Research and Fact Finding

I consider it a big part of my job to not only make a new brand or package design beautiful, but I also must make sure that consumers are going to trust, be captivated by, and most importantly, BUY your product or company.

To begin any project, I conduct an extensive online competitor and relevant market audit. I look at what is trending. What people are buying. What consumers aren't buying. And what professionals and trend setters are predicting will be the "next big thing".

Here are some ways Lien Design prepares for a new project. I like to combine quantitative data with qualitative insights:

Industry Reports and Market Analysis:

• Utilize industry reports and market analysis tools to gather insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape. Reports from reputable sources such as:
• Nielsen
• Euromonitor
• Mintel
• The Dieline, can provide valuable data on market size, growth projections, key players, and emerging trends.

Competitive Analysis:

• Analyze competitors' branding strategies, product offerings, pricing strategies, and market positioning.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in the market where your client's brand can differentiate itself. Tools like
• SEMrush,
• SimilarWeb
• social media analytics can help in understanding competitors' online presence and marketing strategies.

Consumer Surveys and Focus Groups:

• Conduct surveys or organize focus groups to gather direct feedback from target consumers. Understand their preferences, pain points, and purchase behaviors. Platforms like:
• SurveyMonkey
• Google Forms
• Qualtrics can assist in creating and distributing surveys. Alternatively, partnering with market research firms can provide access to a broader pool of respondents and more in-depth insights.

(The above can come at an extensive additional cost, but can be useful if it’s in the budget)

Social Media Listening and Trend Analysis:

• Monitor conversations, trends, and sentiments related to the market segment on social media platforms. Tools like;
• Brandwatch
• Hootsuite
• Mention can help track brand mentions, hashtags, and relevant keywords. Pay attention to emerging themes, influencers, and viral content that can influence consumer perceptions and preferences.

In-person research

Retail Audits and Store Visits:

• Conduct retail audits by visiting stores within the target market segment. Observe product displays, packaging designs, and shelf placements to understand consumer behaviors and preferences at the point of sale. Pay attention to packaging formats, materials, and messaging that resonate with consumers. Additionally, analyze sales data and inventory turnover rates to gauge the performance of competing products.

Employing AI:

• to keep me on the most up to date on what is hot right now, what’s selling.

Through the years (over 20 years!), I have created, finessed, and streamlined a set of questions to help me narrow down exactly what you're looking for in a new brand, and what you hope it will be. You can see those questions here: http://www.liendesign.com/logo-questionnaire/

I want to build a rapport with all my new clients and help them achieve all the success that their product or service is capable of!