For businesses, what is primary research data?

Primary research data refers to information that is freshly collected directly from original sources for a specific research purpose. This type of data is crucial for businesses as it provides up-to-date insights tailored to their particular questions or needs. When considering what constitutes primary research data, internal information such as sales reports exemplifies this type of data, as it is gathered directly from the business's operational activities.

In contrast, data from market research companies typically refers to secondary research data, which has already been collected and analyzed for broader purposes. Historical data from previous marketing campaigns also represents secondary data, as it involves utilizing findings from past activities rather than generating new insights. Consumer feedback collected through advertising could be considered primary data but is more specific to reactions to ads rather than broader insights the business might gather from various research methods.

Thus, by focusing on internal information such as sales reports, businesses are leveraging primary research data to inform their strategies and decisions directly from their own operations.