How to not screw up field research

Image by dreyboblue via FlickrBeing an entrepreneur is about learning! Today we conducted our first field market survey and as usual we learnt a lot! That's why I want to share the top 10 things I learnt about field research:

1. Do prepare your questions in advance, don't check them at the venue
2. Do go where you target market hang out, don't waste time with people who will never buy your product
3. Do take a camera to take photos for the blog, don't forget to put batteries in the camera
4. Do have a back up of questions, don't use crappy software which crashes
5. Do charge the batteries of your laptop before going, don't forget batteries run out quickly.
6. Do check to see availability and speed of internet at the venue, don't assume the internet will actually work the day you go
7. Do give people free merchandise to market your product, don't get people into trouble
8. Do pay researchers by the number of people surveyed, don't pay them by the hour
9. Do represent your brand, don't act like an idiot
10. Do ask permission from the venue you plan to use, don't get thrown out (its embarrassing)

I hope that was useful. See you in January for the top ten things never to do at a Launch party.