Is Google’s dominance in lndia History?

LiveMint.com reports that a joint search offering from Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. could challenge Google Inc.’s supremacy in the Indian market, say analysts. According to an August report by market research firm comScore Inc., Google is the market leader in the Indian search market.

“Unlike in Korea, Japan and China, there are no strong local challengers to these global players. So essentially the market will be divided between the new Microsoft plus Yahoo combine on one hand and Google on the other,” said Ravi Shekar Pandey, manager (syndicated research) at research firm Springboard Research.

“They (Yahoo and Microsoft) can emerge as a potent threat to Google, which in India enjoys a higher market share than it does in the US,” he added.

What will this mean for the rest of the globe? How much of the market share does Google have outside the United States?

Google’s dominance in the local market may face challenge

Could Coca-Cola be collecting new ideas for flavors?

In a recent article at the Neuromarketing blog, they look at a new soda machine Coca Cola is currently testing this in fast food markets throughout Atlanta and California. Each machine can make upto 100 different soda flavors with the machines. The author of the article suggests that this could be a way not only to personalize the sodas, but also collect data on what flavors are particularly stronger in certain areas. It also points to the fact that this data could result to distinct regional flavors specifically for regions. Cherry grape Coca-Cola, anyone?

TMRE 2009 Keynote Martin Lindstrom Interviews Seth Godin

The Market Research Event 2009 keynote speaker Martin Lindstrom interviews Seth Godin in a video interview as seen on AdAge.

Video Link

About Seth Godin:

Godin is author of ten books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change and work. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages, and his ebooks are among the most popular ever published. He is responsible for many words in the marketer's vocabulary, including permission marketing, ideaviruses, purple cows, the dip and sneezers. His irrepressible speaking style and no-holds-barred blog have helped him create a large following around the world.

Seth's latest book, Tribes, is a nationwide bestseller, appearing on the Amazon, New York Times, BusinessWeek and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. It's about the most powerful form of marketing--leadership--and how anyone can now become a leader, creating movements that matter. The Miami Herald listed it among the best business books of 2008.

Bio courtesy of sethgodin.com

Seth's Blog

How to reach your niche market online

At the Free Biz Blog, they have a few suggestions on how to find your niche market online to do more research. Find the keywords, and search for their communities online. Also look for forums where your niche market is already talking. Join the community and begin participating in the conversation. Often times, that will lead to more in-depth insight.

Market Research Shows Apple has 91% Share of $1,000 computer market

The Business Insider reports that Apple has a 91% share of the $1,000-plus computer market, Betanews reports, citing market research firm NPD. Mac sales, measured by revenue, are shrinking, but Apple's market share of $1,000-plus computer sales is up from 88% in May 2009 and 66% in Q1 '08.The average selling price of all PCs in the U.S was $701 in June 2009. For Windows PCs it was $515. The average selling price of a Mac was $1,400.

So how is Apple doing so well, as a luxury brand, within this economic climate?

As market research professionals, we'd like to hear your thoughts.

Market Research Reports that Fro-Yo is Hot

The frozen dessert industry has grown by 16% since 2003, according to Market-Research.com, to become a $12.1 billion business -- and much of that growth has been from frozen yogurt. Katrina Brown Hunt of MSNBC.com reports that the "The frozen-yogurt business has been in the midst of a makeover since 2005, when Pinkberry opened its first sleek shop in Los Angeles, offering a distinctly tart-tasting (and many would say more authentic) version of frozen yogurt with a wide variety of toppings. South Korea-based Red Mango followed into the U.S. market, also offering tart fro-yos with similar toppings.The companies that supply these stores are doing a rollicking business. YoCream International, for instance, a major supplier of custom-made and pre-made frozen yogurts, saw its 2008 sales go up by 52 percent. The first half of fiscal year 2009 has seen a 70-percent boost compared to last year, with a big surge in sales to single-unit stores."

As a market research professional, is the latest fro-yo just a blip or something bigger to come?

Why is market research important?

I found a great list of why companies should do market research. And even through budgets are tight with the current state of the economy, market research can provide benefits from a variety of places. The article lists these:
- Find things that satisfy the customer
- Give crucial information about various factors that affect the business
- Help companies formulate plans
- Identify potential in a specific area
- Minimize the chance of loss
- Help keep tabs on what your competitor is doing

What are other benefits that you can identify from keeping up your market research?

