Qual / Quant research was the gold standard for basing branding and marketing strategies for decades. It’s still in every university course, textbook, etc.
Today, the once-revered Qual / Quant methodologies are increasingly seen as too cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming for most companies on the market, especially in light of recent economic downturns. So what’s coming in to replace them?
Quick recap of Qual / Quant
Market research, surveys, focus groups, etc. are very effective in gaining an in-depth understanding of the target market, target audience(s) and behaviours. Despite being effective, these methods are often inaccessible and cumbersome for startups. Any Qual / Quant research process worth its salt needs time and money (a lot of it) and, increasingly, most companies are reluctant to budget for this.
Internal exploration
So what are brands using instead? The focus has shifted to leveraging internal expertise and knowledge. This way, companies can develop a more authentic and direct understanding of their brand's identity and values, mapping out a way to communicate it effectively.
Target audience knowledge & product/market fit
Deep, nuanced understanding of a specific segment, direct communication with it has emerged as a more effective strategy than broad data sweeps popular in the past. By matching a company’s identity and values with the specific needs of a particular segment, you can create a basis for an ongoing relationship with your target audience.
This responsive approach to brand and product building is more effective in establishing product / market fit and winning brand / marketing strategies than the slow process of market research. It also allows for more innovation as people often can’t tell you what they need or what they’re missing until they have it.
Analyze / iterate cycle
Adapting and pivoting effectively is crucial for survival. Βy continuously analyzing market/user feedback and rapidly iterating products or strategies in response, brands can be adaptable and agile.
Combining old and new approaches
New methodologies are crucial for new landscapes. We can draw on elements of traditional methods (like a data-based, scientific approach, and an open mindset driven by findings and not preconceived notions), but using more cost-effective and time-saving methods of brand building is quickly becoming the new gold standard.
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Moving beyond traditional Qual / Quant research in branding and marketing
Open up any branding or marketing textbook, and you are practically guaranteed to find a few extensive sections on qualitative and quantitative research. Long revered as the twin pillars of effective decision-making, these methodologies are the bedrock upon which generations of marketers have built their campaigns — and careers. There's a good reason for this. Historically, the rigor of market research, surveys, and focus groups has been undisputed in yielding a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, audience profiles, and consumer behaviors.
Yet the tides have been shifting. While these methods have an unparalleled depth, they come at a high cost — in terms of finances, resources, and time. In today’s fast-paced and often financially strained environment, the indispensability of Qual / Quant approaches is being reassessed. Many leading strategists, especially in the agile startup world, see them as too expensive and too slow for most contemporary businesses, labeling them as luxuries businesses cannot afford. Beyond their high cost, many question whether these approaches meet the demands of startups and other fast-paced businesses.
The 101 on Qual / Quant research
Traditionally, the way companies approached branding and marketing was through deep looks at the market and the target audience. Qualitative approaches included focus groups and in-depth customer interviews. These techniques offered insights into the target audience’s attitudes, motivations, and emotional connections with brands. Work on these methods was time and resource intensive, often stretching over months. They provided marketers with rich, narrative data that they could use for crafting brand stories.
On the quantitative front, surveys and desk research (aka market analysis) were the most popular approaches. Leveraging large sample sizes, these methods delivered statistically significant data, enabling marketers to identify trends, measure brand awareness, and gauge customer satisfaction. Typically quicker than qualitative methods, surveys could span a few weeks, depending on the scale. The interpretation of these data sets required applying both analytical rigor and creative thinking.
Marketers interpreted qualitative data by identifying themes and patterns that emerged from consumer narratives, while quantitative data were analyzed through statistical models to make predictive and explanatory inferences. Together, these traditional methods provided a comprehensive view of the market landscape, guiding brands towards comprehensive, but often responsive approaches.
The rise of internal exploration and the adapt / iterate cycle
Instead of these traditional methods, brands are turning inwards, harnessing internal expertise and insights. This pivot allows companies to cultivate an organic and sincere comprehension of their own brand identity and values before they start interacting with the market. The internal exploration taps into the knowledge and firsthand experiences of team members, fostering a branding strategy that resonates with authenticity.
The modern strategy focuses on a deep, nuanced understanding of specific market segments and direct communication with them. This approach has proven more effective than broad data sweeps that were once popular. By aligning a company’s core identity and values with the particular needs of a distinct segment, a brand can lay the foundation for a relationship with its target audience.
This proactive approach to brand and product development is more adept at establishing a robust product/market fit and crafting truly unique brands compared to the more careful and responsive approach characteristic of more traditional methods. It also fosters innovation, as consumers often fail to articulate their needs or desires until they are confronted with a solution that fulfills them.
In the current market climate, the ability to adapt and pivot is vital for survival. By continuously analyzing market and user feedback and rapidly iterating products or strategies in response, brands maintain agility and resilience. This cycle of analysis and iteration ensures that products stay relevant and that marketing strategies resonate with the ever-evolving consumer landscape.
Synthesizing old and new approaches
While new methodologies are indispensable for navigating contemporary challenges, there is wisdom in the old ways that can still serve us well. The data-driven, empirical nature of traditional research, combined with an open mindset that prioritizes actual findings over assumptions, remains valuable.
When analyzing performance or when embarking on quick customer exploration projects, brands do best when they embrace the empirical approaches of traditional research. However, brands also do best when they perform these explorations having already consolidated their own vision, mission, and unique point of view on the market.
In essence, the future of branding and marketing lies not in discarding the old, but in its synthesis with the new. By drawing on the strengths of Qual / Quant research and combining some elements of it with innovative, agile strategies, brands can stay ahead in a competitive, ever-changing marketplace. This hybrid approach promises the best of both worlds: the reliability of data-driven insights and the agility of engaging your audience directly.
The shift away from traditional qualitative vs quantitative research towards more agile, internal, and responsive methodologies doesn't signify a rejection of data and empirical insights. Instead, it represents a strategic evolution, ensuring that brands are not only seen and heard but also felt and remembered in a marketplace that values speed, authenticity, and adaptability above all else.
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