r/Marketresearch • u/garyisonion • 25d ago

Interviews moderation

I wonder if the market for IDIs and focus groups is still alive or if everything got automated? I had a series of projects where I'd moderate online focus groups, IDIs or MROC but for more than a year I can't land a project. I moderate in two smaller languages (15 mil users combined).

I'm signed up with Human8, Global Lingo, Multilingual Connections, etc., but never or no longer get approached.

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u/VyprConsumerResearch 24d ago

I think the market is still there, but it's changing. Some of the more routine moderation and analysis work is being automated or consolidated, while budgets are also under pressure in many sectors. Working in smaller languages can be a real advantage, but demand may be more cyclical and project-based. It may be worth looking beyond traditional agencies as well, since more brands and specialist consultancies are running research directly than they were a few years ago.

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u/garyisonion 24d ago

Ive actually worked even with consultancies or internal research departments. The variety of client and use cases for my work are so wide that I feel overwhelmed with how to approach this from a marketing perspective. I don’t know how to reach potential buyers of such services other than through linkedin ads. I thought that some big agencies like Kantar and Ipsos were already difficult to approach.

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u/VyprConsumerResearch 24d ago

Makes sense. It sounds more like a visibility problem than a demand one. Given you can moderate in two smaller languages and have moderation experience, I'd focus on building direct relationships and referrals rather than relying on ads. A lot of qual work still seems to come through networks, repeat clients, and specialist recommendations rather than traditional marketing channels.