Once you have identified who your target market is, you can then develop a focus group study. Focus groups provide tremendous opportunities to evaluate your products, services, or even new ideas. Basically, focus groups are interviews, of 6-10 people at the same time in the same group. You can get a great deal of information during a focus group study. You can perform a focus group study in five steps.
1. Prepare for the Focus Group Study – Invite people to the focus group that belong to your target market. It is usually very helpful to provide an incentive for them to spend an hour or longer of their time, such as discounts or a free meal.
2. Develop Questions – Create five or six questions that will facilitate a discussion on the topic you want to cover with your target market. Make sure that you can quantify the results and that you don’t just have a bunch of open-ended answers.
3. Plan the Session – Have a clear agenda, refreshments, clear ground rules (don’t let one person dominate the study), and have it at a time that is suitable for those involved.
4. Facilitate the Session – Introduce everyone, make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the agenda, get even participation, and make sure to take plenty of notes.
5. Evaluate the Results – It is important to tally the results and to not let your “gut” react to things you heard. Then create a plan to make changes to your business according to the results of the session.
If you would like a Focus Group Study template, simply email me and I will be happy to send you one.
1. Prepare for the Focus Group Study – Invite people to the focus group that belong to your target market. It is usually very helpful to provide an incentive for them to spend an hour or longer of their time, such as discounts or a free meal.
2. Develop Questions – Create five or six questions that will facilitate a discussion on the topic you want to cover with your target market. Make sure that you can quantify the results and that you don’t just have a bunch of open-ended answers.
3. Plan the Session – Have a clear agenda, refreshments, clear ground rules (don’t let one person dominate the study), and have it at a time that is suitable for those involved.
4. Facilitate the Session – Introduce everyone, make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the agenda, get even participation, and make sure to take plenty of notes.
5. Evaluate the Results – It is important to tally the results and to not let your “gut” react to things you heard. Then create a plan to make changes to your business according to the results of the session.
If you would like a Focus Group Study template, simply email me and I will be happy to send you one.
The TSBDC offers free and confidential one-on-one counseling for existing and start up small businesses. To register for go to www.tsbdc.org.Other contact information - Phone (615) 230-4780 www.volstate.edu/tsbdcThe Tennessee Small Business Development Center Network is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and local community donors.
