Five of the best, inexpensive research methods you should consider using when scrutinizing your new business idea.

1. Check out your competition – Before entering the market make sure you have researched all your competitors thoroughly. Sign up for any newsletters and download any whitepapers they have on offer.
2. Go undercover – Why not go and visit your competitor’s store? Keep a pad with you before hand and write down any interesting questions you can think of asking when you get there. But be careful, try and make sure it doesn’t sound too rehearsed!
3. Ask people who aren’t your friends – Surprisingly, when most people start a new business they only ask for the opinions of their friends and family. Try writing a questionnaire and asking your potential target market for answers. You may find that they are more objective, and less concerned with sugar coating their responses to you!
4. Trade Associations – For the market place you intend on entering, have a look and see if there are any governing bodies and trade associations related to the industry. Spend some time reading their websites and looking at any relevant news and other businesses associations they work with.
5. Suppliers – Quite often potential suppliers will be willing to give you access to useful research and market trends if you intend on using them in the future.

0845 numbers

1.    0845 numbers are extremely popular – 0845 numbers give a business a national and professional presence. 0845 numbers are widely the most accepted non-geographic number in the UK, and have an extremely high public understanding.

2.    Memorable 0845 numbers - Businesses can choose memorable 0845 numbers. Memorable numbers allow a business to choose a 0845 number that reflects their products and services.

3.    Smarten up and attract enquires – 0845 numbers can smarten up the way your business deals with calls. Calls to 0845 numbers can be easily re-directed to the correct department of your business. They can be used to attract enquires from outside your own physical area as 0845 numbers are not judged on their location.

4.    Quick and easy to set up - 0845 numbers simply point to your existing landline telephone numbers. You won’t lose your old numbers and your customers can still ring your old numbers should they wish to do so.

5.    Call statistics - Every 0845 number can be tracked, this means that through your 0845 number every enquiry to your business, the time, day, date, duration and even the origin number of the call can all be fed into a database which your business will have access to.

6.    0845 numbers are for life – If in the future you decide to relocate, your 0845 numbers can move with you.  Potentially saving you money in reprinting costs.

7.    Specific purposes - 0845 numbers can be used for specific purposes, like on websites or advertising.

8.    Versatile – 0845 numbers are very versatile, they offer businesses large amount of flexibility and power immediately without having to install extra equipment.

9.    Benefits - 0845 numbers can encourage callers to use your services; 0845 numbers enable you to promote your business without geographic restriction.

10.  For everyone – 0845 numbers are for everyone, from large businesses to small businesses, anyone can use them.