Author Archives: Simon Shaw

About Simon Shaw

I'm a Director at a communications agency. I'm interested in marketing, market research & consumer psychology. The views expressed are not necessarily those of my employer.

Stories sell, so get storytelling

Posted on April 26, 2013

It’s been a month since the MRS Conference. Like previous years it was a good mix of networking and inspiration of different hues. Caroline Hayter‘s session on how storytelling techniques can help us deliver projects is the one which made the most vivid impression on me. Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, Market research, Methods, Qualitative research | Tagged | Leave a comment

Advertising that breaks the fourth wall is doing my head in

Posted on April 22, 2013

Self-referential advertising abounds. Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Planning, Social Media, Strategy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The end of the recruiter?

Posted on April 10, 2013

Whilst TaskRabbit isn’t going to replace your recruiter tomorrow, it’s worth considering the implications. The internet has disintermediated many professions – why should recruitment be any different? Continue reading →

Posted in Customer Experience, Marketing Research, Qualitative research, Social Media, Technology, UX | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Amazon mobile: the interface dictates the behaviour

Posted on March 25, 2013

Amazon’s legendary user experience costing them profit? Now there’s an irony… Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioural Economics, Customer Experience, Decision Science, Marketing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book review: Decoded, Phil Barden

Posted on March 5, 2013

If Phil Barden is right, all students of marketing should switch to psychology today. Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioural Economics, Books, Branding, Careers, Consumer Psychology, Decision Science, Market research, Marketing Research | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Surveys aren’t always the answer: actual vs. self-reported alcohol consumption

Posted on February 27, 2013

Asking how people much they drink has three major flaws Continue reading →

Posted in Market research | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Matt Watkinson book launch: The ten principles behind great customer experiences

Posted on February 17, 2013

Matt Watkinson cuts through the flabby thinking that tends to accompany the world of “customer experience” Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Customer Experience, Events, Market research, Marketing, Planning, Retail, Strategy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

7 skills that separate great from average researchers: originally published on Brand Republic

Posted on January 22, 2013

There’s lots of information out there about core skills required for qualitative or quantitative market research roles. However I’d argue that beyond these characteristics there are broader skills which great researchers have. Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Market research, Marketing Research, Qualitative research, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Twitter surveys: the respondent experience

Posted on January 12, 2013

The Twitter mobile app survey interface is clean: text is kept to a minimum & the survey buttons are large so even those with sausage fingers won’t mis-code. Continue reading →

Posted in Market research, Marketing Research, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s not all doom and gloom: positive characteristics of Generation Y

Posted on January 1, 2013

Media coverage about Generation Y tends to be negative. Tamara Erickson’s article on the characteristics of Generation Y in a recent RSA quarterly magazine provides a more balanced view. Continue reading →

Posted in Demographic change | Tagged | 1 Comment