Online marketing - gaming

I spent a workday at the beach learning about the online gaming industry and the latest developments in online marketing in general. How much the industry has changed since I was first introduced to the concept many years ago. It has kept me wondering how to apply the learnings to other similar industries and markets.

Take the longer survey “Participating in the global economy through knowledge sourcing and providing”

If you are really interested in the topic and can spare a few more minutes, please also take the survey. If you can, please also ask a colleague, client or supplier to do so.

Knowledge Service Provider http://1236735131.provideknowledge.sgizmo.com/

Knowledge Service Sourcer http://1236735131.sourceknowledge.sgizmo.com/

Thank you in advance. If you want a copy of the report, be sure to include your email address.
Please feel free to leave any comments. The survey is in its beta phase, so I can use comments on the questionnaire also.


Some background

Reason for the poll and survey

Globality: everyone wanting to sell everything, including their knowledge, to anyone anywhere in the world.

Having worked across the Caribbean from Bermuda to Haiti and much of what is in between, I have developed an academic interest in the topic, especially with regard to small states. Can we apply strategic/business innovations produced in Curacao to St Lucian, Maltese, Andorran, Bajan, Cape Verdian businesses, markets and economies and vice versa?

The topic also interests me with regard to economic policies of small states. How can small states benefit from the globalization of knowledge?

Research Question
To what extent do KSP’s sell their services across borders, thus participating in the global knowledge economy? This with particular interest to KSP’s in small ststes/territories/markets and/or emerging markets

What are Knowledge Service Providers (KSP's) and Knowledge Service Sourcers (KSS)?

For the purpose of this study KSP’s are individuals or companies such as advisors, consultants, designers, health care providers, trainers, researchers, recruiters, lawyers, accountants, even artists, etc., in the broadest sense of the word.

KSS’s are all those individuals or companies who buy services from KSP’s established in their market or elsewhere

What's in it for you?
Since participants can elect to receive a copy of the report, you will get an insight into:
1. If you are ahead or behind the curve in terms of providing or sourcing knowledge across borders
2. What the key success factors to sell your services internationally

Take Poll: do you participate in the global knowledge economy?

I am writing a paper and want to know to which extent knowledge service providers (KSP), i.e. consultants, recruiters, trainers, designers, analysts, etc., have international engagements, and thus participate in the global knowledge economy. I am particularly interested in small KSP’s in small and/or emerging markets.

If you are a provider, please follow this link to my Linkedin poll http://polls.linkedin.com/p/35300/cpurr.

If you hire consultants, use this link http://polls.linkedin.com/poll-results/35302/cmmyp.

If you are really interested in the topic, please also take the survey
Knowledge Service Provider http://1236735131.provideknowledge.sgizmo.com/
Knowledge Service Sourcer http://1236735131.sourceknowledge.sgizmo.com

For more info
http://smallmarketmarketing.blogspot.com/2009/04/take-longer-survey-participating-in.html

Thank you, also for your comments

What to expect from a telephone survey

In my previous post I outlined when telephone surveys may be chosen over face-to-face (personal) surveys. What should you expect when you are called for a telephone survey?

1. An interviewer that clearly states his/her first and last name and the company s/he is calling from.
2. If you are called at an inconvenient time, you may ask to be called at another time. In our case, interviews are conducted from a central location. You may also call back.
3. While the interviewer may ask your name, the information you provide will be treated confidentially. Your name is important for the research company when double checking the interviewers' work. It will not be released to our client, NEVER.
4. A questionnaire that is designed to last no longer than 10 minutes. The actual length often depends on how much commentary the respondent delivers. You should know that, at each question, the interviewer can only record one of the options (multiple choice answers) she gives you. She cannot record any other comment. So, it is best to limit yourself to choosing one of the options. At the end of the interview you will always have a chance to make free flowing comments.
5. You will not be called by a sales representative based on your answers. You will not be asked questions in a manner that suggests that your answers will be used to call you later to sell you something. This is a market research exercise, not an exercise to generate sales leads.

Telephone surveys vs face-to-face surveys

You may wonder why companies elect to do telephone surveys rather than face-to-face-surveys. We do so mostly for efficiency and speed. Convenience for the respondent and quality control may also play a role. How so?

