An Overview of Market Research Online Community Technology and Services

The recent report on research industry trends released by GreenBook (GRIT) has stated that among the prelisted research techniques and approaches, market research online communities (MROCs) is one of the most adopted technology-based techniques (35%), followed then by data mining (32%) and social media analytics (29%). Future adoption of MROCs is also favourable as the top two emerging technology, where research buyers (52%) are marginally leading the way in utilizing this technique as compared to research providers (46%).

i-Link Strengthens its Client Development Team

i-Link is delighted to welcome Richard Tucker to the position of Client Services Manager based in our newly opened Melbourne office, and Szetho Wei Shen as the Regional Business Development Manager to head up sales and marketing operations in our Singapore office.

Australians Favourite Ways to Relax and Spend Their Free Time

Everyone has a favourite way to enjoy their free time or relax after a stressful day. So to find out how Australians incorporate leisure activities into their daily lives, we conducted an online poll study of 200 people via our proprietary research panel – “LiveTribe”.

i-Link's New Singapore Office

Our exciting regional expansion continues apace with the opening of our third office location in Singapore. This investment is another significant step for i-Link in our continued support of the SEA research industry as well as now offering a truly localised client team to support our operations across this region.

What do Australians most like on their toast?

It's a novel question for sure; however at i-Link uncovering the daily habits of everyday Australians is what we do for a diverse range of clients. Recently in support of the 2011 ESOMAR APAC Conference in Melbourne we polled 386 people from our "LiveTribe" research panel, with the sample matching the Australian population proportions for age and gender, asking them what they most like to spread on their toast.

We are "ISO 27001" and "Return Path" Accredited

completeMR, a sister company to i-Link, which is solely responsible for the ongoing development of our proprietary research technology and software has achieved another key milestone in its evolution.

A Snapshot of Hybrid Online Methodologies

A Hybrid methodology is otherwise known as mixed-method or mixed-mode research techniques. There is no limit to its definition of approach and applications. For example Hybrid methods can range from combining quant-qual / qual-quant approach, or can be through undertaking online and offline research together, or via mixed methods of collecting data such as phone, face-to-face interview, internet, etc. This article explores what a hybrid online approach may offer market researchers.

Come see us in Melbourne and Singapore

The i-Link team is shortly taking to the road again, this time our travels take us as exhibitors to the ESOMAR Asia Pacific Conference in Melbourne and also the MRSS Conference in Singapore.

The ESOMAR Conference, which takes place on the 21st and 22nd of March will explore how market research can provide leadership to all manner of industries across the APAC region. The conference will examine if research practices can be tailored to equip companies, both national and international, with insights they can easily use in a wide variety of strategic business decisions.

Social Media : Generation C - The implications for researchers, marketers and advertisers.

Generation C: What do you understand of this terminology? What is the first thing that comes to mind? Does it mean 'consumer', 'connected', 'creation', 'content', 'conversation', 'community', 'customise', 'curiosity', 'communication', or something else perhaps?

The Online Focus Group - An Overview

A traditional focus group is a controlled discussion amongst six to ten participants who usually share a set of common characteristics. These characteristics can be demographic profiles such as age, gender or location, or their commonalities may relate to stated preferences for a certain brand, product, organisation or purchasing behaviour.

Queensland Flood Relief

In response to the unfolding flood crisis in large parts of Queensland, i-Link's online research panel "LiveTribe" has today donated $5,000 to the Premier's relief appeal.

The Future of Online Research in Asia Pacific

Quick Facts: The majority of the world's “netizens” now reside in the Asia Pacific region, with close to 850 million internet users as of June 2010, this representing 43% of the world online population. (Source  : Internet World Stats Mid Year 2010)

So what are the implications?  With a huge number of people now connected to the internet for a variety of online activities, how can marketers utilise the internet to develop and retail new products and services?  Can researchers assist by unearthing better insights and information to these marketers worldwide? Internet evolution and the proliferation of social technologies have put more power into the hands of consumers, but what are consumers paying attention to nowadays?  What characterises their online and offline behaviour and activities?

An Interactive Tour of our i-Question Demonstration Surveys.

Since 2001 our i-Question survey system has evolved into the ultimate survey tool from our clients perspective; easily deploying complex survey designs such as choice modeling and conjoint analysis tasks, right through to the more standardised tracking and measurement research. i-Question is laden with a suite of intuitive features to support researchers throughout every stage of their planned research design and activity.  

i-Link hits the road with our Cafe Q&A!

Last month, i-Link’s management team conducted information sessions with Independent Researchers (IRG members) in Melbourne and Sydney.

i-Link Visual Point & Click Style Questions

i-Link has developed a range of visual Point & Click style questions, which are available to all our clients when using i-Link’s advanced online survey system, i-Question.

These question styles are designed with a point and click action to enable faster, intuitive and more considered respondent participation. Participants are able to select from words, statements, logos, images, new products, packaging etc. in both a visually appealing and interactive way.

Dave Maniam appointed as IT Director for i-Link and completeMR

i-Link and completeMR would like to formally welcome Dave Maniam to the position of IT Director.

Your Online Survey - The Do's and Don'ts

Every year at i-Link we build and manage thousands of online surveys on behalf of a client base, whose operations extend across all manner of research topics, industries and regions. As part of our commitment to exceptional levels of client service, our dedicated research team regularly consult with our clients regarding their survey design to ensure they are deploying an instrument that considers both the respondents individual experience and of course the research topic in question.

LiveTribe - Nifty Rewards and Incentives

Our LiveTribe online research panel continues to grow from strength to strength since its launch in October 2009. LiveTribe is an online community where our members receive rewards, prizes and incentives for taking part in online market research activities like surveys, live discussion groups, research blogs, forums and polls.

Qualified Opinions re-launched as LiveTribe

The Qualified Opinions Research Panel has been re-launched this month with a brand new name: LiveTribe.com! Under the guidance of our imaginative and resident designer, Francis Fenlon, we've aimed for a fun, friendly and inviting user experience, with lots of colour and a great dollop of imagination!

Online Qualitative

At i-Link the development and launch of our second generation i-Focus and i-Discuss applications are complete. Already uptake of these offerings has been strong as they offer both our clients and their respondents an easy to use platform through which to conduct their online research.

We manage your projects the ISO way

At i-Link we have achieved another milestone in our company history. After over 48 procedures, 50 internal audits, and a 4 day external audit from SAI Global, our team was successfully awarded the ISO20252 certification in May 2008. i-Link is now one of the only 21 companies in Australia certified under the international standard for market, opinion and social research.

New and Improved Systems

At i-Link we understand that to continue as global leaders in the provision of online services we must maintain an ethos of continual investment in our research systems and applications. In doing this, we are ensuring our position at the forefront of innovation and development within our industry as we continually strive to improve on the service and capabilities we offer our clients