Focus Group

The definition of Focus group?

In the industry of marketing, focus groups are an important aspect of attaining feedback regarding a product before it is launched. Each member of the discussion is encouraged to participate and gauge their perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards the product. The questions are pursued in an interactive group setting where participants have the free will to talk with any obligations.

In my case a ‘Pop magazine’.

The advantages of a focus group?

By using a focus group with participants of my particular target audience and gather their opinion and thought of my magazine I am able to locate an areas of errors and adjust them to improve the overall outlook of my magazine. With a focus group I am also able to find out whether my magazine is appealing and targeting my expected audience views, if not I am able to get their open detailed views from the participants of what they feel will attract my target audience in purchasing my magazine. By holding a focus group through different types of mass media such as internet ‘Skype’ or in person is a cheap and easy way in gathering my target audience’s personal insight of my magazine.

The disadvantages of a focus groups?

There are a few issues that could occur when carrying out this particular audience research. The discussion is held within a group where each other can bounce of each other’s views and ideas therefore it is not everyone’s individual insight. The people that participate in the discussion need to have good inter personal skills to enable me to get a detailed response. Because of everyone own characteristic some people are more out spoken dominant personality and may control the majority of the discussion.

My view on Focus groups?

After expanding my knowledge and research on focus groups, I will gather their opinion on my finalized front cover or contents page my showing them 3 different types and style and see which one my target audience response’s best too. I think I will gather their thoughts and beliefs face to face so I am able to see their facial and body language when reflects on my magazine due to people sometime lie in order to be polite and respectful, so I would like an honest opinion, and I feel this will be harder through social media such as Skype.