Market research makes you think of a months-long project that ends with a multi-page report. And the worst part: By the time you finish reading it, the data is partially outdated.

Well, that's history. Today, companies conduct their own market research as an ongoing process.

In this article, you'll learn why market research is now more important than ever and what it includes. We'll provide you with guidelines, tools, information, and downloadable market research templates so you can make the most out of data analysis in minimum time and effort. Let's start with the basics.