Market research

Market research enables you to find out about your users' needs by gathering, recording and analysing data about customers, competitors and the market.

It involves answering questions like:

Who is the target market?
What do they need?
Is there a gap between the services available and needs?
What are other players doing?

Make the most of existing information

You may already hold some of this data. If not, you could look for other sources such as sector-wide reports or take a look at forthcoming trends or drivers on the NCVO's Third Sector Foresight website.

Do it yourself

If you feel you need to know more, you could carry out or commission some primary research. This could involve, for instance, doing a user survey or organising focus groups. Read the how-to guides in our Achieve More magazines.

The insights you gain will feed into new product and service development to satisfy the needs and desires of your users.

This valuable information will also help your wider strategic planning process.