How to Build a Research Program on a Tight Budget

Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

In this episode, host Michael Woo sits down with guest Scott Klein to explore how organizations can develop an effective research program, even with tight budgets and minimal resources. Research is often seen as a luxury, but with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for improving business outcomes, optimizing user experiences, and driving measurable success.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:
• Why research is essential, even for small teams or solo researchers
• How to leverage affordable tools and creative recruiting methods
• The key differences between internal research teams and external agencies
• Strategies to align research with business goals to maximize impact
• How to showcase ROI and gain stakeholder buy-in for continued investment

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Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

#uxdesign #uxstrategy #userexperience #businessstrategy

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Episode Particulars
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Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop:   / wooman206  

Scott Klein | UX Research Director:   / scottaklein  

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Connect with UpTop
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LinkedIn:   / uptopcorp  
Website: https://uptopcorp.com/
Twitter [X]:   / uptopcorp  
YouTube:    / @uptopcorp  

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PODCAST Links
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Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/975...
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Rephonic: https://rephonic.com/podcasts/results...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/54AkqUq...
TuneIn + Alexa: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business-...


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CHAPTERS
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00:00 INTRO
04:55 Why Every Business Needs a Research Program
07:02 Internal vs. External Research Teams
09:29 How Research Drives Business Success
11:46 Biggest Misconceptions About Starting UX Research
13:01 First Steps to Building a Research Program
14:53 Making the Most of Existing Resources
16:15 Critical Research Types for Maximum Impact
19:00 Free & Affordable Research Tools
21:01 How Product Teams Can Conduct Research Without a UX Researcher
23:33 Low-Cost Ways to Recruit Research Participants
26:48 Convincing Stakeholders to Invest in Research
30:31 Demonstrating UX Research ROI
33:52 How to Scale a UX Research Program
36:14 Final Advice for Business Leaders