Web scraping is a popular strategy for any small business right now. You can pick up tonnes of valuable global data without lifting a finger. You get the fun of learning all about your competitors and buyer preferences, all with some impressive protection. So, how can web scraping help you, and why should you use proxies for market research?
Data-Driven Marketing Research Solutions
Data-driven solutions are all about tailoring your approach to handle that plethora of amazing online data. You need something hands-free and efficient – something that can detect everything you need to know with minimal effort. Traditional approaches, such as market research and customer surveys aren’t completely obsolete. The issue is you can end up targeting the wrong people and wasting a lot of time. So, what’s the solution?
Using Web Scraping For Marketing Research
The easiest way to locate that valuable market data is with a web scraping tool. This lets you go even deeper into websites and draw out everything need. Your scraping tool will find detailed data on all your specific requests, and then download the results into an accessible spreadsheet. You’re then primed for your next ad campaign, product launch, or other initiative.
Strategies For Marketing Research
One strategy is to use scraping for customer data analysis. Social media platforms are perfect for this. You get to learn about visitors, their preferences, and how they interact with your brand. It helps you get a clear picture of the demographics you’re actually engaging with – not just the ones you want to be engaging with.
Another option is to go for competitor data. Start creating a detailed spreadsheet about a company’s current product line. Look at the different versions of a product, pricing options, and more. You can see where bigger businesses focus their attention and what works for them. It might not be exactly what you need to do, but it can point you in the right direction.
The Legality of Web Scraping
While all of this is still legal, it does go against the terms of service on some sites. Global websites have been known to catch users in the act and ban their IP – so watch out. That is where the best proxies for market research come in.
Using Proxies For Marketing Research.
A proxy is the perfect barrier between your personal computer and the website you want to target. You can think of this as a cloak disguising your IP address as you remain hidden. You get to work remotely, often while multitasking, and all with complete anonymity. The question is, do you want to start with a traditional datacenter proxy or opt for a residential proxy?
Proxy Options For Marketing Research
The first option is a datacenter proxy. This is where many newbie web crawlers start because these IPs are so common and affordable. You can also use these to operate multiple profiles for easy customer engagement.
Alternatively, you might prefer to use a static residential proxy. This is a way to get an authentic residential IP address from a server and bypass all those pesky blocks. They are pretty reliable and can reward you with some impressive data hoards. However, you may have to pay more for the privilege.
Conclusion
To summarize, the best proxies for market research can make a massive difference. You get the anonymity and security to bypass website blocks while collecting all the business data you need. You’re then left with a valuable resource that helps you understand your target market and competitors. From there, your business is sure to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read our Documentation if you have questions that are not listed below.
-
Manual Web Scraping V Bot Web Scraping. Which is best?
Manual data collection is time-consuming. You can copy and paste results into a spreadsheet, but you have to be prepared to put the time and effort in for the best results. A bot works behind the scenes while you handle other tasks. It's more costly, but a big help in the long run.
-
Are Mobile IPs a good idea?
This is a third option for those who aren't keen on datacenter proxies. The problem is that they aren't as easy to obtain and can be far too expensive. You're better off with a more traditional approach right now.
-
Should you use a rotating proxy for market research?
A datacenter rotating proxy is popular because it can help you stay undetected for longer. However, static proxies can offer a more reliable connection for data transfer on larger projects. Go with what suits you best.
Top 5 posts
Best Buy is a large consumer electronics retail company. In addition to its online store, it has over 1000 retail stores across the US and Canada. It sells a wide range of electronics and home appliances, from power cables and webcams up to high-end home theaters.