Focus groups are an excellent way to get in-depth information from a targeted group of people.  New products and services can be introduced to the group to capture their reactions and supply valuable feedback.  Focus groups are also an effective way to test product enhancements with your target audience before you incur large R&D expenses.  In order to have reliable results, it is crucial that the focus group facilitator be well trained to remain completely neutral so that they do not influence the responses of the participants.  In addition, the facilitator must ensure that all of the parties are able to speak freely and express differing opinions. 

I have managed successful focus groups for industrial and consumer products, as well as for services.  In every case, it is extremely important to recruit a representative group of participants.  Sometimes this means conducting groups in different cities to capture geographic differences.  Other times, participants from different locations can be brought together into a single group, depending on the needs of the specific project. 

Let’s talk about your focus group needs.  I’d be happy to suggest an effective format to meet your objectives.   All focus group projects include a detailed report of findings.

"Mary is a skilled focus group facilitator who is able to draw out the participants and capture their thoughts.  She is adept at asking the right questions and making sure that all of the participants are fully engaged in the process.  The insights that she was able to capture in the focus groups were invaluable in helping our organization understand the changing needs of our client base."  Thomas McGinty, US Department of Commerce, US and Foreign Commercial Service