Julie Lemaster, an MBA student at the University of California- Riverside, has written an interesting paper (which is posted to the Sloan Center for Internet Retailing web site) entitled "Online Panel Management and Strategies: An Introduction for Managers." It is an introductory guide to managers who have been asked or have decided it is time to start looking into online market research for their companies.

Lemaster contrasts full-service providers, such as M/A/R/C and SSI against complex and potentially expensive "self-serve" packages from Confirmit, Globalpark, GMI, and SurveyZ to low cost providers such as QuestionPro, Survey.com, SurveyMoney, and Zoomerang.

The abstract of the paper summarizes it as providing…

"…an introductory guide to managers who have been asked or have decided it is time to start looking into online market research for their company.  The size of the company you work for does not matter, as we will discuss several methods that can be used for any size company or investment level.  This paper is for managers who want to quickly learn the basic issues of online market research panels.  It will also be useful to managers who need to become familiar with some of the major providers of online panel management."

In addition to reviewing the providers and the various strategies for organizing your panel, Lemaster discusses a variety incentives that can be used to motivate and retain participants, such as lotteries, bonus points, and raffles.

• Online Panel Management and Strategies: An Introduction for Manager

Vovici (formerly Perseus SurveySolutions and WebSurveyor) announced today that they were acquiring EZSurvey and EZReport from another survey software provider, Raosoft Inc. Vovici will take over all EZSurvey maintenance contracts and will provide customer service and support.

According to the press release, the acquisition will will:

…strengthens Vovici’s ability to move new clients onto its Web-based survey and Enterprise Feedback Management platforms, as the majority of Raosoft’s clients are now using desktop software to develop and conduct online surveys. Additionally, this acquisition reinforces Vovici’s position within the government market leveraging Raosoft’s Federal government client base, which includes the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and Department of the Treasury.

Government clients of Raosoft included the Department of Agriculture, Commerice, Defense, Energy, Interior, Justice, Labor, Treasury, EPA, FAA, FBI, IRS, FDA, and various other agencies and offices. Corporate clients include AARP, ACNielsen, American College Testing, the America Red Cross, AT&T, Deloitte & Touche, Costco, McDonald’s, Time Warner Cable, and educational facilities including Emory University, U-Mass Boston, and Penn State.