Marketing research is usually the first step in the marketing process, after ideas for products are conceived. Small companies conduct marketing research to obtain information from the marketplace.

Traditional marketing research often involves assessing the overall market for a good or service, surveying consumers about their likes and dislikes, and conducting focus groups to gauge consumer ...

Customer loyalty is in jeopardy every time a prospect or customer comes into contact with a company. Each contact, or "moment of truth," is an opportunity to strengthen - or weaken - customer loyalty.