THE IMPORTANCE OF MARKET RESEARCH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE

INTRODUCTION

Singapore is the world’s 4th biggest financial centre and one of the five busiest ports and most of all one of the major commercial hub in the world. Companies established in Singapore enter the Free Trade Agreements that helps the company to trade easily in the global market. 

One of the most important things that small business owners need to focus on is market research. Any company looking to expand and initiate a new business in any country should have a clear understanding of the market to succeed in the country. 

Market research helps business owners uncover vital information that helps set a clear strategic direction for the future. This process involves collecting and analyzing data on the target market, competition, and industry trends to make informed decisions. You can learn about consumer needs and demands, growth opportunities, competitors’ tactics, and underserved or new markets.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of market research for small businesses in Singapore and the steps required to conduct effective research.

MARKET RESEARCH FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN SINGAPORE

The aim of market research is to look at the market associated with a particular good or service to ascertain how the audience will receive it. Market research is an essential tool for small businesses in Singapore to gain a competitive edge in the market. Here are some reasons why:

1. Helps To Identify Customer Needs And Preferences

Customer needs are the motivating factors that lead someone to buy a product or use a service. Companies learn about customers’ needs by identifying who their customers are. This includes defining a target audience and segmenting them based on demographics and other attributes. Once a business knows its target audience, they have a better view of the specific needs that drive them to buy. Market research allows small businesses to understand their customers’ needs, preferences, and behaviors. This information is critical in developing products and services that meet their customers’ expectations, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

2. Provides insights into the competition

Competitive insights can help you get quite an edge over your marketing rivals. Even a new business places itself in a widely competitive situation against its fast-growing competitors. At the same time, you need to be very certain that your competitors are not doing the same thing as you.   In such a case, what you need is a better competitive marketing intelligence solution that responds to competitive insights. So, you can make a better profit by investing in competitor monitoring. 

Market research helps small businesses to identify their competitors and their strengths and weaknesses. By analyzing the competition, small businesses can learn from their competitors’ mistakes and develop strategies to stay ahead.

3. Helps to make informed decisions

Informed decision-making requires a structured process that includes defining the problem, collecting and analyzing data, evaluating options, and choosing the best course of action. This information can help small businesses to allocate their resources effectively and maximize their profits.

Market research provides small businesses with the data they need to make informed decisions about pricing, advertising, and product development. 

4. Helps to identify new opportunities

Market research can help small businesses to identify new opportunities in the market. By analyzing industry trends and consumer behavior, small businesses can develop new products and services that meet the changing needs of their customers. When you’re targeting potential customers listen to their needs, wants, challenges and frustrations with your industry. 

You also need to conduct broader industry analysis to understand the attractiveness of the industry you’re going to enter and identify whether the industry is growing or shrinking? 

Required Steps for Conducting Effective Market Research

Now that we have established the importance of market research for small businesses in Singapore, let’s look at the steps required to conduct effective research.

1. Define the Research Objectives

The first step in conducting effective market research is to define the research objectives. It’s an idea you want to understand deeper by performing research. Objectives should be the driving force behind every task you assign and each question that you ask. What do you want to achieve with your research? Are you looking to identify new opportunities, understand your customers’ needs, or analyze your competitors? 

Defining your research objectives will help you to focus your research efforts and collect relevant data. These objectives should be centered on specific features or processes of your product.

2. Identify the Target Market

The next step is to identify the target market. Identifying a target market using strategies such as defining your audience and tracking data can help you make sure your ideal consumers see your advertisements and products. Who are your customers? What are their demographics, interests, and preferences? 

Understanding your target market is essential in developing products and services that meet their needs and preferences. Learning the different strategies for identifying your target market can make this process easier. 

3. Choose the Research Methodology

There are several research methodologies that small businesses can use to collect data, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Some common methodologies include qualitative research, quantitative research, experimental research, survey-based research, and action research. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of methodology will depend on the type of research hypotheses, research objectives and budget. 

The aim of the research is not just to describe your methods, but to show how and why you applied them and demonstrate that your research was rigorously conducted.

4. Collect Data

Once you have chosen your research methodology, it’s time to collect data. The process of gathering and analyzing accurate data from various sources to find answers to research problems, trends and probabilities, etc., to evaluate possible outcomes is Known as Data Collection. During data collection, the researchers must identify the data types, the sources of data, and what methods are being used. 

Make sure that your data collection process is systematic and unbiased to ensure the accuracy of your findings. Accurate data collecting is crucial to preserving the integrity of research, regardless of the subject of study or preferred method for defining data (quantitative, qualitative).

5. Analyze the Data

After collecting the data, the next step is to analyze it. Data analysis is defined as a process of cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to discover useful information for business decision-making. Look for patterns, trends, and insights that can help you to achieve your research objectives. Use statistical tools and software to analyze the data effectively.

6. Draw Conclusions and Make Recommendations

The final step is to draw conclusions and make recommendations based on your research findings. When conclusions are drawn from raw data and when recommendations are made then data is converted into information. It is information which management needs to reduce the inherent risks and uncertainties in management decision making.Use your conclusions and recommendations to inform your business decisions and strategies.

Related FAQs:

Q: Is market research expensive for small businesses in Singapore? 

A: Market research can be expensive, but there are many cost-effective research methodologies that small businesses can use, such as online

Q:How much can I trust the results of market research as a basis for business decisions?

A: The more information you have, the more specific it is and the more up-to-date it is, the more reliable it is likely to be. It is important to understand, though, that market research can never entirely take the risk out of business decision-making. The real challenge is how you interpret the results

Need more information about market research, then visit us at Leading Market Research Survey Companies In Singapore – Apeiron 

References | External links

How to conduct market research for small businesses | BDC.ca

How To Complete Market Research for Small Businesses | Indeed.com