crowd and use social media to do this as they like to‘ belong’. Social Media provides this. Their posts and comments have to be understood in this context. Others, perhaps the opinion leaders( or the loud ones) like to broadcast, and perhaps are more prone to anger and boasting in their comments( which when psycho-analysed perhaps suggests insecurities and / or needs not met in their“ real” day to day lives). Again, these are‘ true’ comments but context is everything. In truth, where public and visible( i. e. not password protected / private) Social Media channels provide a great source of on-going open sentiment and broadcasted opinions for those that use these channels( and the sub-segments of these, as I described a moment ago). In our experience though, using this social data for deeper research and moreover for diagnostic( why) study and deciphering real business issues is not recommended. Controlled, targeted and well-designed Market Research study provides much more precise and reliable data and information. But this
Darren Mark Noyce requires the goodwill of our respondents of course... thinking occurs under pressure, but not usually though. A good timescale and good budget will lead to a better project and outcome.
Are consumers really forthcoming with their true feelings on social media platforms or is it a herd mentality? Can we trust such opinions?
Darren Mark Noyce: Some consumers love to spout their opinions; others avoid social media like it is the plague( my step-dad and my best mate included, so they are not represented or reachable via facebook and twitter). Some like to share, some like to keep their activity and opinions to themselves. Many of us are somewhere in between, and select the times, occasions and platforms / channels on which we share. Can we trust what they say? Yes, but in context. Some are, as you suggest in the question, going along with the
A good timescale and good budget will lead to a better project and outcome.