Market Surveys can help you determine if market segments measure up.

• If you know members of a market segment, ask them to share information that will be helpful in determining whether or not the market is a good fit for you.
• If you don't know anyone in the market, you can still call on people, explain that you're doing an informal market survey, and ask for their help.

Most people are usually only too happy to talk about their all-time favorite topics – themselves, their occupations, their cultures, or their businesses. To better understand how to market and communicate with potential clients, you first need to know what their expectations are and how they prefer being approached by service providers.

At the very least, you'll get the marketing information you're looking for. You may also find your questions create interest in what you're doing, and that conversations with survey participants can lead to scheduled meetings and sales.

Use one of the following formats when asking to conduct various types of market surveys; adapt the language to your way of talking:

• Personal Market Survey Request
• Business Market Survey Request

Note: It may be best to avoid personal or family-specific questions at this point. That information, however, may come out in the natural course of conversations with survey participants. In fact, the more people open up during marketing surveys, the more open they'll be to doing business with you.

After the survey, conclude with...

"I really appreciate this. I'd like to extend this survey to a few other people. Would you be good enough to give me the names of two or three friends, neighbors or work associates whom I might ask these same questions?"

As marketing consultant, Kirk Lowe, explains, "Surveys can meet a variety of different wants and needs by asking your clients – as well as people in potential market segments – about what's important to them, just asking in itself is valued."

Get What You Need; Just Don't Over Do It!