What is a way to research specific marketing information?

You have no idea how much your answers have helped focus my thinking on this issue. I guess an apology would be in order because what I had in mind was something different then how my question was probably interpreted.

My business is a digital photography website: http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com. For the most part, I rarely get into the "what's the latest technology on the market" discussions and instead focus on the issues which affect all digital photographers REGARDLESS OF WHAT EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE.

To give you a better idea of what I'm talking about, here is the main product page on my website: http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/learn-photography.html. I created most of the photography e-books that are on the page (at least in the top section of the page).

The focus in each e-book addresses the kind of questions that the beginning or intermediate digital photographer would have as far as how to get the best photographs in a given situation; whether that situation is involving taking photographs of groups, babies, nighttime shots, etc..

If I had to summarize in one sentence what each book addresses, it would be the photographer finding themselves in a situation and asking ""What do I do?" It addresses the human interaction, preparation before the shot, how to pose people, etc.

The question I asked in the beginning of this post related to that type of situation or concerns, as opposed to the megapixels of the camera that should be bought. Examples for the type of common questions, fears, and stumbling blocks a new photographer might have would be something like this (I am guessing):

1. How will I make sure I'm using the right settings?
2. What'll I do if the picture comes out too dark?
3. What's the best way to pose people at a party?

Understand that I am guessing at the above three examples, although it probably could be considered an educated guess. That's why I wanted to know if there was any research for what are truly the concerns and questions new photographers might have. By knowing that, I could better address the needs of my visitors and create better products to solve their problems.

I hope that clarifies a little bit of what I was trying to get to.

This market research has already been done by colleges, universities, and other institutions whose money is made through education. Take a look at course descriptions found online or in flyers. They usually have Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Photography courses. Don't stop there - take a look at Photoshop courses too. A big software company does research before assigning resources to development of the product (similar to what you are doing now). If Photoshop is offering a new tool like "lightroom" (I know, this is an older tool, but you get the gist), you know that the user is wondering how to create mood in a photo. That might give you an opening question:

How do I capture mood in a photo?  
What are the best colours to use when trying to create a dark mood? happy mood? somber mood? etc...


Is this the sort of thing you were looking for, answer-wise?

Well, we are getting closer to what I am looking for. I think your ideas are excellent for the intermediate and advanced photographer (the capturing mood question). I was thinking about something a little bit more basic, sort of along these lines:

A parent or grandparent purchases a digital camera for the first time because they want to take pictures. However, not only is photography relatively new to them, but the entire digital revolution is also new. But, not being dissuaded at all, they purchase the camera.

They may or may not read the owners manual. Then the moment of truth comes for taking those first pictures...

That's the mindset that I am trying to find out more about. In other words, they may be going to a birthday party or a friends house, or even a sporting event. And they are suddenly struck by the fact that they have no idea what settings to do, whether it matters if you're taking pictures into the sun or not; and if they have to take pictures of people - that adds a whole new category of questions.

Those questions deal with: how subjects should be arranged (or posed), where to have them looking, one of the best sizes for group shots, what'll I do to blur the background if it is ugly, etc....

I could go on and probably list literally 300 to 1000 questions that I imagine (THAT IS THE KEY POINT) what may be going in their mind. I want to find out if research has been done that has actually determined which of those 1000 potential questions ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT PEOPLE COMMONLY HAVE.

Your idea on colleges and schools is valid. The clue would be in the course content or syllabus. However having taught continuing education before, I simply put together a syllabus that I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE, without truly knowing what the main needs were for the students.


Does this explain that a little better?

Hi

I just wanted to send some information on your web site on to a friend of mine and can't see any way to do it directly from your site.  You know what I mean, where you can forward information and/or news articles from web sites to friends and relatives you know would be interested.

I might just be missing it.  But as long as we are discussing ideas to promote your site .....

The answer to your question isn't so straightforward. This is because questions that people commonly have are dynamic in nature, and can change with rapid frequency (this is what drives technology). Have people done research to find out what these questions are? YES. Are the current? NO. As with anything involved with technologies (cameras included), including "NEW" items - it is obsolete before you buy it. Obsolete before you can learn it.

You can take a step back and try to figure out which technologies will persist? What percentage of a certain population (men and women ages 64-74, retired, living in the Pacific Northwest region, etc) have used a point and shoot digital camera at least once? twice?

It sounds like it's really vague, and you'd never get an answer, but believe me - once you have a population to work with, you'll know what questions to ask.

uucknaaa:

You are absolutely correct! I have several "Refer Friend" scripts going in the content of various newsletters; however, you're right - I don't have it on either my contact page or on the right side of the pages where I have content boxes.

I'm currently re-doing the right side content boxes so I will definitely be adding that. Good catch.

Your comment about sending partial content of a page - that has never occurred to me before. Would you by any chance know of a JavaScript that would accomplish something like that?


cityqat:

You are also correct in that the question is a strange one. On my website I have stayed away from focusing on technological changes precisely for the reasons that you state.

I was trying to focus on the type of questions/concerns that would be independent to and not rely on any technologies. Potential sample concerns could be:

-- I am afraid I will never know how to take a good portrait... what do I have to know?
-- There are so many new things to learn about cameras - what do I REALLY HAVE TO KNOW in order to take above "average" pictures?
-- What are the situations I will need to use a flash for, and will the one that is incorporated into my camera be good enough?

Novice photography concerns like these are what I am hoping to find out about.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Merete:

You are a gem. Thanks for all your help and ideas.