Basic research
See "exploratory research"
B2B (Business-to-Business)
Business model in which commercial transactions occur between two companies, rather than between a company and an end consumer (B2C). This type of relationship may include the sale of products, services, or technology solutions. B2B companies provide goods or services that other companies use to operate, grow, or improve their businesses.
Sicché offers a full range of market research services that help B2B companies better understand their market, improve their strategies, and make more informed and strategic decisions
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
Business model in which commercial transactions occur between a company and end consumers. This type of relationship involves selling products or services directly to individual consumers, rather than to other companies. B2C transactions are characterized by shorter sales cycles, purchase decisions based on emotions and immediate needs, and marketing strategies aimed at engaging and persuading the general public.
With our platform, companies can access advanced tools to conduct market research, better understand the market, improve their marketing strategies and make informed decisions, ensuring a competitive advantage in their industry.
Below the line
Direct, personalized communication and promotion activities that aim to reach consumers in a more targeted way than the mass campaigns typical of “”above the line“” (ATL). BTL activities include actions such as: point-of-sale promotions, events and trade shows, direct marketing (such as email and direct mail), sponsorships and sampling, loyalty programs, and targeted digital marketing such as social media advertising and personalized content marketing. The BTL approach allows for more detailed and direct measurement of results, providing useful insights to tailor marketing strategies and maximize consumer engagement.
Benchmark
Benchmarking is the systematic process of assessing the validity of products, services and processes by comparing them with the best performing firms in the relevant industry. Comparison with direct competitors or primary operators in other sectors is carried out precisely on the basis of benchmarks, i.e., benchmark performance against which to compare and toward which to strive when implementing change actions.
Benefits
Literally, the benefit, i.e., the advantage, tangible or otherwise, that a product promises the consumer, in terms of solving a problem or fulfilling a need, and which is highlighted by advertising. The benefit usually comes from an insight (unmet consumer need that is the basis of the promised solution)
BI (brand idea)
It is the core concept or distinctive essence that defines a brand and differentiates it from others. It represents the set of values, emotions and promises that a brand wants to communicate and that form the basis of all its communication and marketing activities. The brand idea is what the brand wants to convey to the public, summarizing in a few words its identity, mission, and the unique value it offers.
Bias
Distortions, systematic errors or mental foreshortenings that people implement in their evaluations of facts and events. Such distortions cause us to recreate our own subjective view that does not accurately correspond to reality
Big data
Data that contains greater Variety and arrives in increasing Volumes and with more Velocity. This concept is also known as the three “Vs,” and in the context of market research, by analyzing big data, companies can gain detailed insights, improve the customer experience, optimize campaigns, and make more informed and timely decisions. In the most general definition of the term, “big data” refers to a large amount of quantitative data, often from analytics (e.g., social media), totalmete without qualitative interpretation. It is contrasted with small data
Billboarding
A form of outdoor advertising that consists of displaying promotional messages on visible public media, such as billboards, posters, digital screens, and other types of panels placed in public places, such as streets, squares, public transportation stops, and stations.
In the context of market research, billboards are an important means of collecting data on the effectiveness of outdoor advertising
Blind test
Evaluation method used to test products or services without revealing brand identity to participants. This approach eliminates brand biases and influences, allowing consumers to judge products solely on their inherent characteristics, such as taste, quality, functionality or performance.
The Sicché platform's advanced data collection and analysis tools enable authentic, unbiased brand feedback, helping companies improve the quality of their products and make strategic decisions based on real, objective data
Body copy
The body copy is the descriptive text of an advertisement. It represents the argumentative body, is located after headline and baseline, and is developed to define the promise left by the headline.
Brainstorming
An ideational production technique in which a group of people come together to freely discuss and propose as many solutions or creative ideas as possible on a given topic or problem, without fear of criticism or judgment. The goal of brainstorming is to stimulate creativity and gather a wide range of ideas
Brand
It is the distinctive sign, such as a name, logo, symbol or other, that is legally registered and used to identify and differentiate a company's products or services. It is the tangible element that can be legally protected and guarantees exclusivity of use.
Brand can be understood as the result of a relationship with the market resulting from a process of sedimentation of the brand and the relationship with its users. As has been pointed out by Brondoni (2000), the brand expresses “a specific relationship established with a given market for the establishment of a particular offer.” The brand, plays a central role both in the process of differentiation of the supply system and in the management of customer relations.
Brand architecture
Organizational and strategic structure that defines how a company's various brands are linked together and presented to the public. It represents the system by which a company manages and communicates its portfolio of brands, products, or services, establishing relationships and hierarchies among them
Brand confusion
Tendency to confuse brands (and products) with each other, due to the high crowding advertising.
Brand confusion can be measured by special periodic research, which results in the
calculation of precisely a brand confusion index
Brand equity
The perceived value of a brand, determined by the strength of its name and the trust consumers place in it. This value is influenced by factors such as product quality, customer loyalty, brand awareness, and positive associations. Strong brand equity enables a company to differentiate itself from competitors, set premium prices, and maintain a loyal customer base.
With our qualitative and quantitative research tools, companies can gather in-depth information about their brand perception. Using projective tests helps the emergence of the brand experience, the emotional, more “”authentic“” part at the perceptual level...
Brand extension
The strategy of extending an existing brand to new products, categories, or markets. This approach leverages established brand equity to introduce new offerings, reducing the risks and costs associated with launching a new brand. Brand stretching can increase brand reach and open up new growth opportunities, but if not managed properly, it can also dilute brand identity and confuse consumers.
Brand image
Consumers' perception of a brand, based on all the interactions and experiences they have had with it. Brand image consists of mental associations and feelings related to the brand, which may include product features, company values, and advertising image. A positive brand image can increase consumer trust and loyalty.
With Sicché's associative tests, identifying and improving mental associations and feelings related to the brand is even easier.
Brand knowledge
Brand awareness is the level of consumer knowledge and recognition of a brand. It is a measure of how well a brand is known and how easily it is identified by potential and current customers.
Brand loyalty
Brand loyalty is the degree of attachment and preference that a consumer develops toward a specific brand, manifested through repeated buying behavior over time and a consistent positive perception of the brand compared to alternatives available in the market.
Brand mapping
A visualization technique used to graphically represent consumer perceptions about different brands within a market. Brand mapping helps identify how consumers view a brand in relation to its competitors, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This tool is useful for understanding competitive position and developing targeted marketing strategies.
Sicché introduced some useful questions for defining the mapping, including the semantic differential, thanks to which it is possible to quantify and analyze the emotional and evaluative connotations associated with the brand, on a bipolar scale composed of pairs of opposite adjectives
Brand positioning
The marketing strategy aimed at defining a brand's unique position in the minds of consumers relative to competitors. Brand positioning involves clearly communicating the benefits and distinctive qualities of the brand, with the goal of creating a favorable and differentiating perception. An effective brand position helps build brand equity and drive consumers' purchasing decisions.
Brand reputation
The overall perception of the brand in the public, based on product or service quality, trust, reliability, and consumers' past experiences. Brand reputation is influenced by various factors, including customer reviews, media, corporate behavior, and public relations events. A positive reputation can increase consumer trust and brand value, while a negative reputation can have a detrimental impact on sales and customer loyalty.
Brand strategy
The overall perception of the brand in the public, based on product or service quality, trust, reliability, and consumers' past experiences. Brand reputation is influenced by various factors, including customer reviews, media, corporate behavior, and public relations events. A positive reputation can increase consumer trust and brand value, while a negative reputation can have a detrimental impact on sales and customer loyalty.
Branding
Branding is the strategic process by which a company creates and manages its brand identity (brand) to differentiate itself from competitors and establish a meaningful connection with its audience, building: trust, recognition and loyalty over time
Briefing/briefing
Document that makes explicit, in a concise but precise form, a set of information necessary to perform a given marketing task satisfactorily.
Specifically, in market research it represents the document that the client company (brief of the client) provides to the Institute for the purpose of clarifying in detail what objectives it it intends to pursue through the research.
Bulletin Board
An online platform that allows users to post, read and respond to messages within discussions organized by specific topics. Used to create virtual communities, it allows the exchange of information, ideas and questions on various topics.
With Sicché, interaction between respondents and the moderator becomes smoother and more natural: the ease of use and tools developed by qualitative researchers allow for detailed and meaningful results
Buzz marketing
Marketing strategy that aims to generate spontaneous conversations and positive word of mouth around a product, service or brand. The goal is to create interest, curiosity and engagement among consumers, encouraging them to share their experiences and opinions with others, both offline and online, through social media, communities, blogs and other communication channels. This technique harnesses the power of social influence to amplify the marketing message, increasing visibility and brand awareness in an organic and authentic way.
Buzz monitoring
It is the activity of monitoring and analyzing user-generated conversations and content on the Internet about a specific brand, product, service or topic. This practice involves the collection of data from sources such as social media, blogs, forums, news sites and other online platforms to understand audience opinions, perceptions, trends and sentiment. The goal of buzz monitoring is to provide companies with useful information to manage online reputation, identify emerging opportunities or problems, and improve marketing and communication strategies.