Sample Project Report
Sample Project Report
Sample Project Report
Sam Student YY
Sample University
Note:
This example is not perfect, nor should it be assumed to be complete. It has been modified to preserve client and student anonymity.
Table of Contents
Background and Description of Problem ........................................................................3 Main Research Objective ..................................................................................................3 The Methodology ...............................................................................................................4 The Sample .........................................................................................................................5 Limitations ..........................................................................................................................6 Findings Current Advertising Practices....................................................................................8 Knowledge of Radio as An Advertising Medium ....................................................9 Preferred Media for Advertising ..............................................................................10 Reasons for Now Advertising on Radio.................................................................11 Preferred Station for Radio Advertising .................................................................12 Factors Influencing Nonuse of Radio Advertising ................................................13 Appendices A Questionnaire Draft Flow Diagram........................................................................17 B Questionnaire Draft Colorized Flow Diagram.......................................................18 C Questionnaires ........................................................................................................19
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The Methodology
The method best suited for our research objective, due to the flexibility and immediacy of response, was a phone survey. WKLM provided the names and numbers of former, current, and potential advertisers in the Bethany area. Numbers were verified using the current phone directory. A judgment sample (non-probability) sample was drawn from the indicated sample frames by first eliminating those decision makers who could not be reached by phone during the data collection period. Businesses that do not market to WKLMs new target market were also eliminated from the sample frame. During the first three weeks in January, YYYY, one hundred eleven advertising decision makers completed the phone survey.
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The Sample
Total Sample
n = 111
Most of the advertisers had very small advertising budgets (below $15,000 dollars per year).
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Limitations
During data collection Bethany encountered a large snow storm which closed businesses and made our sample more pressed for time and less willing to participate. Although WKLMs identity was disguised, it was impossible to disguise that the client was the likely radio station sponsoring the research. This assumption may have biased the advertisers responses. Because of the recency of the change in format, advertisers may have responded based on their outdated perception of WKLM rather than the current reality. (The researcher was not made aware of the former format until after the research was conducted; knowledge of the format was assumed on the part of the client.). In some instances (those businesses with national headquarters rather than local decision makers), the actual advertising decision maker could not be contacted; a subordinate interviewed might not have been as knowledgeable.
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Findings
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38.5
29.3
Radio is considered as an appropriate advertising medium by a portion of those businesses currently advertising. If an increase in their advertising budget occurs, some advertisers will consider investing in radio advertising. However, to reach those that are unfamiliar or that have had a poor prior radio experience, education might be in order..
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73%
Their own perception of their lack of knowledge gives support for a more educational approach to selling radio advertising time.
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40 Percentages
35 31 28 19 16 11 13 10 4 0 4
33 26 21 18 13 15
30
20
10
0 Former WKLM Current WKLM Advertisers Advertisers Never Advertises on WKLM Direct Mail Total
Newspapers
Radio
Television
Other
Radio is not the preferred medium, although no one medium is overwhelmingly preferred. The variety of decision makers responses lends support to the theory that not all advertising campaigns are appropriately delivered by a single medium or the same medium every time. Advertisers need to keep their options open. And they need information and understanding of how each medium works best to make the right decision.
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21%
21%
54% 60%
The primary reason given by Bethany businesses for not adve rtising on radio is the perceived high cost. This again implies that the benefits of radio have not been clearly heard, and that the advertiser doesnt perceive sufficient value for their advertising investment with radio. Overcoming this objection and establishing value in the minds of decision makers should be a primary focus of an educational campaign.
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In anticipating an increase in funds directed to radio, WKLM is viewed favorably, but not a clear favorite. KFAM is its most dominant competitor for radio advertising dollars, with WAZU gaining strength in the market.
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Cost of Advertising Additional Benefits Characteristics of Audience Advertising Creativity Program Quality Public Reputation Sales Force Tactics 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
WKLM
KFAM
Among advertisers evaluating radio as an appropriate mediumsales force tactics, public reputation, advertising creativity, and characteristics of audience reach, WKLM was consistently rated as above average. However of concern was program quality, which was rated as average. KFAM consistently rated better (lower average number on the rating scale) than WKLM on every factor.
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sales force
radio
newpapaer
The most preferred information sources were the advertising fact sheet and the general advertising announcements. The fact sheet was preferred when delivered my mail. The general advertising announcement was preferred when delivered by newspaper. There was no statistically significant difference between subgroups. The market is not very receptive to being persuasively educated about the benefits of radio as an advertising medium, especially if that education comes from the current sales force. But their own perception of their lack of knowledge might lead them to be perceptive to a different approach if their the delivery vehicle were not the sales force.
