Teen omnibus now available on AOL
Lewisville, Texas-based research firm Digital Marketing Services, Inc. (DMS), a division of America Online, Inc., has launched its Opinion Place Kids & Teen Omnibus Survey on America Online. The survey allows marketers to assess the aggregate behaviors and interests of kids and teens through a shared on-line survey combining the questions from multiple marketers into a single survey. As with all Opinion Place youth surveys, Opinion Place Kids & Teen Onmibus requires parental permission and is fully compliant with Federal Trade Commission children’s on-line privacy regulations, as well as AOL’s privacy policy. The monthly survey is answered by 1,000 boys and girls, ages 7 to 17, among a national sample of randomly selected Opinion Place visitors. DMS separates each marketer’s results and delivers the information within 10 days of question submission. Incentives to complete surveys are provided through DMS’ umbrella program, AOL Rewards. Participating AOL members, now including kids and teens, can earn AOL Rewards points toward AOL fees, books, electronics, travel, software and more.
Total Research debuts on-line brand equity product
Total Research Corporation, Princeton, N.J., has launched EquiTrend Online, a measurement of brand equity that utilizes Intemet technology to provide an immediate, indepth survey of 30,000 Internet users on their perceptions of the quality of 1,200 brands across 21 categories. EquiTrend Online builds on the brand equity database that Total Research has collected during the 10 years of its EquiTrend survey of consumer brand perception. In conjunction with the launch of EquiTrend Online, Total Research will initiate the EquiTrend Online Annual Awards Progam. Each year, the brands with the highest brand equity ratings will receive nationwide recognition.
Update of Remark Web Survey now out
Principia Products, Inc., a Paoli, Pa., research software firm has released a new version of its Remark Web Survey product. Remark Web Survey was designed to be an easy way for users to create and administer interactive forms for the Internet or for an intranet such as on-line surveys, evaluations, registrations, guest books, etc. The software uses wizards to help the user create and publish their forms, so no knowledge of HTML is required. The latest version of this software includes a new feature that allows the survey administrator to password-protect the survey. The administrator can assign a password to each person asked to corn plete the survey (or test) and can specify how many times a given password can be used for a particular survey. The administrator can also see the password when the survey responses are retrieved for identification purposes.
Remark Web Survey works with Remark Office OMR, Principia’s forms-processing and tabulation software that uses common PC image scanners to collect data. Users can convert paper-based surveys into online surveys, and combine the results from both sources. Remark Office OMR then analyzes the data or exports it to virtually any statistics, spreadsheet or database package.
Software package tracks coupon programs
Joint Venture Technologies Corporation (JVT), Las Vegas, has released Coupons Plus, a software package that uses DBMS technology and bar coding to track customer response to marketing and advertising efforts. Coupons Plus brings together graphical layout, database, mail merge and bar code technologies to create an application for designing, printing, mailing, redeeming, and tracking coupons and advertising promotion effectiveness. The product makes possible evaluation of print media placement with goup bar codes as well as evaluation of direct mail campaigns with individualized bar codes.
Coupons Plus also allows for the integation of external data such as customer sales history and transaction details to be integrated with the redemption tracking providing a complete picture of the value of the redeemed coupons to an enterprise. Coupons Plus features include the ability to design custom layouts for promotional campaigns; create form letters for direct mail campaigns; merge customer information with coupon or letter data to create individualized direct mail documents; create coupon copy for newspaper, periodical or other mass media publication; mark each coupon with a bar code; track redemption of marked coupons to guard against fraud and customer misuse; and generate coupon redemption reports to evaluate effectiveness of advertising and marketing campaigns.
In-market testing service from IRI
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), Chicago, is now offering In-Store Lab, a new in-market testing service that provides real-world reaction to new or enhanced products. Created to meet the needs of consumer packaged goods manufacturers, In-Store Lab is designed to provide a fast read on consumer reaction to new products and in-store merchandising programs. Through the service, IRI will introduce a new product or other marketing variable into select stores with just two weeks lead-time and track weekly scanned sales for up to eight weeks. At the same time, lRI’s In-Store Lab partner Sorensen Associates will field shopper intercept interviews to explain the "why" behind consumers’ purchasing decisions.
ESRI updates Arclnfo
Geographic information system software maker ESRI, Redland, Calif., has released ArcInfo 8.0.1, a new platform for creating, manaNng, disseminating, and applying geographic knowledge. The new user interface for ArcInfo 8 introduces a new object-oriented data model that allows users to add behavior, properties, rules, and relationships to their spatial data. The product provides a tool set for highquality cartogaphic output. It is also hardware- and software-independent, giving users a number of choices when selecting their hardware and software platform. ArcInfo operates on both the UNIX and NT operating systems.
New features at usadata.com
USADATA.com, an on-line business information resource, has introduced its new Business Solutions and MediaTarget services on its Web site at www.usadata.com. Business Solutions enables new site visitors to more quickly and easily learn about the information options available on the site. MediaTarget is a compilation of media industry Web sites, including radio, television, newspapers and magazines, from over 60 different local markets. The regularly updated MediaTarget gives marketers and researchers a first point of contact for determining their media options. The company has also announced a partnership with Dallas-based 10K Wizard, enabling usadata.com visitors to access real-time Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and to search the documents for specific keywords using 10K Wizard’s search capabilities.
Reports profile consumer thoughts on fresh produce
The Packer, a newspaper serving the fresh produce industry, has released findings from its Fresh Trends 2000 ongoing consumer research survey. In addition to consumption and purchasing and consumption information, the survey asked consumers to compare branded vs. non-branded produce. It also queried respondents about Interact usage and awareness of nutrition guidelines and product promotions such as the Five-a-Day program. Highlights are available in a 72-page magazine. An extended report including demographic data is also available.