Mental Model Mining: 3 steps to understanding how customers think about your brand

David F.

Mental models are explanations of how we receive and interpret information and, ultimately, shape how we make sense of the world. They manifest in language through the conceptual narratives and metaphors we use in our everyday communication. Mental modeling can be tremendously helpful in market research: by understanding mental models and the related narratives (such as Heroic Journey, Transformation, Rescue, etc.), researchers and marketers can develop messaging strategies that more effectively motivate their target audiences to action.MORE…

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Feeling the Brand Love: Consumers write love letters to their favorite brands

Amanda F.

Whether you are an over-the-top Valentine lovebird with flowers, reservations and sappy gifts ready at the whim OR whether you will cringe at the sight of any shade of pink or red on February 14th, there has long been a debate over whether Valentine’s Day should be observed and how exactly it should be celebrated, if at all. MORE…

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Listen to Me: A primer on active listening with social media monitoring tools

Nick I.

When having a face-to-face conversation with someone, we’ve been conditioned to maintain eye contact or to ask relevant questions to demonstrate that we’re really engaged—this is called “active listening.” While having a conversation online may add a layer of complexity, active listening online is still possible.MORE…

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Market Research in 2012: Big Picture Trends and Predictions

Chris O.

2012 is right around the corner, and this is the time when the market research industry is rife with prognostications about where we’re all headed.

We asked a few Communispacers about what they thought the biggest trends and opportunities for 2012 would be, and while they all protested oracle-status, what emerged is nonetheless an interesting look at the big picture of market research.MORE…

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5 Market Research Online Community Case Studies (Webinar Download)

Chris O.

In 2012, according to Greenbook Research Industry Trends’ Fall 2011 Report, Market Research Online Communities (or MROCs) will see “massive” adoption by research buyers. As traditional sources of insight (focus groups, consumer panels) suffer problems with recruiting, attrition, decreased relevance, and respondent fatigue, more brands are turning to market research online communities to build more intimate relationship with consumers.
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“Don’t Buy This Jacket” is a Big Brand Moment for Patagonia: Consumer Responses to Patagonia’s Black Friday Campaign

Chris O.

Last week, Patagonia took out this full-page ad in The New York Times:

The message was delivered in the wake of a CBS 60 Minutes segment which revealed that a staggering 25% of American children live in poverty, a national recession, unprecedented consensus about environmental peril, and raging political division.MORE…

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What Brands Would You Invite To Dinner?

Amanda F.

One of the best things about the American holiday of Thanksgiving (besides the plethora of food), is that it provides a great time for reflection. We are surrounded by the people that know us best and we have a little bit more time than usual to think about what we are grateful for. As I sat down for Thanksgiving dinner, I thought about the different personalities of the people in my family and what unique perspective and qualities they brought to the dinner table.MORE…

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Two Silos, One Person: The impact of consumer and shopper insights on retailers and brands

Julie W.S.

In our latest webinar today I presented some examples of how consumer and shopper insights are driving growth for retailers and brands such as Walmart, GlaxoSmithKline and Kraft. These organizations are realizing the power of insights to build better relationships with retail partners, build new knowledge of the shopper’s mindset and attitudes, and improve in-store marketing communications.
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