Companies today rely on online market research more than ever because the old ways just don’t cut it anymore. When it comes to digital marketing, picking the right method is key to making smart, data-backed decisions. 

In this blog, we will discuss different market research tips, methods, and which ones to use to make marketing decisions effectively. Keep reading the blog to find more. 

What Is Market Research Used For?

• For understanding the targeted audience better.
• For analyzing competitors to see what they’re doing.
• For getting feedback on the latest campaign.

Say you run a digital marketing agency. You might want to fine-tune your customer profiles to attract better clients. If you sell things online, maybe you’re curious about how people feel about your newest Instagram ad. By conducting market research, you get the exact data and feedback to plan and strategize your goal effectively and efficiently.

Two Kinds of Data: Which One Do You Need?

Not all data is the same. Some tell stories, others give you cold, hard facts.

• Opinion-Based Data (Qualitative) – This tells you why people do certain things (behaviour). It’s like noticing the feelings and stories that aren’t directly said.
• Number-Based Data (Quantitative) – This is the math side of market research. If you need to track how many clicks an ad gets or how much a campaign boosts sales, this is your go-to.

For example, if you run an A/B test to see which ad gets more clicks, that’s number-based data. But if you go through customer reviews to find out why people love (or hate) your brand, that’s opinion-based data. The best strategy? Use both.

Where Do You Get This Data?

Two ways:

• Do It Yourself (Primary Research) – You collect the data firsthand. Think surveys, interviews, or polls. More effort, but more valuable.
• Use What’s Already Out There (Secondary Research) – You check reports, articles, and industry studies. Saves time but might not be 100% relevant.

If you’re in digital marketing, running Instagram polls or emailing quick surveys can give you better insights for market research than just guessing what customers want. 

For more information on how social media marketing and email marketing can help your business, you can check out these blogs:

1. Top social media tactics to embrace in 2025
2. How email marketing can boost your business growth in 2025

What are the Types of Marketing Research and Tips?

1. Listen to Social Media (Because People Talk… A Lot)

People tweet, post, and comment about brands all the time, but hardly tag or mention the company, making it difficult to track opinions and suggestions. Social listening tools like Sprout Social and HubSpot can track brand mentions, trends, and even competitors.

Good for: Finding out what people really think about your brand (without them sugarcoating it).

Pro tip: Follow keywords and hashtags to discover trends before your competitors do.

2. Surveys & Polls (Because Asking Works)

Need to know what people think? Just ask! Google Forms, Typeform, and Instagram Polls make it quick and seamless.

Good for: Getting feedback on customers’ liking and disliking some service or product, and fixing bugs.

Pro tip: An online store can ask customers through Google Forms how they found the checkout experience, or PPC agencies can use it to determine if their ads are helping the clients.

3. A/B Testing (The Battle of the Ads)

Suppose you’re spending money on ads and want to know which ones work best. Test different versions of your ad, email, or landing page and see which one gets the best results.

Good for: Figuring out which version brings in more sales or clicks.

Tools to try: Google Optimize, Hotjar, and Crazy Egg.

4. Focus Groups (Because People Love to Share Opinions)

Get a small group of people together (virtually or in person) and ask them what they think about your website, branding, or product.

Good for: Testing ideas before you spend big money on marketing.

Where to host: Zoom, Facebook Groups, or even WhatsApp communities.

5. Competitor Research (A Fancy Way of Saying ‘Spying’)

If you are curious and want to know what your competitors are doing, then it is important. Moreover, it helps you stay a step ahead of your competitors.

Good for: Finding gaps in the market, understanding industry trends, and getting ahead.

Tools to try: Semrush, Ahrefs, and BuzzSumo

Final Words

Picking the right research method is the foundation of any digital marketing business. Whether it is surveys, A/B testing, or social listening, choosing the suitable market research approach will save you time, money, and effort. If you want to level up your digital marketing game, our opinion is to start with good market research. Don’t know where to go? Don’t worry, Adapts Media will help you. We are a digital marketing agency based in Dubai that helps businesses grow online successfully through our services, such as market research, data analytics, performance marketing, etc. Reach out to us today, and our market research team with the latest tools and techniques will provide you with the best insights, trends, and data on the market.