Janette Novak is a freelance journalist and consultant who specializes in teaching online business and small business marketing. Previously, Janette owned a boutique marketing agency and served as a ...

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. If you run a business, you are likely aware of the importance of data. Nearly every company out there utilizes data to make decisions.

Often divided into primary and secondary research, market research helps businesses identify key factors influencing their market, including the competitive landscape, target audience characteristics, ...