When researching a certain market trend or looking for the right market to break into with a new product clients will often find themselves looking for a quality Focus Group Consultant. In this competitive and lucrative field more and more Consultants are specializing in Focus Groups. It may require various methods in order to steer the client in the right direction, however the results are what the client is after. They will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on one product launch, but the rewards and sky rocketing sales are what allow this field to thrive.
Methods vary from project to project however some may include conducting surveys, sending newsletters, opinion polls etc. However, no matter which methods are used, the make or break point will always be affected by the focus group. This concern, will allow the boundaries of the market analysis to be set clearly. This is one of the main reasons consultants have become experts in this field. In order to better serve the client the Consultant must make sure the focus group chosen will qualify their results.
Whenever there is a need to start a marketing analysis survey, a market research consultant will be called to assess the project from inception. These types of market research projects all evolve around focus groups. The importance factor is that a focus group can be altered and picked as an exact replica of the market the client is looking to reach. Sometimes a trial through error period can be attained. One example of this would be: A client is selling a new line of phones, or a new cereal. The Consultant would then find a “Focus Group” and use these consumers in order to ascertain how they react to the cereal or the new phone? The quality or taste of the product on the people you want to reach would also become a pre-requisite when choosing the focus group members.
Once the client and Consultant have discussed the ultimate outcome the consultant will then be responsible for selecting the focus group by various requirements. From the right age group, to the right marital status, the right employment or income group, the right interest group (such as their likes for certain music or traveling etc.), and any other relevant information concerning how to sell the product to their focus groups. Thus, the selection of any focus group is time consuming and requires excellent communication skills. Once this is achieved then the consultant can take the results of the questionnaires or tests in order to analyze and recommend changes or variations in the way the product is to be launched, sold or offered.
One must have tenacity, drive including the desire for success in order to compete with the high quality of Focus Group Consultants. A 4-year degree in Marketing and communications is advisable in this field. However many companies and corporations every year employ outside consultants to help determine the parameters of their market and research strategy. This added value on their market research will ultimately reflect on their company image or product image. Perhaps this demand is one reason for the high income that research consultants receive every year. A starting salary of $55,000 to $155,000 is not unheard of in this industry.
