Finding a needle in a haystack? We call that a Tuesday.  

Finding a needle in a haystack? We call that a Tuesday.  

Recruiting the right people for market research isn’t just throwing a dart at a LinkedIn profile and praying for the best. It’s an art. A science. And maybe just a little bit of match making magic.  

We often get asked, “do you find participants?” and the short answer is yes. But the long answer, is we don’t just find participants. We curate a perfect panel for your healthcare, b2b or social research project. You might be drawing a blank looking for a specialist surgeon, a hard-to-reach patient group or even a c-level decision maker. Which is where we come in, we know where to look, who to ask, and how to get the right people talking.  

But finding these perfect matches isn’t just about knowing where to look, it’s about really getting into the psychology of recruitment. We ask ourselves about the motivations of participants, why would they want to share their insights? What’s stopping them? Most importantly, how do we make sure everyone is giving us genuine and high-quality responses?
 

In-home product placements  

Ah, in-home product placements… They’re fascinating, rewarding, and sometimes tricky. We’re talking about real consumers in this demographic. Often people with busy lives, established routines, and well-established personal preferences. And let’s be honest, they’re not going to change their habits just for any old research study. 

A parent juggling work and school runs or a foodie obsessed with their air fryer isn’t necessarily hanging out on research panels, waiting to try new products. So, how do we reach them? 

We don’t just aimlessly scroll and send DMs. (We save that for after-work Hinge swiping.) Instead, we leverage our extensive database to recruit the right participants at scale, ensuring you get the numbers you need. 

We then use our own well-equipped facilities to administer the products efficiently. This could be storing chilled items in our fridge freezer facilities or managing precise distribution. Then, with our in-house data services, we convert feedback quickly, so you’re not left hanging, waiting for results. 

“But what about those hard to each participants?” we hear you cry. No drama. Our extensive database and strategic partnerships give us access to a diverse range of consumers, ensuring your product lands in the hands of the right people. 

And as our aforementioned Hinge-swiping efforts have taught us, it’s not just about sending a copy-and-paste message and hoping for the best. A skincare enthusiast and a whisky connoisseur have really different engagement styles. So, we adjust our approach to ensure every participant is genuinely invested in your research. 

Finding healthcare participants – Easier than getting a GP appointment.

Funnily enough, when we’re looking for patients and healthcare professionals, we can’t just roll up to the local health centre and see if anyone fancies a chat. It takes trust, expertise and the right connections. Especially because we’re dealing with sensitive health information, strict compliance regulations as well as time-poor medical experts.
Not all patients are looking for a research opportunity, which is where we come in. We’ve spent 20 something years collaborating with charities, organisations and advocacy groups to connect with patients, care givers and those with lived experience. This networking means we’re perfectly placed to find patient participants for all kinds of studies, from rare disease, mental health conditions or chronic illness.  

If you’ve tried to book a GP appointment recently and found yourself 153th in line, you’ll know that doctors and healthcare professionals are super busy and in demand. Often stretched thin. So, our job is to ensure that they participate, and engage meaningfully.

We use our existing relationships and reputation to leverage existing relationships with medical professionals who trust us, our process and understand the value of the research we do. This means high response rate, as well as authentic insights.  

We know that healthcare professionals don’t have an hour to spare for a badly timed survey. So, how do we get participants? Well, we offer varied participation methods, such as quick surveys, virtual interviews and in-person panels that fit in their demanding schedules.
 

Social research – Building trust and networking 

It sounds hard to believe, but not everyone is chronically online. Some audiences prefer to stay off the internet, they’re in the real world and oftentimes wary of researchers and “outsiders.”  

We work alongside local organisations, charities and advocacy groups to find these voices for real, authentic research. Trust is everything, and we build it the right way. In our 20 years of experience (humble brag) we’ve often found that these hard to reach target groups won’t respond to a random email, but they’ll engage through word-of-mouth referrals, and familiar networks. Building our network this way has meant that when we need social research that covers sensitive topics, we can find the participants we need.  

So, why Acumen? 

Not only are we witty, fun, engaging, great to work with... etc, we deliver the best participants for your research.  

✔️ We don’t just rely on the internet. We blend digital, personal, and on the ground strategies for high-quality recruitment. 

✔️ We won’t just accept anyone. We ensure every participant is engaged, qualified and ready, willing and able to provide valuable insights.  

✔️ We don’t forget that we’re dealing with people. Behind every data point, is a real person sharing their story.  

Need some  Acumen magic for your next project? Let’s have a chat. 
 

Share This News