How to (almost instantly) become better at market research 👩🏽‍💻

Hey, newsletter fam!

If you’ve got five minutes to spare today, this week’s edition of Momentum is bound to help you make a small (but mighty) improvement to a very valuable skill as a new founder and operator.

Let’s get moving, shall we? 🏃🏽‍♀️

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Here’s what’s moving through the pipeline:

• 3 tips to (almost instantly) become better at market research 👩🏽‍💻

• Make some waves 🌊

• Gem of the week 💎

• Temperature check 🌡️

• Say hi 👋🏽

3 tips to (almost instantly) become better at market research 👩🏽‍💻

Being a strong researcher goes a long way when it comes to launching and growing a startup or brand. It’s pretty much impossible to grow a business if you don’t conduct market research.

And while it can feel like there are a ton of rabbit holes to jump down and you’re up to your ears in customer interviews, there are a few small things you can do to make the task feel less daunting (and ultimately make you better at conducting market research).

1. Understand that conducting research never stops. Market research is an ongoing process because market conditions, consumer needs, and even competitor initiatives can change. While you don’t need to pour over research and surveys for hours on end every day, doing a little bit of work regularly to stay on top of things can make the process feel less tedious.

2. Have an accessible way to reach your customers for feedback. Being able to quickly receive customer feedback means you can act on those insights faster—which means your business can keep growing. I admire businesses that put community at the heart of their brand because they’re able to strategically position themselves to collect that customer feedback easily and often.

   There are many creative ways to reach your customers and ask for their feedback: newsletters, a social media group dedicated to your product, creating a brand ambassador program, monitoring social media conversations, and more.

3. Keep your competitors close. Collecting insights on your competitors is a part of the market research process. But it doesn’t just stop at Googling what they sell and how much they charge for it. Understand what promotions they’re running, their brand messaging, and even the customer acquisition channels they use. In other words, follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletters and text message marketing, and monitor online conversations about their products.

Market research is genuinely one of my favorite things about launching and growing brands (is that super geeky to say?)

Whether you’re launching a product from the ground-up or adding to an existing product line, market research will be one of your best friends throughout the process, so it never hurts to improve your confidence (and creativity) with it.

Make some waves 🌊

Looking to get involved, land a new job, or learn more about the startup space?

Here are three online communities that offer a wealth of resources.

• Women in Fintech: Offers a private slack community, job board, virtual and in-person events, mentorship and more for women in the Fintech space.

• Brydge Club: An online community for female founders and investors to connect and share resources and job opportunities.

• Tribaja: A job marketplace and resource hub for underrepresented tech talent.

Gem of the week 💎

(No, the quote doesn’t actually have to do with eating actual food; rather, it hints at working at things that will allow you to reap the rewards you’re after)

If you’re subscribed to this newsletter, I have a feeling you’re someone who knows how to hustle.

You’re probably always looking to get to the next level—even if it means building a business while working a 9-5 job, taking on several side projects you probably aren’t getting paid for yet, and taking several networking calls a week.

I’ve been there. In fact, I’m STILL there and it seems like the responsibilities just keep rolling my way like ocean waves. And something tells me it won’t let up any time soon.

But many of the projects that keep me busy are the things I hoped and wished for months ago or even a year ago. And I bet the same holds true for you, too!

It’s totally fine to be excited for the responsibilities you said you wanted while still acknowledging that you’re taking on a lot. These opportunities are (hopefully) taking you to the level you’ve been praying for.

And there’s a ton that I’m hoping for in my career. I want to be a VC, host more events, continue my non-profit work, be on the board of a few companies, consult for startups, be more of a voice on LinkedIn, launch a few consumer brands of my own, and so much more!!

But it all takes work. A lot of work.

That’s why when I saw this quote on TikTok this week, I hit the ‘save’ button.

It resonated a lot because the truth is you often need to do hard things to achieve many of your dreams. And having a lot on your plate can be really fucking hard. 

But I’m here to see it all through the end because the outcomes will be well worth it.

Of course, don’t forget to prioritize your health along this journey. Health is wealth and you can’t go after your dreams without it. Get enough sleep and take walks to stay active. Vent to your friends if you need to. Socialize. Know your limits and know when to be heads up vs. heads down. Don’t pull your hair out trying to achieve success. And overall try to enjoy the journey.

Temperature check 🌡️

Please provide your feedback on this week’s edition of Momentum! The survey is only 4 questions long and it helps me create content that’s tailored to suit YOUR interests!

Click here to take the very brief survey.

Say hi 👋🏽

I love hearing from you! Whether you have a question or comment, are looking for a peer to bounce ideas off of, or want to offer me a job * cough, cough * (just kidding…but not really…) I’m just a few clicks away. Find me on LinkedIn and X, or email me at [email protected].

Let’s talk soon!

–Jasmin Suknanan, Founder & EIC of Momentum

About me

Jasmin started her career in media as a writer and reporter gaining expertise across several verticals, including lifestyle, commerce, Consumer Finance, and FinTech. She decided to focus on the venture capital space and gain skills as a product marketer to continue helping companies solve consumer-focused problems. She has evaluated over 80 startups across FinTech, Wellness, EdTech, and AI and is also deeply passionate about consumer packaged goods. She holds a Master’s degree in Behavioral Economics and excels in market research and competitor analysis.