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12/7/2016
Four major keys to focus... groups.
Upon doing some online research, I stumbled upon a website that I agreed with, in what it takes to having a successful focus group. So the first of the 4 key elements to success was "Location". It was stated that a neutral, comforting environment would provide people a place where they could speak their mind freely and not feel in danger for doing so. Aside from the location, to add to that one can also go as far to add either a 2way mirror for further study on their participants or link up audio and camera as to study behaviors later on as well as body languages. Another important part of the location is it should be as soundproof as possible so participants are not interupted by any outside noises, this will gain your potential product undivided attention.
Now the next "key" to success of a focus group would be in it's moderator. While an internal figure of your company would be trustworthy, it wouldn't be ideal. You would want to have someone with an un-biased opinion toward the things being focused on so not to sway any participants either way of their judgement. The moderator should also, in my opinion be more extroverted and be able to stay on topic while guiding an agenda without so much participating in it.
The 3rd "key" for success would be your participants. So before in definition I've stated that a focus group is a diverse group, but after some research I have found that succession is bred by homogeneous groups, meaning the same kind. Now for example, if your target audience for a certain product is female within an age range of 18-24, which is most common, then stick to that demographic. It only makes sense! Only when your product or service has a multiple targeted audience, then do you diverse the crowd.
And the final key to succeed in your focus group is the results. It is suggested to let analysts figure out your product or company's beneficial aspects, so leave it to a professional to interpret what happens in your conducted focus groups. On my last blog for the semester, peace out, and make sure to keep gettin' it by keepin' it all in focus.
[email protected] WC
referenced - Amex.com/smallbusinessforum
Now the next "key" to success of a focus group would be in it's moderator. While an internal figure of your company would be trustworthy, it wouldn't be ideal. You would want to have someone with an un-biased opinion toward the things being focused on so not to sway any participants either way of their judgement. The moderator should also, in my opinion be more extroverted and be able to stay on topic while guiding an agenda without so much participating in it.
The 3rd "key" for success would be your participants. So before in definition I've stated that a focus group is a diverse group, but after some research I have found that succession is bred by homogeneous groups, meaning the same kind. Now for example, if your target audience for a certain product is female within an age range of 18-24, which is most common, then stick to that demographic. It only makes sense! Only when your product or service has a multiple targeted audience, then do you diverse the crowd.
And the final key to succeed in your focus group is the results. It is suggested to let analysts figure out your product or company's beneficial aspects, so leave it to a professional to interpret what happens in your conducted focus groups. On my last blog for the semester, peace out, and make sure to keep gettin' it by keepin' it all in focus.
[email protected] WC
referenced - Amex.com/smallbusinessforum
12/6/2016
Judge, Jury, focus?
A jury, in my opinion, is very much a focus group, just on a slightly different scale. If we look at the similarities and differences I think you'll be persuaded to agree.
So by definition, a focus group is a demographically diverse group of people assembled to participate in a guided discussion about a particular product before it is launched, or to provide ongoing feedback about said product. Very similarly, a jury by definition is a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court. Any way you look at it, it is a group of people gathered for their opinion on something. One group created for a progression or profit in business and the other assembled for justice.
Now I admit that there are a few differences like it is a citizens civil duty to participate when summoned for jury duty, and you will get punished for not cooperating with this. And a focus group is strictly optional, nobody needs to participate in a focus group, but there are more similarities. In participation of both groups, the participants are paid, both groups after reaching a final opinion report to a higher authority, the information for one gets reported to a judge and the other to a high position in the business company. Both groups are given the evidence or the product and are to make a decision with no persuasion by any others. I think the only major difference is the fact that a jury can have control over a person's life sentencing a person to life in prison or even death, whereas a focus group can't.
[email protected] WC
So by definition, a focus group is a demographically diverse group of people assembled to participate in a guided discussion about a particular product before it is launched, or to provide ongoing feedback about said product. Very similarly, a jury by definition is a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court. Any way you look at it, it is a group of people gathered for their opinion on something. One group created for a progression or profit in business and the other assembled for justice.
Now I admit that there are a few differences like it is a citizens civil duty to participate when summoned for jury duty, and you will get punished for not cooperating with this. And a focus group is strictly optional, nobody needs to participate in a focus group, but there are more similarities. In participation of both groups, the participants are paid, both groups after reaching a final opinion report to a higher authority, the information for one gets reported to a judge and the other to a high position in the business company. Both groups are given the evidence or the product and are to make a decision with no persuasion by any others. I think the only major difference is the fact that a jury can have control over a person's life sentencing a person to life in prison or even death, whereas a focus group can't.
