Following on from the article on market research, this text gives an example of the kind of survey that could be taken the gather information from your customer. This information can be used when formulating your e-marketing strategies to make sure they are focused.

The questionairre is based on the requirements of a fictitious musicial instrument retailer, The Company, looking to expand its e-marketing campaigns.

You

1. Sex

2. Age

3. Location

4. Salary

Intenet Buying and Usage

5. How do you buy?

a. Search for cheapest price

b. Search for highest profile site

c. Reccomended Sites

d. Return to a trusted site

e. Other (please explain)

6. Rate these buying factors in order of importance:

a. Price

b. Shipping Times

c. Communication from Seller

d. Trusted Seller

e. Knowledgable Staff

7. How do you browse?

a. Desktop

b. Laptop

c. Mobile Phone

d. TV

e. Other

8. How much do you spend per month shopping online

a. Less that £100

b. £100-300

c. £300-500

d. More than £500

9. Which of these sites social networking sites are you a member of:

a. Facebook

b. MySpace

c. Twitter

d. Bebo

e. Other (Please Specify)

10. Are you friends/followers of any shopping site on any social networking site?

a. Yes

b. No

Shopping at The Company

11. Which of the following would best describe you as a customer of The Company:

a. I buy for Someone else

b. I am a music proffessional (Make a living from recording or playing in a band etc)

c. I am serious music amateur (in a band or recording etc but not making a full time wage)

d. I am a music hobbiest

e. None of the above

12. Pick any of the following that are of interest to you:

a. Guitars/Amps/Guitar Effects (including bass)

b. Drums and Percussion

c. Keyboards/Synths

d. Other Instruments

e. Recording Equipment

f. PA Equipment

13. How did you initially find The Company?

a. Google

b. Other Search Engine

c. Link from another website d.

Recommendation from a Friend

e. Local Customer

f. Paper Advertising (e.g. Guitarist Magazine)

14. How many times have you bought from the Company?

a. Less than 5

b. 5-10

c. More than 10 times

15. The last time you bought a piece of music equipment which best sums up your experience:

a. I bought it from The Company

b. I bought it cheaper elsewhere

c. I bought it elsewhere because The Company didn't sell it

d. I bought it elsewhere for another reason (explain)

16. Which of these stores do you purchase from regularly:

a. Competitor 1

b. Competitor 2

c. Competitor 3 

d. Competitor 4

e. Competitor 5

f. Competitor 6

g. Other - Please explain

17. Which of the following information types would you be interested in from The Company:

a. Details of any special offers

b. Details of new products

c. Reveiws of Products

d. Product Tutorial Videos

e. Gig or cd reviews

f. General Music news

g. Competitions

18. Which of the following services would you be intersted in:

a. Updates by Email

b. Updates by Text

c. Updates via Social Networking

19. Would you like to see a myspace style band-networking aspect to The Company's website that you could sign up to for free and host music from?

a. Yes, that would be great

b. Not fussed

c. No, there are far too many of these sites around now.

20. Which brands or product lines would you like to see at The Company:

21. Please add any other comments you have: