Qualitatively Speaking.

Shaili  //  Hi, I'm Shaili, and I love the online environment. Like some of you, I live, work and play a significant part of my life on the Internet, and I am always on the lookout to learn new ideas. Market research is my passion, and the uncharted terrain of online research methodologies seemed like a very natural transition back in 2004. Thankfully, it has been a time-tested good choice.

I am best known for conducting studies with leading edge methodologies including online research, mobile research and digital ethnography. I also conduct traditional in-person interviews, either in focus groups or one-on-one, and I should also mention that I am always on the lookout for new projective techniques and creative ways to ask questions.

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Jan 13 / 4:26pm

Mobile Market Research Opportunity - Olympics? Valentine's Day?

Update: This opportunity has ended its run... Please contact me on Twitter @ShailiBhatt if you have any questions about running a qualitative research project on participants' cell phones. Thanks.

Would you like access to consumers’ cell phones to conduct market research during a major sporting event, product purchase/use or holiday?

I am donating the [You can] use of an industry-leading mobile research software product and my services to a select client candidate for this purpose:

  • Pay for recruiting and minimal incentives (if necessary), and my team handles the rest, including creation of the discussion guide (with team input) and moderation of the incoming and outgoing mobile messages. We will also debrief and discuss next steps with the client’s team.
  • The scope of this study can vary according to your needs; the methodology is very flexible and can easily combine with a more in-depth online research component.
  • In exchange, we would like to use this project's overview–revealing the client–in a public forum for the advancement of mobile market research education.
  • The client's objectives can vary, but we will require this study to focus on the brand's product or a specific event tied to the product in some way. For example, this methodology could be used to research specific products, like potato chips, served at Super Bowl parties where it would be useful to reach consumers away from home.

There is great PR potential for mobile projects right now. We are currently seeking client candidates for this opportunity, and the door is still open.

Please message/direct message me on Twitter @ShailiBhatt if you or someone you know has a product that is interested in connecting with consumers' cell phones and accessing their stories.

Nov 30 / 4:04pm

What Everybody Ought to Know About Mobile Research

What can you do with your cell phone? Do you use it to read the news, tweet, check your e-mail, make phone calls? Working with mobile market research requires us to understand the capabilities and limitations of today's cell phones.

I've been using a Web-enabled Blackberry Storm phone since last year. Having this phone in my purse lessened my need to carry around my laptop and Palm PDA. I use my cell phone to check my e-mail, check my projects, take pictures, grab links, compare prices, check in for flights, listen to US radio stations, record audio notes, and access Twitter & YouTube. Owning a Web-enabled device is a luxury, but experts say most people will own a phone with some sort of wireless Internet plan in the near future.

Advertisers and marketers are already in this medium, creating mobile-formatted pages and commercial content specifically for cell phone browsers. There is room for improvement in how this content is being accessed and delivered.

I have developed reliable research methodologies to adapt with consumers' online and mobile worlds. Information can be captured from cell phones very effectively, so let's work with that...

Consumers carry their cell phones even when they are not carrying their laptops. Conducting research with cell phones is an excellent way to capture information from consumers who are on-the-go.

When my clients need insights from consumer experiences at a specific location, away from a computer, sometimes it's not enough bring consumers into a focus group room or a discussion board. Mobile research methodologies bridge that gap because consumers can respond whereever they are, whenever they want.

The first thing I've described to my clients about mobile research is how any phone can do it. Consumers do not need a Web-enabled phone to participate in a mobile research study. The beauty of mobile research is that we can use the text messaging, camera, and e-mail functions found on most of today's phones to gather rich insights from consumers' everyday lives.

I adjust basic incentives on a market research study to compensate consumers for participating in a mobile component; depending on the project, extra compensation may not be needed. Consumers usually enjoy participating in mobile research, because it involves little or no travel and it allows maximum flexibility with their schedules. Let me know if you have any questions about conducting qualitative mobile research.

Note: I'm currently seeking a client or two who are interested to conduct innovative mobile or online research re: Super Bowl commercials for February 10, 2010. Please let me know if you or someone you know have a product that would like to be involved. (I will post an update on this opportunity when it is no longer available.)

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