In the world of business, where unpredictability is the only constant, there's one steadfast ally that successful enterprises rely upon: market research. But as vast and overwhelming as the ocean of information can be, navigating it alone is often neither feasible nor strategic. This is where research partners come into play. 

Co-CEO Colson Steber was a guest of Todd Westra on The Growth and Scaling Podcast to talk about his entrepreneurial journey from staff member to owner and Co-CEO of Communications for Research (CFR) and Ag Access. 

Colson’s father, Jim Steber, started CFR in 1997 as a telephone research recruitment company. Colson joined CFR in 2012, shortly after..

How quickly can CFR provide the audience I need?

By the time we’re asked this question, something typically has gone wrong on a project. We answer that question with another one, namely, “What happened?” This is where we listen before taking action. Creating a way forward to solve the problem at hand requires that we understand what happened..

Our clients are experts at what they do – creating innovative solutions for their own clients, providing thought leadership that shapes the industry, and helping to steer meaningful business solutions. But if they’re honest with themselves, many of the business leaders we partner with spend more time than they’d like micromanaging the research..

Every business endeavor needs a comprehensive plan with established processes in place. It’s also crucial that while the big picture covers all the bases, it must be customizable and fine-tuned as needed for each customer’s audience and goals, both long and short-term. Nothing is guaranteed, but with a well-crafted and thorough process, the odds..

Business leaders in marketing, research, communications, and development are specifically charged with moving the business forward. Relevant consumer insights can be difficult to achieve and keep up with, no matter the level of professional expertise. There’s still a lot to be said for plain old common sense and what you absorb anecdotally from..

A lack of time or access to outside resources, such as a large sample of your target audience or highly experienced interviewers, might affect your ability to complete a research project in-house. In any case, it may be best to bring in a research vendor to help execute your project. 

Hiring a Market Research partner takes away the pressure of doing it yourself, but finding the right market research partner can prove to be a challenge.

All market research aims to gather honest answers from the right participants to inform accurate decisions. Trust and good communication are meaningful in all aspects of any relationship and are undoubtedly crucial when choosing the proper market research partner. But what is marketing research at its core but the gathering and study of customer..