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Appendices
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Questionnaire Draft Preliminary Flow Diagram: Telephone Survey for WKLM Administrative Q
Screen Q: currently advertising? YES
Target Q: Advertising practices last 12 mo? media use budget allocation to media
NO
Termination
NO RADIO
Target Q: Target Q: Targeted customer? characteristics effectiveness in reaching
USES RADIO
Target Q: Target Q: Targeted customer characteristics effectiveness in reaching Target Q: Target Q: Perceived knowledge level about radio advertising
Target Q: Target Q: Learning about radio advertising sources method preference Target Q: Rating of stations used Target Q: in past year? Target Q: Method of First Contact with stations Target Q: Choice if more $? general media specific radio station Target Q: Perceived disadvantages of radio advertising?
Target Q: Target Q: Perceived disadvantages of radio advertising Target Q: Target Q: Choice if more $? general media specific radio station
Target Q: Target Q: Factors influencing radio advertising purchase: role of additional benefits
Target Q: Rating of stations sales Target Q: approach? Target Q: Ranking of stations on Target Q: decision factors? Target Q: Target Q: Additional perceived disadvantages of radio advertising Target Q: Stations used past year? Target Q: ranking of stations
Transition
Classification Q: Classification Q: type business? number of employees? # employees in advertising? $ last yer advertising budget?
Termination Page X of X
NO
Termination
NO RADIO
Target Q: Target Q: Targeted customer? characteristics effectiveness in reaching
USES RADIO
Target Q: Target Q: Targeted customer characteristics effectiveness in reaching Target Q: Target Q: Perceived knowledge level about radio advertising
Target Q: Target Q: Learning about radio advertising sources method preference Target Q: Rating of stations used Target Q: in past year? Target Q: Method of First Contact with stations Target Q: Choice if more $? general media specific radio station Target Q: Perceived disadvantages of radio advertising?
Target Q: Target Q: Perceived disadvantages of radio advertising Target Q: Target Q: Choice if more $? general media specific radio station
Target Q: Target Q: Factors influencing radio advertising purchase: role of additional benefits
Target Q: Rating of stations sales Target Q: approach? Target Q: Ranking of stations on Target Q: decision factors? Target Q: Target Q: Additional perceived disadvantages of radio advertising Target Q: Stations used past year? Target Q: ranking of stations
Transition
Classification Q: Classification Q: type business? number of employees? # employees in advertising? $ last yer advertising budget?
Termination Page X of X
Questionnaires
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[Introduction] Hello, may I speak with the owner or manager who is in charge of advertising? [No contact with advertising decision maker] Is there a time when I might call back and reach the advertising decision maker? ____________ Thank you for your assistance. [Contact is made with advertising decision maker] My name is ________________________. Im a member of the marketing research project at Sample University. Today we are doing a survey about what businesses think of advertising media. This survey will take about 10 minutes. Would you be willing to answer some questions about advertising and your business? [Contact declines to participate. ] Thank you. We hope next time Sample University calls you will be able to participate. [Contact agrees to participate; proceed to screen] Great! Heres the first question: [SCREEN] In the last 12 months have you advertised your business in any paid medium? (UNAIDED) r Yes (skip to Survey II) -1 r No (proceed to Survey I) -2
Survey I
1. How would you describe your business? _______________________________________________________________________ _- ___ [FOR VALUE, REFER TO CODE SHEET] 2. How many people, both full and part time, do your employ in your business? ______ ______ [Termination for Survey I] We are only talking today with businesses who are currently using paid advertising media. Thank you for you willingness to participate in this Sample University survey. Good evening.
