From time to time we like to answer some common questions we receive at the MindField Online Facebook page. This time, we will try to answer the question, “Am I getting fewer online survey invitations as I get older?”
In general, makers of consumer products are trying to reach specific audiences. Think about the commercials you see on TV. Who are they aimed at? VERY generally speaking, you tend to see:
- Cars, beer and electronics for the fellows.
- Fashion and beauty for young women.
- Groceries, cleaning products, and childcare for moms.
- Insurance, health products and pharmaceuticals for older folks.
So, as an older MindField Online member, you are far more likely to survey a term life insurance product than you are the latest smart phone.
On the other hand, there are products that EVERYBODY uses. Whatever our income, we all drink a certain famous soda pop from time to time. We all use bathroom tissue. We all have to fill up the gas tank.
And whatever our gender, race, income level, education, etc., we each represent a certain percentage of the population. For instance, seniors 65 and older make up about 12% of the general population. So, even on a very general product, our clients might (but not always) request that we limit seniors to 12% of the survey invitations. Bottom line, there ARE fewer opportunities as we get older, because there are increasingly fewer of us. That’s not MindField, that’s statistics. But we still try to steer as many invitations to you as we can.
Another consideration is timing. We try to rotate our invitations using a number of internal algorithms (that’s fancy computer talk) to give all members an equal chance to participate. So, if our clients are looking for a certain number people like you, but you wait two or three days to respond to the invitation, we may fill our quota and you will miss out.
So, even if this wasn’t the answer you were hoping for, we hope that it helps you understand the invitation process a little better.
Next time, we will look at a HOT topic: “Why do I get invitations, begin the survey, and then get kicked out in the middle?”
Ah, the statistics of marketing. Interesting. However, marketing surely needs to take into consideration the aging population of the world in general and the USA/Canada in specific. The Baby-Boomer population is now in the senior marketing segment and their numbers will increase “increasingly” in the next few years.
Therefore, marketing analysis needs to consider the current senior constituents as testers and evaluators for products that would be of interest and consumed by the up ‘n coming expanding senior “baby-boomer” consumer.
Increasingly increase! Excellent point, and likely true. Either way, the client will have a big say in the makeup of a panel. If they’re smart (they are) they will keep the seniors and soon-to-be seniors in mind. Thanks for the comment GG.