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

Tim Macer recently reviewed GMI’s Research Analyzer in the February 2007 issue of Research Magazine. Research Analyzer is a fairly easy to use package for analyzing your data and creating reports without the usual hassle that comes from a more "statistical" program like SPSS. Basically, take everything you would do to analyze your data in Excel or SPSS and develop a program that is specifically designed to streamline the process and you get GMI Analyzer. Tim gave the program a 3.5 out of 5 for ease of use; a 4.5 out of 5 for cross-platform compatability; and a 4 out of 5 for value for money.

Tim liked the fact that GMI Research Analyzer is easy to master without taking a class; it has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface; it neatly combines online data serving with offline convenience; and it has a serious range of analytical capabilities. He didn’t like the fact that controlling the look and feel of the output could be difficult; that it dosn’t support the making of blanket changes to tables and charts that are already set up; and he didn’t think there was enough documentation.

Compare GMI Research Analyzer to SPSS Desktop Reporter and web-based MarketSight.

• Read Tim Macer’s review of GMI Research Analyzer 2.0
• Visit the GMI Research Analyzer web site

MarketTools has introduced Zoomerang Online Focus, a full-service online focus group service that provides participant recruitment, moderation and reporting. The service looks fairly easy to use and similar in process to traditional focus groups: First Zoomerang creates a discussion guide for you to review and approve based on the objectives and parameters you provide. Next, Zoomerang will recruit respondents either from your in-house database or from the "Zoomerang Sample" of 2.5 million consumers — note that respondents will be selected to match the needs of your study.

Next, a live Zoomerang moderator conducts your focus group online using their own proprietary focus group/chat software. You can watch the focus group as it proceeds from your own computer. Note that the Zoomerang Online Focus interface is fairly interactive and allows participants to write, type and draw on a white board that everyone can see and further allows them to participate in exercises devised by the moderator.

Shortly after the focus groups are over, Zoomerang sends you a final report with recommendations and conclusions, as well as a transcript of all chat discussions, recording of online comments and full audio feedback.

Pricing for Zoomerang Focus Groups is as follows: one group costs $5900 plus incentive ($240 - $800). If you want to use members from Zoomerang’s panel, the cost is around $1200. For two sets of focus groups, the price drops to $11k + incentive ($240-$800) + optional Zoomerang panel ($1.6k).

MarketTools is certainly not the first company to offer online focus groups — other companies include e-Focusgroups, iTracks, GMI, and others.