1. When the questionnaire is short (up to 10 minutes), it may take more time to travel from one respondent to another. Telephone interviews are more efficient.


2. When the type of respondent are geographically dispersed, it may also take more time to travel from one respondent to another.


3. The respondent may be very mobile or finds it inconvenient to make an appointment that lasts only 10 minutes. The same matter would be resolved faster over the phone.


4. Since telephone interviews are usually conducted from a central location, under supervision, it is easier to control the quality of the interviews.

Telephone surveys are less personal. When the survey entails sensitive issues, this is always a reason try to decrease the respondent's possible discomfort. to For that reason, it is desirable, whenever possible, to inform respondents that they will be contacted and to give some background of the purpose of the survey. Read also my post What to expect from a telephone interview.

What to expect as a focus group participant?

So, you have been asked to participate in a "focus group". What now?

In our post What is a focus group? you can learn more about the purpose of a focus group.

Why have you been invited?
You are invited based on certain characteristics of yourself, your family, your business, etc. These often include age, gender, kids/no kids, lifestyle, type and size of business, or your function within a business.
Our recruiters often "think" you may qualify. They ask additional questions to be certain that you do. If you do, they will give you the date, time and location for your session. Often you cannot choose a different date because the characteristics of the participants vary according to the session.

What should you expect?

1. A pleasant exchange of ideas guided by a moderator. Many participants find the groups very informative because you can learn about other solutions to the challenges you face.
2. Five to eight other panelists, a moderator and often an assistant moderator will be present.
3. Alist of topics that must be covered, but other than that it is an unstructured discussion.
4. A moderator who is prepared to lead the discussion, but who is not an expert on the topic. Even if she is, she will not show it. She is there to learn from you!
5. Your views to be listened to and valued. There are no right or wrong answers. This is not a test. Sometimes the group is asked to solve a problem. In those cases it is not the solution that is important, but the issues that participants raise in getting to the solution.
6. Expect the question "why". "Why do you do that?" "Why do you think that?"
7. Depending on the topic, the session may also be audio- or video recorded to assist in the analysis and report writing. The recordings will not be shared with the client or anyone else. Recordings are destroyed after the report is written.
8. You will not be contacted by anyone based on your participation or what you said. This is not a session to generate sales leads.
9. A reward in cash or kind for your input.

What do we expect from you?

1. to arrive on time and stay the whole session
2. if you must cancel, to do so in advance through your recruiter
3. to come prepared to share your experience, ideas and reasons for those ideas
4. to speak up, whether you agree with the popular view or not
5. to give everybody a chance to speak and treat each other with respect
6. to have fun
7. if you have suggestions after the session, to please let us know through info@markstra.com

As a Certified Moderator, the real reward is to see the exchange, how people learn from each other and the fun they have. I always appreciate your presence and your input. I hope you decide to participate.

What is a focus group?

This article is posted especially for the benefit of those we ask to participate in our focus groups. It is an excerpt from the quintessential marketing research text book, “Marketing Research", by David Aaker. V. Kumar and George Day. Please also see our post "What to expect as a focus group participant".

Focus group studies are a qualitative research method.

"Qualitative research is done to obtain a basic feel for the problem before proceeding to the more analytical portion of the study.
[...] to find out what is in the consumer's mind
[...] to get a rough idea about the person's perspective
[...] to become oriented to the range an complexity of consumer activity and concerns."

"A focus group discussion is the process of obtaining possible ideas or solutions to a marketing problem from a group of respondents by discussing it. The emphasis in this method is on the results of group interaction when focused on a series of topics a discussion leader introduces. Each participant in a group of five to nine persons is encouraged to express views in each topic and to elaborate on or react to the views of the other participants."

"The focus group discussion offers participants more stimulation than an interview; presumably this makes new ideas and meaningful comments more likely. Among other advantages, it is claimed that discussions often prove more spontaneity and candor than can be expected in an interview. "

In the end one knows the range of consumer expectations and motivating factors, and thus which products or services to offer or how to improve existing ones.