A Beginner's Guide to Effective Research in 2025

Unlocking Market Expansion with Online Surveys: A Beginner's Guide to Effective Market Research
In 2025, businesses in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly those venturing into outbound markets and new to the realm of market research, find themselves operating in an increasingly complex environment.
This guide is intended to act as an introductory compass for such companies, focusing on the utilisation of online surveys as a strategic tool for market expansion.
Using Online Surveys for Business Insights
- Tracking Market Trends: In the fast-evolving business world, keeping abreast of changing consumer preferences and new market trends is crucial. Online surveys serve as a tool for accessing immediate market data, allowing companies to modify their strategies quickly and efficiently. This is particularly important in dynamic sectors like technology and consumer goods, where trends shift rapidly.
- Competitive Landscape Analysis: Gaining insight into competitors' strategies and customer satisfaction is also critical in business. Online surveys provide valuable information in these areas, helping companies to establish a distinctive market position and maintain a competitive edge.
- Identifying New Market Opportunities: Online surveys are also key in identifying market voids and unexplored opportunities, playing a crucial role in the assessment of new product ideas, service models, and potential areas for market expansion.
Online Surveys and Case Studies That Match a Wide Range of Targets
Companies utilize online surveys to collect valuable data from consumers in a short period. Here, we introduce case studies from the travel industry, along with examples of research themes from various other industries.
Case Study: Online Survey in the Travel Industry
With these insights, travel agencies can better understand target demographics and develop effective marketing strategies.
Survey Overview
- Target Regions: 10 Asian countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippine, etc.)
- Respondents: Men and women aged 20–69, approximately 4,000 responses
- Survey Duration: 7 days
- Survey Objective: Understand consumer interest in traveling to Japan
Example Questions
- Do you plan to travel to Japan in 20XX?
- Which areas did you visit during your trip to Japan?
- Did you consider visiting the tourist site ○○?
Utilization of Survey Results
Conducting an online survey enabled the collection of sufficient responses from the target audience within a week. The survey questions helped obtain detailed data, such as:
- Which countries' consumers wish to visit specific regions in Japan
- The income brackets of consumers and their preferred activities in Japan
Applications of Online Surveys in Other Industries
Online surveys are widely used across various industries, providing a rapid means of collecting necessary data.
Consumer Goods Industry
- E-commerce price survey
- Customer satisfaction survey on products
Fashion Industry
- Values and perceptions towards fashion
- Favorite fashion brands and purchasing trends
F&B / FMCG Industry
- Purchase frequency survey on alcoholic beverages such as beer
- Purchase frequency of sweets such as chocolate and biscuits
- Purchasing behavior survey on pet food
Hospitality Industry
- Customer satisfaction survey on hotel services
- Restaurant usage frequency and spending range
Automotive Industry
- Strategic planning for used car sales
Financial Industry
- Customer satisfaction (CS) surveys for credit cards
- Awareness survey on investment experience
- Brand recognition survey for credit cards
Human Resources Industry
- Competitor comparison surveys
Real Estate Industry
- Interest and awareness in real estate investment
IT Industry
- Survey on gaming app usage
- Image survey of cloud services
Service Industry
- Recruitment of participants for smartphone warranty service user tests
- Demand survey for subscription-based video services
Food Industry
- TV commercial image survey
- Needs survey for food delivery services
Retail Industry
- Survey on perceptions of fashion value
- Customer loyalty survey for supermarkets
Travel & Tourism Industry
- Awareness survey on overseas travel
Advertising & Media Industry
- Effectiveness measurement of TV commercials
- Recruitment of participants for new commercial venue surveys
Conclusion
By utilizing online surveys, companies can collect necessary data in a short period and apply it to strategic planning and marketing initiatives. Setting appropriate target audiences and preparing specific survey questions enables the acquisition of valuable insights.
You can learn more about specific use cases in detail through case studies.
How to Craft Online Surveys
- Question Design: The core of effective online surveys lies in clear, concise, and unbiased questions. Crafting questions that are straightforward and neutral is key to garnering meaningful data.
- Survey Length and Timing: Balancing survey length to respect respondents' time ensures higher completion rates, while strategically timing surveys can enhance the relevance and quality of responses.
If creating a survey from scratch is difficult, you can easily create questions by utilizing free white paper templates tailored to different use cases.
Analysing Survey Data for Strategic Decision
- Data Analysis Techniques: Post-survey, the focus shifts to accurate data analysis. Identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies will provide valuable insights, with tools like data visualisation aiding in interpreting complex data sets.
- Integrating Insights into Strategy: The strategic application of survey insights is crucial—whether it's entering new markets, adjusting marketing approaches, or refining existing products or services.
For an in-depth look at how modern methodologies like Agile Research are shaping market research practices, explore GMO Research & AI's insights on Agile Research.
Ethical Practices in Online Survey
- Upholding Privacy and Ethics: It is essential to maintain respondent privacy and adhere to ethical standards, including transparent data collection methods.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Crafting culturally sensitive and relevant survey content is vital for enhancing data reliability and participant engagement.
Online surveys have evolved to become more than just tools for data collection; they are now strategic intellectual property assets for market expansion. By effectively harnessing their capabilities, businesses can gain a deep understanding of market landscapes, uncover new opportunities, and maintain a competitive advantage.
Z.com Engagement Lab: Your Partner in Online Research
At Z.com Engagement Lab, we support businesses in conducting successful online surveys.
Our Asia Cloud Panel connects businesses with over 65 million real consumers across 16 Asia-Pacific countries.
Leverage the right target audience to maximize your research results!


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