Research can lead to better segmentation

I recently found a great article that looks at the benefits of research techniques in segmenting markets. They use the example of fast food burger chains to examine how to use marketing dollars when after you've researched a market. Read the full article here.

Online data collection methods

According to Search Marketing Standard, there are two ways you can collect data online about the users who are visiting your webpage: page tagging and log file analysis.

Page tagging collects data in a visitor's page browser.
Log file analysis collects data as requested from a website's server

Read the full description of what each tool does here.

Don't underestimate your market

At the Speak Without Interruption blog, Jack B. Rochester discusses a concert he chose to go to over a Red Sox/Yankees game. He points this out because he was going to see the band The Decemberists, and he is a 64 year old. He also noticed many other older fans sprinkled throughout the crowd in addition to the clean-cut younger generations that made up the majority of the audience. He concluded two things from this very diverse crowd:

1) As marketers, we should never assume - presume? - we understand the who and what of our market.
2) Don’t let your mindset too closely define your the segmentation or differentiation product or service - otherwise, you might not “get it.”

Read his full post here.

Being an ethnographer

In a recent post at Innovation Playground, they look at what a true ethnographer should focus on while they're collecting information. The art is in people watching, however without a strict order or discipline. The key is truly watch, listen and question until the person understands whats going on. Read the full article here.

The Market Research Event $500 Early Bird Discount Expires Today!

The Market Research Event is the industry’s leading conference – bringing you the world's best keynotes, most influential speakers, the latest case studies, the most client-side Market Researchers, and the most diverse selection of topics… with over 120 sessions and more than 125 speakers it is the ONLY event you need to attend in 2009.

Visit www.themarketresearchevent.com for details on the “World’s Top MR Event”

Generator Research predicts iPhone will overtake Nokia in 2012

Jason Hiner of ZDNet posts that, Generator Research, a small firm focused on digital media and the Internet, has released a new report predicting that the Apple iPhone’s current growth trajectory will enable it to catch and surpass Nokia for the top spot in the global smartphone market within three years.

The report sees iPhone growth accelerating due to a combination of the rapid multiplication of apps and the price drop of $99 for the lowest-priced iPhone. Meanwhile, Generator Research also predicts that Nokia will stumble and see its market share cut in half from 40% in 2008 to just 20% in 2013.

For more information about this market research, please visit Hiner's post here:

Generator Research predicts iPhone will overtake Nokia in 2012

To Discount or Not to Discount?

Too discount or not to discount? That is the question on many minds representing the luxury brands. Luxury brands are in a tough position right now. Thin is in, and I’m not talking about weight here, I’m talking about your wallet.

Market studies show that over indulgent consuming is out, and frugal is in. According to a recent study by the New York-based Luxury Institute, 62% of wealthy consumers report that economic conditions have altered their views on luxury purchases. People, even the wealthy, feel bad flaunting their money with people around them losing their left and right. Now is not the time to show off that $5,000 Louis Vuitton bag. According to a recent article, customers that do purchase luxury brand products are being more discreet about their spending, requesting their purchases to be sent to their hotels or for plain bags, instead of the usually coveted designer shopping bag.

On the flip side, market studies consistently reveal that discounting the price of luxury items discounts the value of the brand in the eyes of the consumer. Part of the appeal of luxury brands is that it's exclusive...something that not everyone can buy. Luxury brands work hard for the label "designer" and to build an image of exclusivity and privilege. If they discount, that exclusivity could nose dive.

The luxury brands have got some major brainstorming and research to do to figure out how to survive this recession. Because bottom line, they can’t deny the research that reveals showing off the bling-bling is not the cool thing to do in this economy, but what do they do about it?

April Bell

Where to focus your market research?

Recently at bNet, Stacey Blackman looked at three of the best places to to focus your market research on a limited budget.

1. Core customers and core brands
2. Developing markets
3. DIY solutions

What are some other places you're putting your limited market research budget?

TMRE July Newsletter

The July edition of the TMRE LinkedIn Newsletter came out today! You can read it here:

http://www.iirusa.com/upload/wysiwyg/New%20Media/TMREJune.html

If you haven't had a chance to join our LinkedIn group yet, do so now! Engage with over 1,600 market research professionals daily!