Jumping into work after the holiday lull is never easy. You’re trying to plan and prep, while your typically active audience is moving slower than usual. 

The silence and slowness can certainly cause some stress. But there’s a personal, engaging, low cost way to get your audience back on your side after a slow season: market research.

Read on to learn what market research is, why it’s important, and how it’ll put your brand at the top of your customers’ minds. 

So, what is market research?

Market research is an easy way to phrase your efforts to gather information on your customers and target market. It helps you evaluate your products and services (whether they’re new or re-launching) by directly connecting with your customers. 

AKA: it’s what’s gonna give you a leg up on your competition. And at this time of the year, when everyone is shaking off the cozy holiday vibes, it’s the kindling that’ll re-engage and re-activate your audience for the new year.

Yeah, but why is market research so important?

Let’s get straight to the point (because we’ve done market research and know that’s what you like). 

Here’s how solo entrepreneurs and service-based businesses like yours can benefit from market research insights: 

• It lets you stay relevant to your audience by equipping you with an in-depth knowledge of their needs — one of the most valuable insights for your business. 
• It allows you to create content, offers, and services that perfectly align with what your audience wants. 
• It helps you identify current and future trends in your industry. Using this information to your advantage cements you as an authority in your field. 
• It allows you to craft messaging that directly speaks to your target audience because market research shows you how to speak their language. 

Audience going cold? Warm ‘em up with market research

Look, an audience getting a bit icy is a natural part of business — especially in that weird time between Q4 ending and Q1 revving up. Don’t let it scare you. 

Remember: market research is giving you all the best audience warming tactics. For one, this research literally hands you ideas from the mouths of your target clients. But there’s more to it. 

Of all the cold audience strategies, a personal touch will always go the furthest. And because you’re literally putting yourself in front of your audience, you’ll have genuine conversations in an engaging but low-stakes way. 

Research-driven engagement shows that you care, that you want to meet your customer’s needs — and that sincerity will put your brand at the very top of mind. 

Keep the cold out — permanently

Want all the tools necessary for collecting, understanding, and implementing vital data directly from your dream clients’ mouths? Then you need The Market Research Vault, a tool/master class/template to make gathering customer data simple (and affordable). 

Here’s what’s included:

• A Notion database that helps you store, organize, and look through all the research you conduct for your business. 
• A four-part masterclass of market research tips, including how to develop, conduct, and apply your research.
• 70+ questions to ask your customers, all broken down into specific, goal-oriented categories.
• Emails swipe files to make asking your audience for market research easier than ever. 

Now, what are you still doing here? Start planning and prepping your market research today for a more engaged audience tomorrow.