Research and the Six Things You Already Know

 Online Business : Apply Research and The Six Things You Already Know

For sure the word “Research” is not new to you and probably this is what you and me are always doing most of the time. If we are going to look its meaning, it suggests some careful thinking and in depth studies like examination, investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery of certain information or facts.

Well, you may be asking how is research related to making money online or you may be telling yourself, is research really important for me to earn online or can I apply it to the affiliate programs I’ve joined? The answer is absolutely, yes.  And, we have already learned the other five important questions related to it, from grade school or so. These are the “4 Ws and H”.  Read on and I hope you will be able to apply what these simple reminders will effectively boost your strategies for you to earn online or make money online by applying them to the affiliate programs you have joined or you may just want to start your very own business with your own brand.

Online Business Tip No. 1: HOW does research boost credibility and authority?

Have you noticed that most of the products that already gained their credibility have something in common? Okey, let us try these. I am going to give the phrases here and try to answer as fast as you can. Do not worry because the answers are given at the bottom of this post.  Ready? Let us begin.

“Just do it”,
“I’m Loving It”
“Finger Lickin’ Good”
“Eat Fresh”
“Have a Break, Have a ______”
“Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s _______”
“Because You’re Worth It”
“A Diamond is Forever”
“It Keeps Going, and Going, and Going…”
“Ideas for Life”
“Don’t be Evil”
“Think Different”

These brands have built their credibility by making their slogans or mottos real. You may even be imagining their trademarks now, right? Well, in business, credibility is always attached to any or a combination of these – brand or brand name, company name, logo, slogans and seal.

Now, how about authority? Authority, as defined by Wikipedia, was derived from a Latin word, auctoritas, defined as, “a concept used to indicate the foundational right to exercise power…” Depending on usage, authority can be used in many categories like, domain authority, question authority, positional authority, brand authority and the like. For this post, we will just focus on brand authority and domain authority.  To explain further, I will list products commonly used or consumed by almost everyone, every day. Just give or mention the brand names.

Your favorite shampoo
The toothpaste your family always use
Battery charger
Your car
Your favorite jeans
The wristwatch you are wearing now
Beer you last tasted
Pizza you want to order
Burger and drinks you want to buy later
The laptop you are using now
Your favorite deodorant

To easily understand brand authority, just think about voting. The most numbers of brand name mentions or votes in our example have higher authority. In the definition, “… a concept used to indicate the foundational right to exercise power…”  The brands you have just mentioned or those logos you have in your mind by answering those listed above have authority because they have gained “power” through trust and credibility.  Just like domain authority or website authority, the higher it ranks, gets clicks, visits and impressions, the higher its authority is.

How then, does research boost credibility and authority? The answer is, first, through research, one is able to know exactly, what are the preferences of the potential clients and customers, as to their usage, durability, pricing, etc.  Second, by research, one can improve or develop products that are congruent to the lifestyles of the existing users and potential customers. Another is, research is the key to answer the needs of users.

For example, my county, the Philippines, is always stricken by typhoons. In the house, we store foods before the rainy seasons and we buy easy-open can foods and instant noodles in cups. Not all brands have easy-open cans and not all noodles are in cups. Since the company who introduced easy-open can products, is already an authority, the brand he used for that, easily gained trust and credibility, too.

So, boost your credibility, research and let your brand be known with authority.

Online Business Tip No. 2: WHAT can research do to your product offers?

If you are looking for a new cellphone and you are thorn between two choices with all other features being equal, which one would you prefer?

CHOICE A:  A new brand that gives product warranty up to 5 years with heavy marketing promotion (TV Ads, Billboards, News Ads, Broadcast Ads, etc.)  plus 20% discount
CHOICE B:  An already established brand with only one year warranty and currently do not have any marketing promo or discount.

So, what can research do to your product offers?

In the example above, both choices are good while there are factors to consider: new brand vs. established brand; discounted price vs. regular price; warranty period.  If you offer a product whether physical or digital product, research on what factors and features you would like to raise to get the attention of potential buyers to let them buy the product whether you are offering a new brand or an already established brand. `

Online Business Tip No. 3: WHEN does research mandatory to business?           

It is mandatory to do a research when your business is in line with providing services and products which directly affect the health or lives of customers.

A recent example is a case in my country.  A number of students in the public schools were given free anti-dengue vaccination where most lives were put at risk due to some factors not properly considered where, if thorough research should have been done, such loss of lives have been avoided.

It is mandatory to do a research when the products or services are governed by law.  Who wants to be sued just by collecting e-mails? The GDPR policy is an example. Do we really need research? Yes.  Even wordpress.org has developed a new plugin to help website owners comply with the policy.

It is mandatory to do a research when you want to leave a legacy to the next generation. Of course, if one would like to leave a legacy, he will make every effort and apply his skills and time to make it real.  The drawing or blueprint becomes standing structure or building. The idea and imagination comes to life.  The knowledge becomes an e-book or books, courses and training. The concepts become websites, live in the internet, and so on…

Online Business Tip No. 4: WHERE to conduct research?

There are lots of avenues where to conduct research. It could be one or a combination of these:
Printed materials - books, magazines, flyers, brochures, catalogues, newspapers and the like
Online resources – websites, blogs, forums, membership sites, advertisements
Audio and Video Files – recorded files, webinars, podcasts
Others – any reliable avenue of knowledge, facts, information
Online Business Tip No. 5: WHY is there a need for research?

The ultimate answer to this question is – PURPOSE. 

As promised, here are the brands which answer the guessing game in the first part of this article.

Nike
Mc Donalds
KFC
Subway
Kitkat
Maybelline
L’Oreal
De Beers
Energizer
Panasonic
Google
Apple

The brands listed above have purposes and their names speak them so. Now, you want to earn money online or offline? And, you want to build your brand, as well?  May I just joggle the slogans up there and leave these borrowed phrases for you to think about.  “Just do it” You have “Ideas for Life”. You can make money online because you are one of kind, you “Think Different”.  Let your ideas come to life “Because You’re Worth It”.  Research and find the purpose of your business. Make a legacy which is likened to a gem just like a diamond because, “A Diamond is Forever”.

Online Business Tip No. 6: Start a business  or continue what you have started.

Think… Think. Think!  Then, act and think again.

Here is something for you to think about:

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson