Research Solutions

Overview

Use this top level guide early in your research planning to identify various products and services that fit your individual needs. Be sure to visit Products and Custom Solutions on our web site to get the complete picture.

• Methodologies
• Products and Services
• Panel Based Research
• Media Presentation

Methodologies

E-Poll offers multiple approaches to respond to clients' research needs. These methodologies can be used exclusively or in combination to provide even more in-depth results and decision-making insights.

• Online research - Using the panel-based strategy we developed in 1997, E-Poll conducts online surveys via email invitations sent to participants who fit the qualifications requested by the client. Qualifications are identified based on sign-up and profile information collected as well as information collected in subsequent surveys. All data is gathered online and can be viewed in real time by the client.
• Phone interviews - Phone interviews are a good option for clients who want to conduct further research by re-contacting select individuals who participated in an E-Poll quantitative study. For example, the client may have uncovered a unique target market in a quantitative study. Being able to re-contact is a key benefit of panel-based research. Phone interviews can also be conducted as a stand-alone methodology.
• Online Discussion Board/Focus Group - This methodology allows clients to leverage this online format to gather data in a more conversational format. Participants are selected via invitation only. Similar to phone interviews, the board can be used in conjunction with quantitative results or as a stand alone methodology for a low cost alternative to focus groups. Entire discussions can be downloaded for further analysis.
• Focus groups - Through a partnership with a leading focus group providers, E-Poll can offer clients access to national and international focus groups. This methodology can also be used in conjunction with results from a quantitative survey, targeting respondents by geographic location.

E-Poll Products & Services

Custom Research

The following is a list of the most common custom services E-Poll offers to clients. E-Poll believes that the best approach to custom research is to listen to clients and clearly understand their needs and objectives. Our research is truly custom, and clients should view this list as a rough guide rather than a menu of fixed choices.

• Concept/Pilot Testing - Evaluate a new program, product or service for viability. Use to identify viewing interest, purchase intent, or overall appeal. Identify target market(s) and establish next steps for development.
• Title Testing - Test the name or potential names of a product, service, or program to see what resonates with your target consumer. Use open ended questions to capture additional respondent feedback and suggestions. Present media or concept description in addition to potential name(s) for more relevant feedback. Measure title fit with overall concept.
• TV Ad Sales -Prove to potential advertisers that a particular show or network appeals to the advertiser's target market. Measure viewers' attitudes, viewing intent, appeal with advertised brand, and alignment between ad brand and network brand image.
• Series Maintenance -Assess the current health of a TV program by targeting current viewers. Use it to identify character and story arc issues, which may potentially impact future viewing. Prepare for the life of a series in subsequent markets.
• Ad Testing -Test the effectiveness of a particular ad or ad campaign. Media can be presented in the formats described in section three. Measure pre/post brand awareness, appeal, and impact on purchase intent. Evaluate multiple ad layouts for optimal selection.
• License Evaluation -Measure the potential fit of a particular license with a brand or product.
• Franchise Evaluation - Determine the current status of a franchise or viability of expanding the franchise. An example is a video game publisher looking to make a decision on whether to expand a game title series.
• Package Testing - Test single cover or multiple cover images in one survey.
• Post mortem - Analyze the effectiveness of a marketing campaign. Measure increases in awareness and recall, ad appeal, and purchase intent.

Syndicated Research

As experts in media and entertainment research, we set out to design a line of products that truly reflect the needs of our clients. In all cases, we strived to deliver superior and unrivaled products that have these following ingredients in common:

• The power of the E-Poll Panel: Deep profiles and consumer data are available in each product we offer.
• Easy user-interface for all data deliverables through our client extranet.
• Key drivers are identified in each product that can be matched with other E-Poll products to present the larger picture.
• Custom research solutions are available to support each product we offer that allows clients to use our services in combinations to reach the desired objective.

E-Score Celebrity - In-depth appeal ratings on 4,500+ celebrities, athletes and newsmakers
E-Score Brand - Brand equity with consumers; benchmark against competitors
E-Score Character - Character value and fit with your entertainment property
E-Score Character Kids - Kid-friendly characters rated by kids age 6-12
E-Profiler - Customized profile and data integration
FastTrack - Monthly tracking of viewer attitudes on over 600 TV programs
MediaSafe - Proprietary media testing - Reliable, secure and cost effective

Panel Based Research

At the core of all E-Poll projects is panel-based research. This involves actively recruiting research participants through various online/offline channels. By recruiting consumers into a research panel, E-Poll is able to collect and utilize deep profile information. There are three options for profiling and accessing panel members for future use:

• Access The E-Poll Panel - The panel consists of men and women ages 13+ with varied demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Clients can reach kids 12 and under through parents in our panel who have given permission. In addition, all E-Poll panel members complete an in-depth profile questionnaire on media and consumption habits, attitudes and usage, ownership and purchase intent.
• Establish a sub-panel - For clients who are interested in creating deeper custom profiles on a select group of consumers. E-Poll can identify and target them from within the E-Poll panel for more in-depth profiling specific to a client's needs. This is extremely useful for clients who want to survey hard-to-reach consumers on a regular basis. Once more in-depth profiles are created, the cost and effort to reach these consumers are drastically reduced.
• Build an exclusive panel - For clients who want to conduct extensive long term research on their own customers and also want exclusive ownership over all respondents and data collected. E-Poll will create a custom panel site with client branding to recruit and manage panel participants. Members of the client panel only participate in client-sponsored surveys. This option is best for clients with a high affinity brand who can recruit panel members using their own channels (website, customer databases, partners, or affiliate websites) to minimize recruitment costs.

Media Presentation

E-Poll offers a comprehensive end-to-end media testing solution that allows clients to present their media assets to respondents within a controlled and secure environment for optimum results. Since we pioneered online media testing in 1997 with our CD-ROM technology, our long-standing philosophy toward media testing has been to offer clients the most cutting-edge technology that guarantees consistency of respondent experience without diminishing sample probability.

As an expert in media and entertainment research, the power of our E-Poll panel allows you to identify specific media or product category users with our proven MediaSafe(tm) testing methodologies.

• Still images - Within an online survey or discussion board, E-Poll can present images for various uses such as package testing, celebrity evaluation, storyboards, or screen shots.
• Downloadable video - For clients who wish to present short video clips within an online survey or discussion board. Multiple clips can be included within a single survey. Use for ad testing, TV promos, trailers and any other application where short video clips are required.
• CD-ROM - Present video up to 60 minutes in length. Respondents are screened and recruited for participation in a CD-ROM study. Ideal for program length pilot testing, series maintenance, and testing multiple media sources such as video, animatics, audio and print.
• DVD - For viewing of programs or advertising on respondents' own television. Can be used in conjunction with any of the methodologies described in the prior section.

QuickLinks

• Buy E-Score
• MediaSafe
• Research Products
• The E-Poll Panel
• Custom Panels

For more information, call (877) MY EPOLL (877-693-7655).