What is the PluggedIN Platform?
The
PluggedIN Platform is a web-based social networking and community application that has
been custom designed for online qualitative market research studies (specifically for market research online communities). Think of
it as a private, "mini-Facebook" designed for qualitative market
research. The Platform combines many of the latest social technologies
on the web today (including blogs, photo sharing, discussion forums,
profile pages, friend feeds, etc...) with features that help market
researchers run engaging and unique qualitative research studies.
Who is it used by?
In addition to being the technology backbone for custom market research online communities run by PluggedIN,
the PluggedIN Platform is used by market research firms, interactive agencies
and advertising agencies, as well as researchers at large
organizations. Anyone who is interested in new and engaging ways of
connecting with research participants should consider using the
PluggedIN Platform.
How can you use it?
The
Platform is ideal for running private online research communities with
a few hundred members. However, it has been used successfully for
large (over 1,000 member) initiatives, as well as small, short-term sessions (on the order of 30-40 members over 1 month). It
can also be used for...
- Focus group-style studies - Use the Platform to run a study that complements (or even replaces) a multi-city focus group study.
- Virtual ethnography - Invite participants to share pictures around a theme to get a "virtual" ethnographic perspective.
- Diary-based research - Have members keep a structured diary of their interactions with a product or service over a period of time.
What features does it include?
The
Platform includes many of the features you would see in "conventional"
social networking and community sites, including discussion forums,
blogs, photo sharing, profile pages and friend list capabilities.
However, it has a few unique features that make it great for
qualitative research, including:
- Built-in survey & poll capabilities - Run short surveys and polls to the greater community or a targeted sub-set of members.
- User list functionality - Send highly targeted research activities to a sub-set of community members, without other members seeing these activities.
- Aided/unaided discussions - Reduce bias and the tendency for "group think" to occur through "unaided" question formats.
- Multimedia galleries
- Have members share blog posts and photos around structured research
topics (e.g., keep a diary, create an advertisement, share photos
around a topic, etc...).
- Points system - A highly
customizable points system allows you to reward members for their
ongoing participation, while ensuring that honorariums are distributed
fairly to those who actually participate.
- Transcripts & data export - Export results of activities with one-click to a spreadsheet, with related user data for further analysis.
See our platform features page for a complete list of the features and functionality of the PluggedIN Platform.
How much does it cost to use?
The
cost of using the PluggedIN Platform for one full month is about the same as renting a focus group room for one day, and about the same as setting up an online bulletin board focus group for three days. Contact us for pricing options based on your organization's needs.
Where can I see a demo?
We currently offer guided tours of
the PluggedIN Platform to companies interested in using it for their
own research initiatives. Please request a demo and we will setup a time to take you through our demonstration site. You can also check out a brief video demonstration of the PluggedIN Platform on this site.
Is the software hosted? Can we install it on our servers?
All communities launched on the platform are hosted by PluggedIN. This allows us to monitor and patch each application where necessary for security and feature upgrades. It also makes it much easier to setup new communities, as it requires no installation support from your IT department. We currently do not offer options to install the software on your own servers.
Do I get free updates when new features are launched?
Yes. PluggedIN provides ongoing feature updates and patches to each community instance free of charge.
What kind of support is offered?
The monthly platform rental fee includes email and phone-based support. Email support is within 24 hours from initial inquiry, with phone-based support during 9-5 business hours in the US (Eastern Standard Time). Clients also have access to a support site with frequently asked questions, tutorials and instructions on how to run studies on the platform. Standard support is included only for administrators and moderators. Community management and member support is offered separately, if requested.
What kind of training is offered?
Included in the setup cost for each community is up to two hours of web-based training for you and your team.
Can you customize the look and feel of the site?
As part of the initial setup, we will customize the colors and logo for the site to match the guidelines you provide. This includes changing the colors of the header and footer, placing your logo (or a general community logo you provide) in the upper left-hand corner of the site and changing the "secondary" colors (including links, headers, etc...). Site setup does not include customization of the layout of the site, changes to existing site functionality or additional design services (e.g., creation of logos and related design elements). However, we offer additional design and customization services and can provide a quote for these services separately, if requested.
Do you offer additional research services?
As a full service provider of online research communities, we can work with you in any capacity you need to help make your community project a success. We work with some companies on an entirely "do it yourself" basis, while others rely on us to run the entire initiative (and all variations in-between). See our research services pages for more information on the additional services we offer along with the PluggedIN Platform.
How long does it take to setup a new community on the Platform?
We can setup and launch a new site within 2-3 business days. This time is necessary to gather your requirements, style the site according to your guidelines and configure the site for launch.
I'm located outside the US. Can I still use the PluggedIN Platform?
Absolutely. We work with clients from around the world to setup and launch their own private market research online communities using the PluggedIN Platform. Please note, however, that the platform is currently only available in English.
Is there a demo site I can visit?
We offer access to a private demo site for those who have first gone through a guided tour of the platform. This private demo site can be used to test out the functionality of the site and demo the community approach to your own internal or external clients.
I would like to offer communities to my clients, but need help selling it through to them... Can PluggedIN help me?
We are constantly developing new sales and marketing materials for companies that want to run their own market research online communities using the PluggedIN Platform. For access to these resources, check out our blog on market research online communities or contact us to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Also check out our section on research communities for general information on MROCs, including the benefits and applications of online research communities.