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Survey II
[USE THE GRID BELOW FOR Q1 AND Q2] 1. What advertising media have you used in the last twelve months? 2. Considering the advertising media you are using presently, what percentage of your advertising budget is devoted to [Repeat medium checked, one at a time.]? Q2 Q1a Q1b Q1c Q1d Q1e Q1f Q1g r r r r r r r Television Newspaper Radio Outdoor Directory Web Other TOTAL 100%
[IF CHOSEN, ASK Q3-7, THEN SURVEY III] [IF NOT CHOSEN, ASK Q3 -7, THEN SURVEY IV]
3. Im going to read several characteristics of potential customers. I want you to think about the targeted customer for your business. Please stop me by saying YES when I read the alternatives that best describe your targeted customer. You may say YES to more than one choice for each factor. a. With respect to AGE, is your targeted customer? [READ RANGES] Between Between 8-12 13 -18 (Q3a1) (Q3a2) r r Between 19 24 (Q3a3) r Between 25 34 (Q3a4) r Between 35- 49 (Q3a5) r Between 50- 64 (Q3a6) r 65 or older (Q3a7) r
b. With respect to HOUSEHOLD INCOME, is the household income of your targeted customer? [READ RANGES] < $20000 (Q3b1) r $21-34999 (Q3b2) r $3544999 (Q3b3) r $4559999 (Q3b4) r $60100000 (Q3b5) r $101,000 150,000 (Q3b6) r >150,000 (Q3b7) r
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c. With respect to EDUCATION, did your targeted customer complete? [READ RANGES] Grade 8 or less (Q3c1) r Some high school (Q3c2) r High school (Q3c3) r Some college (Q3c4) r college Some postgraduate work (Q3c5) (Q3c6) r r Graduate Degree (Q3c7) r
d. With respect to MARITAL STATUS, is your targeted customer ? [READ RANGES] Single or Never Married (-1) (Q3d1) r Currently Married (-2) (Q3d2) r Either separated, divorced or widowed (-3) (Q3d3) r
e. With respect to HOUSEHOLD SIZE How many people comprise the household of your targeted customer ? _______ 4. Consider the advertising program and media you have used in the last 12 months. How well are you attracting this targeted customer? Extremely Well Very Well Fairly Well Not well at all (-4) (-3) (-2) (-1) r r r r 5. You indicated earlier that you [USE / DONT USE] radio advertising. How knowledgeable are you regarding radio as an advertising medium? Above Below Average Average Average (-3) (-2) (-1) r r r
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6. Im going to read you several ways you might learn more about radio advertising A. Which two methods would you prefer for receiving such information? [READ CHOICES] Q6a r General radio advertising fact sheet Q6a-1 [If chosen] Would you prefer to receive a fact sheet? r (-1) Through the mail? r (-2) In person by sales force? Q6b r Information Seminar Q6b-1 [If chosen] Would you prefer to attend a seminar ? r (-1) for you and other members of your firm? r (-2) for your firm and other similar firms together? Q6c r Audio or digital presentation Q6c-1 [If chosen] Would you prefer to receive an audio/digital presentation ? r (-1) through e- mail or the Web? r (-2) through the mail? r (-3) in person by sales force? Q6d Advertising about radio r Q6d-1 [If chosen] Would you prefer to see or hear this advertising? r (-1) in the newspaper? r (-2) on the radio? 7. If not by you, what position within your organization would put information about radio advertising to effective use? Position title________________________________________________________
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Survey III
[FOR THOSE WHO USED RADIO ADVERTISING IN LAST 12 MONTHS] 8. In the past 12 months, how many advertising campaigns did you air on radio? 1 r 2 r 3 r 4 r 5 r 6 r 7 or more r
9. Im going to read you a list of factors that might influence your purchase of radio advertising. As I read each factor, please tell me how important that factor is your business. Use the scale: highly important, important, neither important nor unimportant, and unimportant. How would you rate [READ LIST; ROTATE ORDER OF THE FACTORS The price per advertising spot The desired target customer reached Your past experience with radio Any additional benefits provided by the station Creative ideas coming from the sales person Highly Important r r r r r Important r r r r r Neither Important nor Unimportant r r r r r Unimportant r r r r r
10. What kind of additional benefits do you look for when purchasing advertising on radio? [UNAIDED] Quantity Discounts r r Other: Remote at your location r No charge for production r Sales packages and promotions r
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[USE THE GRID BELOW TO ANSWER Q 11, 12, 13] [UNAIDED] 11. In the past 12 months, what radio stations have you advertised on? 12. Considering the radio stations on which you have advertised in the past 12 months [READ FROM LIST], please rank them in order of preference for reaching your targeted customer with 1 being the most preferred station. 13. On which of these stations [READ FROM LIST Q11] do your primary competitors advertise? Q11 r r r r r r r r Q12 Q13a Q13b Q13c Q13d Q13e Q13 r r r r r r r r
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14. Using the following scale: Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Very Poorplease evaluate the stations on which you advertised in the past 12 months using each of the following factors. [READ ONLY STATIONS MENTIONED IN Q11] (-1) (-2) (-3) (-4) (-5) How does KFAM rate on Exc Good Avg Below Avg Very Poor Sales Force Performance r r r r r Public Reputation r r r r r Program Quality r r r r r Advertising Creativity r r r r r Match of audience with your targeted r r r r r customer characteristics (-1) (-2) (-3) (-4) (-5) How does WAZU rate on Exc Good Avg Below Avg Poor Sales Force Performance r r r r r Public Reputation r r r r r Program Quality r r r r r Advertising Creativity r r r r r Match of audience with your targeted r r r r r customer characteristics (-1) (-2) (-3) (-4) (-5) How does WKLM rate on Exc Good Avg Below Avg Poor Sales Force Performance r r r r r Public Reputation r r r r r Program Quality r r r r r Advertising Creativity r r r r r Match of audience with your targeted r r r r r customer characteristics (-1) (-2) (-3) (-4) (-5) How does WTUE rate on Exc Good Avg Below Avg Poor Sales Force Performance r r r r r Public Reputation r r r r r Program Quality r r r r r Advertising Creativity r r r r r Match of audience with your targeted r r r r r customer characteristics (-1) (-2) (-3) (-4) (-5) How does WUFM rate on Exc Good Avg Below Avg Poor Sales Force Performance r r r r r Public Reputation r r r r r Program Quality r r r r r Advertising Creativity r r r r r Match of audience with your targeted r r r r r customer characteristics
