Media has a habit of making the marketing industry seem like there’s always something wild happening. Starlettes fly across the country on private jets, bosses kick down doors in anger-fueled rages, and the underdog team jumps with joy when their campaign finally gets sign-off from The Big CEO.
While some of that’s true, you might be surprised by just how much of our day-to-day work is filled with research. Yup, that’s right. We’re talking about that stuff you had to do to write your final term paper. In truth, our team has our nose in articles, books, and metrics way more often than you may think.
Why? Because that data informs our strategies, tactics, and lets us know whether what we’re doing is actually effective. Since we grade ourselves based on cold, hard metrics, we need to make sure the research behind our strategies is solid. We do that by using some incredible research tools. If you’re a research buff, today’s your lucky day because we’re here to share some of our favs.
Perplexity.ai
We know, we know. AI has a hell of a reputation when it comes to fabricating facts and sources…so why is it on our research tools list? Because this one is different.
Perplexity.ai is an AI-powered tool that doesn’t just give you facts—it gives you sources, too. If you ask it something, it’ll give you a summary of the results based on the info currently available from top-ranking sources on the web. Then it cites those sources and provides links to the pages themselves so you can determine whether or not it’s a credible source. Plus, if you find a good source, you can add it to your internal list of resources for other metrics in the future. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Our favorite feature, though, is the suggested questions. Sometimes, Perplexity.ai can’t come up with an answer to your question or the results you get aren’t what you’re looking for. That’s where the questions come in. At the bottom of your answer, it’ll suggest related questions that help dig into your topic from different angles, provide more clarity, and even introduce metrics you might not have ever considered looking for.
Claritas
Everybody knows the Census Bureau has a bunch of information about who lives where and what they do. But sometimes, that info can get wildly overwhelming and hard to interpret. That’s where the Claritas ZIP Code Lookup comes in.
All you have to do is drop a ZIP into the tool, and it’ll pull up a bunch of info for you. Then, it groups that information in easy-to-understand categories. What do we mean? Well, if you search our ZIP code, you’ll find out our households fall into a few different categories…
That’s right. We have a bunch of lower-income younger families, but Claritas calls them “Counting Coins,” while the upscale older households that have kids are “Ready, Set, Retire!” This way of grouping demographics can help you get a quick understanding of an area at a glance. Of course, the metrics can get a lot more in depth, and each segment has its own set of details with metrics you can dive into. Still, if your head is buzzing from all the raw data the Census Bureau gives, this is your shortcut to success…or at least a quick understanding.
Answer The Public
Did you know that Google analyzes an astounding number of approximately 99,000 searches every single second? It’s mind-boggling to think about the sheer volume and diversity of search inquiries being made worldwide. With such a vast array of questions and topics being explored, one can’t help but wonder what people are truly seeking.
Fortunately, there are tools like Answerthepublic.com that come to the rescue by gathering and organizing the questions people ask via Google. Let’s say you’re interested in “adopting a dog” (because who wouldn’t be?), this tool provides common questions related to dog adoption that users frequently search for. It goes beyond just providing the questions; it also offers valuable insights on search volume, cost per click, and highly searched terms.
Google Trends
With the abundance of social media platforms readily available, one would assume that staying up-to-date with current trends would be effortless. However, in reality, it can be quite challenging to keep track of the ever-changing landscape. That’s where Google Trends comes in handy. By consolidating all the popular searches into a single convenient location, it simplifies the process and provides a comprehensive overview of the latest trends.
Google Trends doesn’t just show you what people are searching for, it also provides valuable information about the popularity and trajectory of specific topics. You can explore trends across different regions, time periods, and related searches, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the shifting interests and preferences of your target audience.
By using a bunch of cool and powerful research tools, you can dive deep into the world of knowledge and unlock mind-blowing insights. These resources have loads of info, letting you explore different areas and discover valuable data that can help inform your strategies and tactics and lead to success.
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