Marketing Research: Use Google and Be the Customer
To write a marketing plan, you need a market report, and you need research to prepare this report. First, make a draft and write down these questions and any others that strike you. What goal do you want to achieve? What is your schedule like? What path do you take to reach the goal? What are the obstacles in your way?
One of the best research tools is the search engine. Nowadays, researching is easy and you can find all the information you need with a Google search. Even Google itself has smartly used others' searches, and instead of letting you enter the whole phrase, it offers suggested phrases derived from other people's searches. You are not the first person searching for that topic; thus you can smartly use the experience of others as well as that of Google. Never say, "I have experience and do not need research". Use the experience of others, too.
Another research tool is to consume products and services similar to your business's products and services so that you can identify their strengths and weaknesses as a customer and apply the result in your research.
Finally, analyze the research results to write the market report. On the whole, analysis is required throughout the marketing process; from goal setting to market research and then program implementation, you need to analyze how successfully the program was implemented and what goals were achieved.