Market research agencies ultimately help businesses by putting the collected data into action. Some activities conducted by market research agencies include:

• Conducting surveys
• Conducting interviews
• Facilitating focus groups and workshops
• Undertaking methods to observe customers
• Collect relevant information, analyze data, report findings

When you hire an agency, make sure that they are properly differentiating between quantitative and qualitative research. Simply put, quantitative data deals with facts and figures while qualitative data pertains to human experience. Both are relevant for you to make informed business decisions.

Let’s try and understand the underpinnings of a poll - an exit poll/opinion poll/a brand dipstick and why as marketers and brand custodians, we must take them with a pinch of salt.