Importance of Mystery Shopping in Recession Stricken times

Recession seems to be getting over but it has left a huge scar in the face of the global economy and it is still unknown when and how rapidly this scar would be healed. In a year, it has led to the closing down of many big and small companies across the world therefore making many people jobless. Those that have survived this destructive blow have found out effective strategies to make the business survive. Most companies are employing varied market research methods for better business decisions. Mystery shopping is one such market research tool that is being widely used by companies of various domains. This is because it not only helps save time and money but also provides accurate brand analysis report.

Every business aims at getting more potential customers and retaining them by introducing products and services that meet consumers’ expectations. A brand’s popularity in the market can be judged by the number of people visiting the outlets and the rate at which they purchase its products or avail its services - this implies half the battle won. Mystery shopping plays a crucial role in the improvement of a business. In other words, mystery shopping provides companies with their performance reports – the outstanding services get recognized whereas flaws and unattended issues are checked.

Mystery shopping, also commonly called secret shopping can be taken up as a part-time or full-time job by any individual. In fact, it is an excellent source of additional income. Mystery shopping is the right job for those who have quality time to spare during the day or are willing to shop at various locations and want to make some extra income. It offers ample scope to earn more with time and also enjoy several benefits. Many mystery shoppers consider it as a unique and challenging paid job. Companies rely on this method for the proper evaluation of their products and customer service. Besides, it also helps companies ensure that their employees remain motivated to deliver the best quality customer service.

Several big companies hire market research or mystery shopping companies who design mystery shopping assignments and hire individuals for the assignments. The assignments are designed as per client requirement. Mystery shopping assignments are done secretly with the mystery shoppers disguised as regular customers. They need to observe the location atmosphere, quality of the products as well as that of the service offered by the frontline staff. This observation is required to be noted down in a report in details and with the correct use of grammar. The report is then submitted to the mystery shopping company who reviews it and forwards it to the client company. The client company ultimately takes further decisions to improve sales and customer relations, based on the information provided in the report.

All about the Mystery Shopping Profile

The popularity of Mystery shopping has presently led to millions wanting to go for it as a part-time profession. It is a great way to earn some extra money, have fun, and get one’s shopping done at the same time. But before stepping into the mystery shopping game, it is important to learn a few things first.

For one, mystery shopping can be a fun experience but, at the same time, this job requires minute attention. The job involves going into stores and evaluating everything under the store roof. If anything appears to be wrong or if poor customer service is reported, each such happening should be written in a report and submitted to the company as it wants to know every single detail for retaining and improving customer relations. The report should be grammatically correct and spell-checked. It should also be well organized and very descriptive. Companies like to know the names of employees as well that the shopper encountered and therefore, it should be included in the report.

However, at first, it is necessary to decide a budget as a good majority of mystery shopping jobs might require one to make a small purchase inside of a store or order some food from a franchise/restaurant. There is no need to worry since the amount would be reimbursed later, say after a month or so when the assignment is completed.

Mystery Shopping Methods for Appropriate Brand Evaluation, Earning part time through Secret Shopping Jobs

The term ‘mystery shopping’ might imply something mysterious to a layman. It is in fact, a popular market research tool employed by many corporate biggies of present times. Mystery shopping is no more mysterious, neither is a mystery shopper a professional spy. Technically, mystery shoppers are the ‘hidden eyes’ of companies conducting mystery shopping assignments to know their brand effectiveness from a customer’s viewpoint. Companies need unbiased verdict on their products and services so that they can actually learn how well their brand is perceived by the people. This is also a great way to evaluate their market competitiveness.

It has been quite sometime that mystery shopping, or secret shopping as it is often called, has become a legitimate market research method to assess the product or service quality of a company. It is a powerful tool that helps companies learn the flaws in their products or bring the unattended issues of their services to light and thereby improve them. In a way, a mystery shopper proves to be beneficial to both companies and society.

Mystery shopping jobs have become quite popular in recent times due to the uniqueness of the job profile. This job is the only one of its kinds as it involves secret shoppers to remain incognito during their assignments as strictly instructed by the companies. Secret shoppers are required to pose as regular customers, observe the store surroundings and happenings, interact with the employees to check their efficiency, and also with the customers to find out what they feel about the products and customer service offered. They need to either record them secretly in audio or video devices or write them down neatly in a paper. The report thus created is then forwarded to the mystery shopping company for review. Besides, these jobs have great benefits in store for the secret shoppers, which they can enjoy during their assignments. They not only get to enjoy movies, exclusive dinners, small tours, trips to amusement parks, etc. but also get paid on a weekly or monthly basis (depending on the company’s payment policies). Sometimes, secret shoppers might have to purchase some products as a part of their assignment. In such cases, the amount spent is reimbursed by the companies along with their salary. Some companies also allow the secret shoppers to keep the products.

