Researchers can create the greatest discussion guide or survey.  But it won't matter if significant rigor is not put in place to assure that the right audience or sample is utilized.  Use of convenience samples, poorly designed screeners and the often blind over-reliance on "cheaters and repeaters" can doom the best designed data collection instruments.  One of the great benefits of having vertical category expertise, is our firm's ability to easily identify the all too often scenario where a potential, but unqualified qualitative respondent has faked their way through an initial screener just to collect an incentive.  Good researchers can first avert these scenarios by going back to questionable recruits and asking technical, subject specific questions in their re-screener.  The re-screener can serve to validate the initial responses of those who look questionable.  A cheater or repeater upon re-screening will often cancel last minute, give a wrong answer, or forget what they said in the first place.  That saves both researcher and client, valuable time and money.

Influentials have become an intriguing component of the sports market and a number of niche brands have utilized custom research to gain a better understanding of their role within a variety of vertical categories. At SLRG, we are able to identify and tap into the attitudes and behaviors of these influencers for various sports clients.  Whether it is measuring the exponential impact that a small group of influencers may have against a broader target segment, determining the nature and extent to which influencers actually communicate their preferences and insights to others less inclined, or a combination of both, effective research is the ideal way to help brands develop and cultivate the appropriate influencer marketing strategy. To assess the impact of influencers for your brand, or to find the best influencers for your brand, contact us today.