[email protected] WC
Opportunities vs ideas
Ideas come by the dime and dozen so to compare it to an idea really isn't compatible. Ideas are great for problem solving as they sometimes add solutions to a situation. They also are inspirational as one gets into critical thinking mode many thoughts can arrive. Opportunity is in action one needs to take because one can see the vision of a particular venture. An opportunity comes with a blueprint as for an idea its just a thought. So to take advantage of an opportunity it can be very rewarding because it most likely will have a positive outcome. A opportunity will always arrive through an idea so the critical thinking process is crucial to evaluate.
-Jose Cartagena
@j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
Negatives in Focus...
Major disadvantages of a focus group are, the results may not fully represent the larger population and things can get out of hand with opinions clashing.
So just like in statistics, focus groups take one person randomly from each diverse dynamic of many dynamics, which isn't always a good thing. When I say this, what I mean is that one random person may be the outlier of the bunch, meaning that person could be the 1 piece of damaged fruit out of the whole harvest, so to speak. So with an outlying perspective and or opinion, this 1 random outlier, representing the whole population can cost a company a "pretty penny".
Now another disadvantage in holding a focus group could potentially be a physical altercation within the groups. Of course like anyone with a strong or passionate feeling about something, they;re going to stand up for their opinion, especially if they feel they're way is the right way (like many type A personality types would). This is the reason most focus group facilitators are qualified conflict mediators as well.
I guess my last food for thought would be, focus on the group's intention, rather than on the group's participants.
[email protected] WC
So just like in statistics, focus groups take one person randomly from each diverse dynamic of many dynamics, which isn't always a good thing. When I say this, what I mean is that one random person may be the outlier of the bunch, meaning that person could be the 1 piece of damaged fruit out of the whole harvest, so to speak. So with an outlying perspective and or opinion, this 1 random outlier, representing the whole population can cost a company a "pretty penny".
Now another disadvantage in holding a focus group could potentially be a physical altercation within the groups. Of course like anyone with a strong or passionate feeling about something, they;re going to stand up for their opinion, especially if they feel they're way is the right way (like many type A personality types would). This is the reason most focus group facilitators are qualified conflict mediators as well.
I guess my last food for thought would be, focus on the group's intention, rather than on the group's participants.
[email protected] WC
When an opportunity arrives you can’t kill the idea. So it def requires to understand the difference between the both. They can be easily confused especially when we use them interchangeably all the time. Think of an idea as if giving birth to a vision. And think of the opportunity as the machine that will drive your vision. If you put a t-shirt in the machine it will print but if you don’t then we know the results.
In one of the opportunity ways in which I was thinking is that you can execute an idea. And everybody wants a big idea but what everybody may not realize is to have a big idea you must have a big opportunity. It gets tricky, but we can find big opportunities, if that wasn’t difficult enough. But first the ideas need to bloom and grow. So launching an idea with the right enviorment and the right nurturing and thought process maybe the key. We have to grow the right idea and find a big opportunity.
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
In one of the opportunity ways in which I was thinking is that you can execute an idea. And everybody wants a big idea but what everybody may not realize is to have a big idea you must have a big opportunity. It gets tricky, but we can find big opportunities, if that wasn’t difficult enough. But first the ideas need to bloom and grow. So launching an idea with the right enviorment and the right nurturing and thought process maybe the key. We have to grow the right idea and find a big opportunity.
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
If you want to start a business you may have a strong or burning idea. There may be a need or a gap out there and you would like to fill that gap. With a business, say it gets started 5 or 10 years from now. What kind of company will it be? What kind of business are you planning to have? To start a business, it takes a lot of planning. You can be a sole proprietor taking all the risks you won’t be involved with anybody else. Or on the other hand you can be in a business partnership with someone else, or a corporation, but to do so you would definatley must do research to be on top of your game. So, through the different outlets of entrepreneurism you must have a vision. Pretty much after that the idea part the planning needs to into go into effect in order to turn an idea into an opportunity.
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
Opportunities and ideas has always been an interesting topic in the world of business throughout time. We always have all the different questions so what I want to do is go over a few from each. When we look at Ideas we all have the thought of opening the biggest store in the world and be successful. As we see it it in ads of all the different retail and different type of businesses that exist we understand the market is real. Belive it or not but we have ideas in and out of our heads every day could be in the car, on the bus, taking a walk. It just ends up being a process of filtering out the good and the bad ideas and recognizing a good one that maybe screaming opportunity. Which leads to opportunity’s now. An opportunity on the other hand must have the potential to meet need, and have a potential market to make money. If the fundamentals play out and it feels worth it pursuing, you are an entrepreneur.
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter
- Jose Cartagena
IG: @j_c777_
Snap: zewaycarter