Imagine if your brand had instant access to hundreds of consumers every day. Making a decision about whether to make your new logo postbox red or ice blue, or the likelihood of your target market taking interest in a new product or service could be answered speedily and without the need to invest large chunks of time on costly market research. Or worse, waste money on an idea that was doomed to flop from the start.Introducing Opinion Solutions, a business that prides itself in helping brands to access and start real-time conversations with the people who matter most – their consumers and clients.

Through the power and reach of social media technology, Opinion Solutions builds engaged communities by asking the right questions at exactly the right time. It’s like having hundreds of consumers in your boardroom every day. You can ask them exactly what you want, when you want and receive immediate, direct feedback.

“Consumers like to see themselves as being a part of the decision making process. The days of your customers simply being passive recipients of products and services is long over,” says Tanya van Tonder, founder and MD of Opinion Solutions. “Businesses that give customers the opportunity to feel like they have a say, build brand loyalty and endearing relationships.

”Opinion Solutions holds the exclusive African license to Upinion, a powerful mobile platform that allows real-time responses and builds conversations between a company and its consumers. The company specialises in building panels and research services specifically designed for a client’s needs. Opinion Solutions will tailor mobile surveys for instant feedback, and offer online and offline face to face interventions.

Surveys and engagements are tracked and can be linked to further services and treatments.But it’s not only the relationships between corporate clients and consumers that Opinion Solutions can assist with. The company has had enormous success in assisting with building engagement for media as well as social development and academic research projects. “People feel more comfortable answering personal questions when they engage via mobile technology that ensures confidentiality. We’ve also found that they are more likely to answer honestly, because they don’t feel the pressure of providing an answer they believe the interviewer wants to hear,” says Van Tonder.

Asking the right questions is pivotal to successful solutions

Precise information about what the public wants and expects is pivotal to crafting (and tweaking) campaigns, products and service offerings.  Opinion Solutions takes a client’s challenges and uses them to craft compelling questions and surveys that are easy, quick and fun to complete.“The direct access and engagement we have through Upinion is significant. I like to say it’s like focus groups on steroids,” says Van Tonder.

Building a loyal community through conversation

Through a range of services, Opinion Solution’s clients have the opportunity to build community panels of people recruited according to specific target markets. Alternatively, Opinion Solutions has public panels comprising thousands of South Africans, which can be leveraged for broader responses. Continuous engagement is encouraged through a built-in reward system that includes electronic vouchers, discount coupons, prize draws, airtime and free products. The rewards portfolio can be customised to suit any budget.  “There are so many ways in which Upinion can be beneficial, be it grassroots, brand awareness, academic, in-house, corporate or anything you can think of,” says Van Tonder. “And we love a challenge. Let us know what information you need and we can craft the perfect solution.”

About Opinion Solutions

Opinion Solutions was started in 2015 by CEO and founder Tanya van Tonder. The company maximises the power of the Upinion app through tailored strategies that allow businesses to engage in real-time conversations with consumers. The company makes it easy to reach their audience, store findings, evaluate data, and share critical information across the organisation.  www.opinionsolutions.co.za