Do you know what the significance of research is? At what stage should a business start to do research? How important is research for the growth of your business?   

All these questions arise when you start learning about research activities and their importance. You shall find the answers to all these questions along with case studies and examples in this blog.   

What is the Significance of Research?   

Research and Digital Strategies of an organization go hand-in-hand. They are interdependent. You need to do research to know the latest market trends and preferences. The digital strategies are formed only when you have collected the relative data. Research helps you to get insights into the market. It helps you understand what the consumers are demanding.    

If you are setting objectives and forming strategies without appropriate research, it is more prone to fail. Let us take an example to make the concept clearer and understand it better.   

Suppose companies A and B are providing hairbrushes to the customers. Company A without any research formulated a strategy of providing hairbrushes with the same color and design to the customers. They thought it would help them build brand recognition as customers would know them by their design.    

On the other hand, Company B did complete market research. They connected their target market through different platforms. Questionnaires were formed for the customers asking about their required qualities in the product.    

After complete research, they formulated the strategy. They started producing hairbrushes for different hair types like fine-tooth hairbrushes for straight hair and comparatively wider ones for curly hair. A hairbrush having 2 halves with both types of hair was also introduced. They launched their products in different colors and designs with a unique logo.   

At the end of the year, a review was conducted by both companies. Company B found that its market share was extended by 25%. Company B has lost its customers and had to face severe losses in the business.   

This is where the research makes a difference. While researching, you get the data that helps you understand your customers. You get to know the correct target market and build your strategies accordingly. If your actions and decisions are based on research, you are more likely to achieve your objectives.   

At what stage should a business start to do research?  

Research begins even before your business is actually started. When you decide to start a business, firstly you need to do complete research on the market and industry. This would help you to understand the environment and work that your organization needs to adapt.   

Once you have all the necessary data, you will be able to make all the important decisions for the commencement of your business. Data-based decisions and actions help your business to achieve stability in the economy. It provides you with insights into what your customers are expecting from your brand.  

After you have launched your products and services in the market, you need to track their growth. You start to do the research to track demand and feedback for your products and services. This further helps you to make necessary adjustments and alterations as per the feedback.   

You also research the dynamic business environment to adapt to it and attain stability in the global market. It is necessary to keep the organization’s activities and efforts united in the same direction to survive. Once you understand the flow of the market environment, you can establish long-term goals and plans.  

So, it can be stated that the research starts even before the commencement of business and continues as long as the organization exists. You need to do research for each step and each function including:  

• Planning  

• Organizing  

• Staffing  

• Directing  

• Controlling  

How important is research for the growth of your business?  

In 1936, Nirma soap was introduced in the market. With time, it became one of the most preferred products. But, later in the year 2006, it faded away completely. The reason was that Nirma decided to stay rigid rather than make upgrades to the product as per the market trends. While the other competitors Ariel and Surf Excel did complete market research. Developed products based on driven data.   

This shows that the lack of research can hamper the growth of your brand. Further, your brand can be completely dissolved due to financial losses.  

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Approaches of Research: When and Why?   

When it comes to digital marketing research, choosing between quantitative and qualitative methods or knowing when to use both is key to making smart, data-driven decisions. Each approach serves a unique purpose and offers valuable insights depending on the type of information you’re looking for.   

What is Quantitative Research?   

Quantitative research focuses on numbers, statistics, and measurable data. It’s all about collecting large-scale information that can be analyzed mathematically to identify patterns or trends.   

In digital marketing, this often involves:   

• Surveys with closed-ended questions   

• Web and social analytics (e.g., page views, bounce rates)   

• A/B testing results   

• Email open and click-through rates   

• Ad performance metrics (e.g., impressions, CPC, conversion rate)   

What is Qualitative Research?   

Qualitative research is all about exploring thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviors. It goes deeper into the “why” behind actions and opinions.   

Common qualitative methods in digital strategy include:   

• One-on-one interviews   

• Focus groups   

• Open-ended survey questions   

• Sentiment analysis on social media   

• Observing user behavior or website interactions   

Why It Matters to Know the Difference   

Understanding when to use quantitative vs. qualitative research helps you make smarter, more strategic decisions in your digital campaigns. While numbers can tell you what’s happening, they often don’t explain why it’s happening—and that’s where qualitative methods come in.   

In most cases, the best approach is to combine both methods for a complete picture. For example, you could start with a survey to identify general trends, then follow up with interviews to dig deeper into specific responses.   

Suppose you are an entrepreneur and decide to do a start-up for which you need to do research and know what your target consumers exactly expect from the product. You did the market environment research instead of connecting directly with the consumers. This would not provide you with the desired results.  

It is crucial to do the correct research as per the desired outcomes and the objectives that you have set. In the above case, one-on-one interviews and research through focused groups were a better option to be opted for.  

What are the After Results of Research Activities?  

When you complete the market research for your organization, you shall get the after results from it in various forms like:  

• Clearer Strategic Direction: When you have completely researched the market trends and gathered the required data, you shall be able to form clearer strategies for your brand.  

• Improved Targeting & Personalization: After in-depth market research, you shall know your target audience better and be able to create content that keeps them more engaged as per their demand and interests.  

• Better Budget Allocation: Research decreases the wastage of resources and better utilization of resources in an organization.  

• Higher Competitive Position: Research helps you to develop unique selling points (USPs) through which you can attain a competitive advantage.  

If company A enters the market without research, it shall not be able to make an effective plan. It will not have a clear vision and knowledge of the customer preferences.   

But if company A has researched the market and each of its aspects, it shall have a clear vision. The direction and strategies after research will be more accurate. This will attract the correct target market for your brand and directly connect you with the focused group.  

Research improves the working of an organization. It aligns all the activities and efforts in the correct direction. Smooth functioning further helps you to maintain a pace for growth and stability. Try to make sure that you have researched well for better results from your plans and strategies.  

Conclusion   

If you wish to improve the effectiveness of your strategies, try to do better and data-driven research. It would help you to know the market and environment better. Through research, you shall be able to know and predict the market not because of gut but based on data that you get.   

It will let you be prepared for the dynamic environment through backups. Research makes the work of an organization better and clearer. It would help you form better strategies.