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15. Consider the radio station you have advertised on MOST FREQUENTLY in the last 12 months. How do you MOST FREQUENTY LEARN about advertising opportunities with this radio station? [UNAIDED1 CHOICE ONLY] r The radio stations sales force r Radio advertising for the radio station r Television advertising for the radio station r Listening to the radio for personal enjoyment r Family member/co-worker listening to the radio station r Word of Mouth r Other Source:_________________________________________________ 16. If you were anticipating an increase in your advertising budget in the next 12 months, to what media would you direct these additional funds? [UNAIDED] r Television r Newspaper r Radio [IF CHOOSE, ASK Q 17; IF NOT, SKIP TO Q 18] r Outdoor r Directory r Web r Other: 17. [ASK If ANSWERED RADIO TO Q16] To what specific radio stations would you direct these additional funds? [Unaided] r KFAM r WAZU r WKLM r WTUE r WUFM r Other: r Other: r Other: 18. When comparing radio with other advertising media, what factors do you consider to be disadvantages of using radio? r High price of a campaign r Negative reputation of the station r Poor program quality on radio r Limited advertising creativity on radio r Characteristics of stations audience dont match my target audience r Inflexibility of advertising format on radio r Slow speed of getting message to customer group
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[TRANSITION] Were almost done. I just need the answers to a few questions about your business so we can compare your answers with other businesses we talk with. 19. How would you classify your type of business? ____________________________________________________________ _______ [REFER TO CODE BOOK] 20. How many full and part-time employees have some advertising decision making authority. __________ 21. Please estimate the size of your advertising budget in your last fiscal year. Would you say it was $1,00015000 (-2) r $15,00130000 (-3) r $30,00150000 (-4) r $50,00180000 (-5) r $80,001100000 >$100,000 (-5) (-6) r r
[TERMINATION FOR SURVEY III] Thank you for your time and cooperation. Sample University appreciates your participation in this survey. Good [afternoon/ evening].
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Survey IV
[IF THEY DIDNT ADVERTISE ON RADIO IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS] 8. Which of the following statements best describes why you dont advertise on radio? [READ, ROTATE ORDER] -1 r Our type of business doesnt advertise on radio. -2 r Not enough people listen to radio. -3 r Radio isnt as effective as other advertising media. -4 r Radio is too expensive for my business. 9. In the next 12 months, if you were anticipating an increase in your paid advertising budget, to what medium would you direct your funds? [UNAIDED] r r r r r r r Television Newspaper Radio Outdoor Directory Web Other:
[USE GRID BELOW FOR BOTH Q10 AND Q12] 10. In the last 12 months, which stations have approached you about advertising your business using radio? [UNAIDED] 11. Im going to read you a list of factors that might influence your purchase of radio advertising. Considering these stations with which you have had contact in the last 12 months, as I read each factor, please tell me how you would rank that station. Use 1 as you most favorable rank, 2 as you next most favorable rank, and so on. For [FACTOR], how would you rank [STATION] against other radio stations? [REPEAT FOR EACH FACTOR; ROTATE ORDER OF STATIONS ASKED FIRST]. Q10 Q 11. [ROTATE ORDER of FACTORS] Sales Force approach Public Reputation Programming Quality Advertising Creativity Degree to which their audience reaches by customers Cost of advertising Additional benefits r r r KFAM WAZU WKLM ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ r WTUE ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ r WUFM ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
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12. When comparing radio with other media of advertising, what factors do you consider to be disadvantages of radio? [UNAIDED] r High price of a campaign r Negative public reputation r Poor program quality on radio r Less advertising creativity on radio r Incompatibility of target audience reached r Other: r Other: r Other: [TRANSITION] Were almost done. I just need the answers to a few questions about your business so we can compare your answers with other businesses we talk with. 13. How would you classify your type of business? __________________________________________________________________ 14. Please estimate the number of full or part-time employees in your business who have decision- making authority on the selection of advertising media. __________ 15. Please estimate the size of your advertising budget for the last 12 months. Would you say it was < $1000 r $100015000 r $1500130000 r $3000150000 r $5000180000 r $80001100000 r >100000 r
[TERMINATION FOR SURVEY IV] Thank you for your time and cooperation. Sample University appreciates your participation in this survey. Good [afternoon / evening].
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