Community vs. Panels: A Guide for Businesses

In today’s market research landscape, traditional methods such as surveys and focus groups are no longer enough to gather in-depth insights from customers. That’s where online communities and panels can offer real strengths and depth of insight – through instant access to customer feedback, that is cost effective, fast, high quality, with an engaged group of participants. Online communities and panels put the customer right at the heart of strategic and tactical decisions across an organisation. But before we start, what is the difference between an Online Panel and an Online Community? 

Online Panels

An online panel is a group of pre-recruited individuals who have agreed to participate in surveys and research studies over a period of time. These panels are typically large scale, over many years and mainly used for quantitative research. Benefits include comprehensive coverage of customer segments, (i.e. customers of a specific brand or product or transaction level), fast project turnaround and cost efficiency. Drawbacks can be panel fatigue, and limited engagement as communication tends to be one-way – surveys are sent to respondents who simply complete the survey and move onto the next one.

Online Communities

An online community is a group of people who come together on a digital platform to interact, share ideas, and discuss topics of common interest. These communities are normally smaller in scale, qualitative in focus and often over a shorter time period with more interactive and ongoing engagement. Benefits include rich qualitative data – through forums, discussions and other interactive features, and high engagement as members feel a sense of belonging, which can lead to innovative ideas. Drawbacks can often be seen to be management complexity, as managing and moderating to ensure productive interactions can be seen as resource intensive.

Qumind provides a versatile and scalable platform that can assist businesses in making cost-effective decisions regarding the use of online panels and communities for their research needs.

We offer comprehensive solutions for all budgets, ranging from self-serve solutions (ideal for those with larger in-house teams who want full control) with a user friendly interface, customisation and flexibility, right through to a full managed service, with expert step by step guidance and the services of a dedicated Community Manager and Insight Team – for those businesses where time and resource are more of an issue.

Qumind’s flexible, scalable approach to online panels and communities ensures that businesses of any size and budget can effectively leverage market research to drive their strategic goals. By offering both self-serve solutions and comprehensive managed services, Qumind provides the tools and expertise needed to gather valuable insights, improve decision-making, and achieve long-term success.