Market research
Pick the next research method by the question you need answered. Customer conversations reveal specific buying problems; public data puts a place or industry in context; search and competitor signals suggest what to investigate next. Use the free matrix to compare methods, record sources and export your next-test plan. It does not gather customer evidence for you.
Workspace
Name one decision that could change your launch plan. Compare at least two methods or tools; add the audience reached, evidence, blind spot, source URL, date checked and next test. The manual workspace is free. Optional AI suggestions use credits and need verification.
Start with your own decision. Compare methods, record sources and blind spots, then choose a next test.
Enter 2–10 research methods or tools. AI organizes them into a research-method comparison. Suggestions and scores are unverified hypotheses. The manual editor on this page is free.
Names and notes are sent to the configured AI provider. Do not enter confidential information or personal names. Current prices, source URLs and demand are not verified by this draft.
Method
Write the question that matters now: who has the problem, where are they, or what do they use and pay for already?
Choose a method that can answer it: direct conversations, a carefully designed survey, public data or an outside-in signal.
Record the source, date and limitation beside each option, export the CSV, then run the next test.
For a proposed hiring tool, ask hiring managers how they solve the task now, note the alternatives they mention, then compare a follow-up survey with a relevant public industry dataset. These are example methods, not verified findings about that market.
Make the first draft useful
The SBA frames early research around demand, market size, location, saturation and the price of alternatives. Existing data and direct consumer conversations answer different questions; choose the gap before choosing software.
U.S. SBA research guidanceA survey sample, question wording and order can change what you learn. A form builder can collect answers, but it cannot repair a biased question or the wrong participant group.
AAPOR survey best practicesGoogle Trends reports normalized relative interest on a 0–100 scale, not absolute query volume or purchase intent. Pair it with interviews or another direct test before making a launch claim.
Google Trends data FAQChoose by the question
| Method or resource | Use it when… | Check the method |
|---|---|---|
| Customer interviews | You need to understand how a specific buyer handles a problem today. Record what they actually do and pay for; your sample may not represent the whole market. | SBA: Direct research |
| Survey and response analysis | You have a defined population and question worth quantifying. Check sample fit, wording and order before trusting the result. | Pew: Questionnaire design |
| Google Trends | You want to compare relative search interest by place or time. It does not give absolute volume, buyer intent or revenue. | Google: Trends data FAQ |
| Census Business Builder | You need U.S. industry and geography context. It can produce a tailored report, not a verdict on your own product. | Census: Business Builder guide |
| Participant recruitment | Your intended buyers are difficult to reach. A service can source candidates; you still need to judge whether they match the buyer you need. | Respondent: Recruitment method |
| Website traffic estimates | You want an outside-in clue about a web competitor. Estimated visits are not the competitor’s sales or customer research. | Similarweb: Traffic checker |
Common question
Pay only when you can name evidence you cannot get otherwise, such as access to a defined participant group or a specialized dataset, and when it could change a decision worth more than its cost. Verify today’s coverage, methodology and price with the provider. We have not independently tested or ranked the linked products.
Compare buyer alternatives in a separate matrixKeep exploring
Compare your offer with direct rivals and substitutes in a free editable template. Record pricing, strengths, sources and checked dates, then download a CSV.
Compare competitors side by side, turn observations into a decision, and export your working matrix.
Map the competitive landscape around one buyer decision. Compare direct rivals, substitutes and manual options in a free, editable matrix with CSV export.
Prepare a concise, evidence-led overview of the alternatives a buyer considers.