Many entrepreneurs feel they are unable to conduct sophisticated market research studies. For a new business, two important methods used in collecting data are interviewing and observing. The interview method is one of the most widely used methods for collecting information. Several distinct types of interviews can be used. The first type is the personal interview.
Telephone interviews can be a simple, inexpensive method of collecting information.
However, you must be careful not to offend the persons you call, or waste their time with unnecessary chitchat. The mail questionnaire is another form of interview, but the percentage of people who respond to mail questionnaires is usually very small. Mailed questionnaires must be attractive and easy to complete. A simple questionnaire can give you helpful information about what customers want, need, like, and dislike. Another research method is observation .