What Are the Best Original Research Tools to Build Authority?
If you’re serious about getting more customers and standing out in a saturated industry, you need to do something different from your competitors.
That’s why original research is perfect: instead of regurgitating the same opinion-based content as everyone else, you’ll share your own data-backed insights, packaged around a fresh angle. This will position you as an authoritative thought leader while unlocking lots of other benefits.
The only problem? You first need original data, and traditionally, this either means:
- Dropping thousands on a market research agency, which just isn’t sustainable for most small and medium businesses
- Wasting time with a messy and scattered process (sometimes failing to collect the insights you needed in the first place)
But that doesn’t have to be the case for you!
We’ll show you how to pick original research tools that work for your budget and needs, simplifying the whole process.
Why use original research tools?
Using original research tools will help you collect primary data in-house instead of hiring an expensive firm, even if you haven’t got a dedicated research team.
This will allow you to gather and share your own insights strategically, without a scattered approach or human error.
And why is it worth it? Because, when you rely on your own original research, you get to:
- Establish yourself as an authority in your industry – Most businesses create generic or biased, opinion-based content. Instead, by bringing new data and stats to your industry, you’ll position yourself as a credible brand and source of information
- Inspire a connection with your audience – By getting their input when collecting data, you’ll show them you care about their opinion, and the right original research tools will also allow you to stay in touch (even before your full report is ready)
- Boost your SEO – Original research and new data are magnets for high-quality backlinks! Bloggers, journalists, and relevant businesses and publications in your industry will want to use your stats, insights, or infographics as references
- Create engaging marketing content – Easily repurpose your new research into blog posts, whitepapers, videos, social media content, and more
- Increase your brand credibility and loyalty – Your original research will position you as a knowledgeable and innovative business, attracting all kinds of opportunities (like PR, collaborations, and public speaking) and making you stand out in your target customers’ eyes
A game-changer, right?
But since it all starts with data collection, let’s see what type of original research tools can make this possible for you.
Main types of original research tools and their role
There are all kinds of original research tools out there, but instead of getting overwhelmed or wasting time experimenting with irrelevant ones, start by considering these.
Survey tools
These allow you to get direct input for your research, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data.
So, use a survey tool like ScoreApp to design and distribute a structured questionnaire, reaching more and more participants (especially your target customers).
Data analysis platforms
Trying to make sense of all your new data manually would be ridiculously time-consuming. It could also lead to human error, skewing your results.
Instead, with a data analysis platform, you can organize, process, and understand large volumes of new information, easily spotting trends, patterns, and key insights.
When you choose a survey tool like ScoreApp, on the other hand, you don’t need a separate one: you’ll find all your submissions and answers in a clear dashboard.
Social listening tools
These original research tools allow you to monitor online conversations on social media and relevant forums, from popular topics to hashtags.
You can certainly use them to collect additional data, especially qualitative insights. However, we actually recommend making the most of them if you’re struggling to decide what to conduct your research on.
Once you’re clear on the trendiest topics, common questions, and the sentiment around your industry? It’ll be so much easier to find the right angle!
Market research platforms
These give you access to existing reports and data.
Of course, with your research, the main goal is to share your own insights. However, you can still link to external ones whenever relevant (for example, to put your new findings into context).
Much like with social listening tools, you can also use these platforms to look at the bigger market picture, making an informed decision when picking your topic.
Content creation tools
Once you have your new data and you’re clear on how to package it around your own angle? You just need to make it look tidy and professional.
So, you’ll probably want to use a tool to turn your findings into a polished report and to create relevant content around it (for example, by repurposing it into charts, infographics, or videos).
What to look for when choosing your original market research tool
Your chosen tools should make your original market research easier and more effective, not harder! So, here’s what we recommend prioritizing.
User-friendly interface
Whether several employees are involved in your research or you’re taking care of everything yourself, we doubt you’ll want to spend weeks trying to understand how a platform works.
Plus, if you’re getting direct input from your audience, your tool must also be easy for them to use. Otherwise, they’ll get annoyed or confused and drop off.
So, look for an original market research tool with an intuitive interface and built-in templates or automation, and make sure it works well on all devices (many participants will answer your questions on their phones!).
Customization
You need to be able to collect data in a way that aligns with your goals, brand, industry, and audience.
So, for example, this could involve customizable templates or various question formats to gather different types of qualitative and quantitative data.
Automated analysis
You really don’t want to go through every single submission manually.
Instead, choose an original research tool that processes all your new data automatically, making it easier for you to interpret it and put it into context.
Scalability
Just like there’s no point in overpaying for features you’re not going to use, you also don’t want to commit to a platform that doesn’t feed into your goals.
So, look for an original research tool that works with your current budget and offers higher tiers for when you need more options.
Why ScoreApp is the best original research tool to collect data and build your authority
You don’t have to pay an agency thousands of dollars or invest in all kinds of separate original research tools (which add up and can also be confusing, especially if they don’t communicate with each other).
Instead, ScoreApp gives you everything you need to collect and analyze high-quality data.
How does it work in practice? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Create an engaging survey – Make the most of our customizable templates and 9 question formats to build an effective and visually attractive survey (the kind that brings you the data you need and keeps your participants engaged)
- Start collecting high-quality responses – Time to reach as many participants as possible. Luckily, ScoreApp works with the tools you already use and can easily complement the rest of your marketing. For example, add your survey landing page to your website, use pop-ups, link to it in your social media bios, create content around it, and drive even more traffic to it with paid ads. ScoreApp will also capture your participants’ contact details and segment them into groups based on their answers. Perfect to stay in touch with personalized marketing and communications!
- Process your new data automatically – You’ll find all your survey submissions and data in your dashboard, easy to review and understand
Then, use your new ScoreApp data to create your original research report. To really get the the most out of it, we also recommend:
- Sending it to your participants – It’s thanks to them that you have your fresh data. So, show them you valued their input by sending them your report before sharing it with everyone else. In fact, why not offer them a special offer as a “thank you”, too (like an exclusive time-limited discount)?
- Publishing your research on your website and using it as a lead magnet – Generate more leads by asking your audience to share their email address to access your valuable report
- Creating new content around it – Start attracting backlinks and opportunities with new insight-driven content that feeds into your report
- Nurturing your leads – Thanks to your ScoreApp survey, you now have your participants’ contact details and their data and answers. So, use them to stay in touch, connecting your ScoreApp account to your email marketing platform or CRM and nurturing your leads in a personalized way (for example, by focusing on their challenges and preferences or by recommending the best product, service, or next step for them). This will boost your brand loyalty and turn more of them into paying customers!
Choose ScoreApp as your original research tool, and start collecting fresh data to build authority
With a ScoreApp survey or quiz, you’ll reach more relevant participants, collect high-quality data, and process it accurately and automatically (without the need for expensive agencies or complex tools). Ideal to inform the creation of your original research report while engaging your target audience!
You can start with our generous free plan and upgrade to the right paid option if and when you need more features.
Ready to build authority? Collect fresh data for your original research with ScoreApp today and for FREE.
