A guide to Focus Groups
Market Research Companies are always looking for participants:
Focus Groups are a marketing tool that marketing, advertising, and sometimes scientific agencies use to conduct research on a particular product, service or concept. They usually invite 8-12 volunteer participants to
participate in the research study which consists most often of a round table community discussion. Focus Groups can be fun for the participants and better still, the participants get paid for their time. Focus groups usually last about two hours.
Each focus group focuses on their own unique topics so often the participants are chosen after they have been asked several qualifying questions and screened briefly over the telephone or online.
Companies who host focus groups are most often located in larger cities like New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles, but it doesn't hurt to sign up for some of the marketing research company panels anyway because sometimes the focus groups are conducted online or in smaller towns.
Furthermore, the research studies do not stop at roundtable focused discussions, these companies also perform paid one on one interviews, taste tests, mock jurys, and website evaluations.
We strongly suggest signing up with the focus group databases. Just fill out your contact info and they will be in touch with you when you are eligible. Be patient, it takes a couple of days to begin receiving calls. The more market research companies you sign up with, the more calls you will get. Expect to answer a few questions over the phone and then accept their invitation to a paid focus group. These groups make it worth your while to show up. The general range is $50-$300+ for 1-2 hours of your time.
Furthermore, the research studies do not stop at roundtable focused discussions, these companies also perform paid one on one interviews, taste tests, mock jurys, and website evaluations.
We strongly suggest signing up with the focus group databases. Just fill out your contact info and they will be in touch with you when you are eligible. Be patient, it takes a couple of days to begin receiving calls. The more market research companies you sign up with, the more calls you will get. Expect to answer a few questions over the phone and then accept their invitation to a paid focus group. These groups make it worth your while to show up. The general range is $50-$300+ for 1-2 hours of your time.
