"We just used David for some online groups for another client and had a very good experience. He provides high-touch client service that you aren't likely to get from large firms and is a very skilled moderator. Thumbs up!"

Director of Client Services
InRhythm Marketing Communications

"Great job! We are very impressed with your work."

Research Manager,
National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing
Washington, D.C.

"I especially appreciated how quickly you were able to pull these two online groups together and the quick turn-around of the report Your ability to provide streaming video in the groups gave us the consumer feedback we needed to optimize our TV commercial. And the report is just what we were looking for."

Director of Market Research,
Trane Heating & Cooling

Online Focus Groups and Web Based-Surveys are two of the newest innovations in qualitative research. e-FocusGroups is your prime source for Online Focus Groups and Web-Based Surveys (survey example).

Using our secure DSL line and chat-mediated, web-based Virtual Room, respondents with access to personal computers and web browsers are recruited to your specifications. The site is secure so that only those who meet your screening criteria and who we invite can participate.

You and your colleagues are able to witness the entire session from your own PCs. In the privacy of our Virtual Backroom, you and your colleagues can communicate with one another, even if you are in different locations, as well as with the moderator. The respondents do not see these Backroom communications. (To see our online chat focus group facility, click here to see Respondent View and click here to see the Client View).

The entire session is automatically recorded and you receive a verbatim transcript shortly thereafter.

In comparison to face-to-face Focus Groups, Online Focus Groups have both advantages and disadvantages.

Online Focus Groups cost somewhat less than face-to-face Focus Groups, since neither the moderator nor you or your colleagues have to travel to attend the session. Your client group can be geographically dispersed and still participate, again without travel costs. Moreover, you can have a geographically dispersed client sample. Another advantage of Online Focus Groups is that since the respondents can't see one another, they tend to speak very freely. In addition, respondents who would be quiet in a traditional Focus Group tend to come out more in this situation.

The main disadvantages of Online Focus Groups are that you sacrifice depth of response and body language. They are not suitable for every project but a growing number of clients are finding Online Focus Groups well-suited to their objectives for some projects.

Another online format to consider is our multi-day threaded-discussion service, The Brainchild Forum.

Call today to explore the suitability of Online Focus Groups for your upcoming research.

NOTE: A special service we offer to ad agencies and other organizations with their own research staff is a day-long training in the techniques of online qualitative research. Call now for further information.