One cannot achieve success in this field overnight. Mystery shopping jobs might appear to be exciting and alluring, but they have a lot of challenges, which cannot be realised unless a person gets hands-on experience in this job. To become successful as a mystery shopper, one needs to possess sharp observational skills, good writing ability, and the determination to face any kind of challenge while on the assignment. Though the assignments are scripted or designed specifically by mystery shopping companies, there might be cases that the shoppers might have to resolve all by themselves. As such, mystery shoppers should be equipped with a good presence of mind. Once an individual attains popularity in this field as a dedicated and consistently good performer, he can land in more assignments, enjoy more benefits, and earn more per week or per month.

Mystery Shopping Jobs, Mystery Shopping Assignments for Additional Income

Mystery shopping jobs are no more mysterious as they used to be when the concept was first introduced. Thanks to the modernization of market research – companies have found out various ways to analyse the recent market trends and gather consumers’ standpoints on various products and services. As such mystery shopping methods have also been modified to a great extent. Today, mystery shopping jobs are numerous and are open to all individuals above the age of eighteen. This paid job is generally available in all major cities having big stores, restaurants, banks, movie theatres, gas stations, and other retail outlets.

Every company aims at achieving a big brand name and for this, they need to gather consumer feedbacks on their products so that they can improve them further. Hence they hire market research companies, who in turn hire individuals as mystery shoppers. Mystery shopping companies always have vacancies due to many individuals quitting this job due to lack of interest or inadequate performance. The companies provide thorough training to all the newly appointed candidates before they start off with the mystery shopping assignments.

After companies provide instructions to the mystery shoppers, they set out on their assignments. After going to the assigned store or outlet, the secret shopper needs to disguise as a regular customer and keep an eye on every single detail, like product conditions, store maintenance, conduct of the employees, their quickness in resolving customers’ issues, etc. These need to be noted down secretly and submitted to the mystery shopping companies, who then pay the mystery shoppers in cash or allow them to keep a product of their brand for free.

To become a mystery shopper, one need not possess specific skills for successful accomplishment of the assignments. One just needs to be careful, observant and have good writing skills with the correct usage of grammar. Companies conduct training sessions to polish the skills of every hired mystery shopper and mould the skills as per the requirement of the assignment. After completing the assignments, mystery shoppers are required to submit detailed reports based on their shopping experiences to the mystery shopping companies. Those who cannot submit the reports in person can submit them online.

To boost the income, one needs to stick to the secret shopping field, join multiple mystery shopping companies, and take up as many mystery shopping assignments as possible. And like any other online paid job, the more assignments submitted successfully, the more would be the income.

Factors to be Considered before Taking up Mystery or Secret Shopping Assignments

Mystery Shopping is no more ‘mysterious’ since many people have learned what they exactly are, what their purpose is and how people can be benefited taking up mystery shopping jobs on a part-time or full-time basis. Mystery shopping is a unique profession that enables companies discover their brand effectiveness. In other words, mystery shopping or secret shopping is a part of modern day market research. Mystery shoppers can reap great benefits doing mystery shopping jobs. They can enjoy travelling in their area, go for short trips or vacations with family, dine out with family and friends, enjoy watching the latest movies in theatres, use various products and services – all for free! Besides, companies also pay mystery shoppers with cash after they submit the assignments. This way, mystery shoppers can sign up with many mystery shopping companies and earn more per day. Becoming a mystery shopper requires one to consider a few vital factors, which are as follows:

A mystery shopper is more or less like the ‘hidden camera’ through which companies get to know what is going on surrounding their business. They instruct the hired mystery shoppers to visit their outlets or stores, pose as regular customers and carefully observe how the stores and products are maintained, how quick and adept the employees are in dealing with the customers, how well a customer’s raised concerns are tackled, etc. The shopper needs to record or write the details of his shopping experience honestly in a report and submit it to the client company either in person or online.

With the increasing popularity of the Internet, several mystery shopping companies have opted to conduct a major part of the mystery shopping business online. This includes the online recruitment of aspiring mystery shoppers and online submission of the reports after the hired secret shoppers are done with their assignments. The idea behind such an attempt is to cut down the considerable costs and time. Therefore, those who wish to submit their reports online must ensure that they have a good system with reliable broadband connection.

Those who are completely new to the mystery shopping field and are apprehensive about their to-the-mark performance as mystery shoppers need not worry. Mystery shopping companies take every possible initiative to train beginners and sharpen their skills by rendering thorough technical training. They ensure that post training, the mystery shoppers carry out their shopping assignments flawlessly. Generally, before the commencement of every shopping assignment, companies give detailed guidelines to the mystery shoppers. In case if individuals have doubts and approach the company officials for clarifications and there is no response from the latter’s side, the company might be a scam.

Mystery shopping companies pay the shoppers after reviewing and approving of the reports submitted. If they find a report to be insignificant, inappropriate or irrelevant, they do not approve of it and do not pay the secret shopper responsible for it. Therefore, it is extremely vital to attend the training sessions attentively and go through each instruction carefully before starting a secret shopping assignment.