the current customer base (customer satisfaction, Net Promoter Score, etc)   

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.

Companies turn to custom market research because they need specific answers in order to make critical business decisions. The problem is the way we’ve been forced to think about market research from the lens of a project, in large part, due to the way this research is and has been executed.  

By definition, market research projects are episodic in nature, rigid in question format, and take weeks and months to execute so as to deliver the insights they’re framed to address. Internal and external complexities exist to commission, source, and complete market research. Buyers often refer to the process as exhausting and expensive, and respondents find the survey length tedious and difficult to schedule during a busy day. 

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.

I started my career as a management consultant at Bain & Company, followed by almost a decade in private equity. In both of those roles, acquiring the right market research was key to the due diligence process for developing any strategy or making any investment. I'm currently the Founder & President of Excelerate Global and the Chief Operating Officer of a high-growth business analytics software as a service (Saas) company, The Kini Group, which leverages market research in the start-up space to help prioritize growth paths, determine investment priorities, segment target markets, and develop business plans. Below, I share a checklist of best and worst practices to keep in mind when buying market research reports.

Market and competitive pricing in the B2B sector is often a challenging area for many market researchers to tackle. Actual pricing information is difficult, if not impossible, to discuss using traditional interview techniques, as this information is considered highly proprietary. Often, pricing is not a straightforward matter as it may incorporate early payment discounts, freight, volume discounts, change orders, interest, or other finance charges and many other variants.

Whether you are writing a business plan, making a pitch to investors, or launching a new product, market research is an essential first step. For small businesses, in particular, keeping costs down is an ongoing priority. Fortunately, there are a variety of creative ways small businesses can access the information they need without paying too much. Take a look at the following five strategies for some ideas.

Market research can help you reduce risks, stay ahead of the competition, and accurately gauge the pulse of the market. With the right business intelligence, you can win buy-in from executives to launch new, exciting concepts and develop products that customers love. 

Market research is undoubtedly a powerful business tool, but the way you conduct market research matters, too. It’s important to have a strategic approach to achieve the results you want. For some practical market research tips, check out the do’s and don’ts below.