Ever had a market research proposal from an agency and felt, well, just a bit deflated? If you’re not getting quality proposals back, it’s probably because they haven’t fully understood what you are after.
Yes, we’re talking research briefs.
At ampersand research, we like to give considered results and meaningful insights. But we need to know what you’re after. In fact, we like to find out as much as we can about you and your business before writing your proposal.
But why all the detail – can’t we just get on with researching?
Imagine your friend, Paul, has organised a week away for your joint 40th. You’ve left it to him, as you’re pretty sure he knows what you’re after. You’ve invested a lot of money - expectations are high. The excitement of a cosmopolitan city. Mouth-watering food. A boutique-style apartment right on the edge of a cultural hub. The bustle of street performers - vibrant music and laughter.
Instead, you bounce over choppy water to the Isle of Skye, arriving in biting wind to a one-bedroom, crofter’s cottage overlooking miles of open sea. No restaurants. No music. The sense of disappointment - it’s just not what you expected.
Had you given Paul a better idea of what you were after, you might be in Barcelona.
It’s all in the detail.
The more we understand about what you’re after, the more our proposals will meet and exceed your expectations, leaving you excited about the results ahead.
Want proposals to exceed your expectations? Here are our top 5 tips for writing the perfect research brief:
1. Tell us lots about your business.
The more information the better. What does your organisation do? What challenges are you facing Why have you decided to do research, and which department, or area of your business will it impact on or affect? Have you done research before? If so, what were the findings?
2. Share your aims.
What are you trying to find out? What questions would you like the research to answer? It can help to write out a list of everything that’s relevant. What are you hoping the research findings will allow you to do?
3. Tell us who to talk to.
Is there a certain demographic you would like to target? Or are you more interested to find out the views of a particular community or customer type? Who don’t you want to include?
4. Let us know your timescales.
When do you need your proposal by? And when are you hoping to commission the project? If you have samples or stimuli, when will they be ready? Are there any other deadlines we need to know about?
5. What is your rough budget?
This can sometimes be a tricky one to nail down, but an overall idea of your budget will help us to design a realistic approach, maximising the value of your research.
A good research brief is the starting point to the valuable results ahead.
So don’t keep us in the dark – it could mean the difference between Barcelona and the Isle of Skye.
If you are considering conducting research but are not sure where to begin we would be delighted to help you start the journey. We are always happy to meet up and discuss the benefits of research and the options open to you, and can provide a research brief template to get you started.