Online bulletin board market research agency
Online bulletin boards let participants reflect and respond to research tasks over several days. FieldworkHub recruits carefully screened consumers, business professionals and specialist audiences for asynchronous qualitative studies in the UK and internationally, ensuring participants meet each project’s specific criteria.
100+ OBB projects completed
OBBs run in 15+ countries
4k+ OBB participants recruited
Why online bulletin boards?
Why should you conduct OBB market research?
An online bulletin board is a qualitative research method in which participants respond to questions, tasks and discussion prompts over a period of days or weeks rather than taking part in a single live session. Participants can log in at times that suit them, while moderators guide the discussion and probe individual responses.
Bulletin boards are particularly useful when researchers want to explore a specific topic in depth, gather responses over time or give participants space to reflect before answering. Unlike market research online communities (MROCs), which are generally designed for ongoing engagement across multiple research topics, online bulletin boards typically follow a defined programme of activities focused on a particular study. They can combine written responses with images, video, diary tasks, polls and other activities.
Because participation is asynchronous, online bulletin boards can make it easier to include busy, geographically dispersed or specialist audiences. They are also well suited to international and multi-market research where participants may be in different time zones.
The quality of the research depends on recruiting participants who match the study criteria and remain engaged throughout the fieldwork period. FieldworkHub manages participant recruitment and screening to help clients reach relevant consumer, B2B and specialist audiences.
OBB clients
Selected OBB market research clients
FieldworkHub has managed online bulletin boards for some of the world’s leading brands...
Types of online bulletin board
What are the different types of OBB?
OBBs can be categorised based on the way that participants interact with the platform, the moderator and each other.
Moderated online bulletin boards
Moderated online bulletin boards involve a researcher guiding participants through a series of questions, discussions and activities over several days or weeks. The moderator reviews responses, asks follow-up questions and introduces new topics as the research progresses, allowing important themes to be explored in greater depth.
Participants can contribute at different times, giving them an opportunity to reflect on their answers while still benefiting from interaction with the moderator and, where appropriate, other participants.
Unmoderated online bulletin boards
Unmoderated online bulletin boards allow participants to complete a predefined series of research tasks independently, without ongoing interaction with a moderator. Activities might include answering open-ended questions, uploading photographs or videos, or recording experiences as they happen.
This approach is particularly useful when researchers want to gather individual responses over time using a consistent set of tasks. Participants can complete the activities at their convenience, making it easier to involve geographically dispersed or busy audiences.
Interactive online bulletin boards
Interactive online bulletin boards encourage participants to respond to one another’s comments, share experiences and develop ideas through group discussion. Moderators can introduce questions, creative exercises and collaborative activities to stimulate interaction and explore emerging themes.
This format combines the flexibility of asynchronous participation with some of the group dynamics found in traditional focus groups. It can be particularly useful for concept development, exploring shared experiences and understanding how opinions evolve through discussion.
Case studies
Case studies of OBB research
FieldworkHub recruits participants for online bulletin board research in the UK, Europe and other international markets. We support consumer, B2B and specialist studies, including multi-day and multi-market projects where reliable recruitment and sustained participant engagement are essential.
B2B OBB with IT security decision makers, UK
We recruited 13 IT security decision makers who worked for large companies to take part in a three-day OBB about external threat intelligence and digital risk protection solutions. Six of the participants were then invited to take part in triad interviews to explore some of the issues in more detail.
MROC: operator-supplied smartphone content, USA
A US cellular operator developed a special “infotainment” page for its smartphone users and wanted to gather customer feedback via an online platform. We recruited over 30 participants and validated their smartphone model, as well as their ability to access the page.
OBB, depth interview: new type of toothpaste, UK
FieldworkHub recruited 20 consumers in the UK to purchase a new type of toothpaste and make a number of videos over a period of several days giving their thoughts about it. We then invited six respondents who made the most interesting and insightful videos to take part in an online interview with the client.
OBB: active mobile gamers, Japan, Korea
We were asked to recruit respondents in Japan and Korea for an Online Bulletin Board. Respondents needed to be Android users and explore new apps and games on their phone frequently. We successfully recruited respondents, despite the difficulty of finding people who could commit to this lengthy project.
OBB: GenAI for children, Germany, India, Brazil, Japan
We conducted OBBs in Germany, India, Brazil, and Japan with kids, tweens and teens aged 6-17 to explore how children engage with GenAI tools. Participants tested several AI apps in sequence over a period of six weeks and shared insights on usability, preferences and learning potential.
OBB: Snap! users, UK, France, Canada
A US agency specialising in qualitative market research amongst Millennials and Gen Z asked FieldworkHub to recruit young people aged 13-17 and 18-22 who used Snapchat. We recruited 24 suitable respondents in the UK, France and Canada for the online video part of the project and almost 50 respondents for the OBB.
Client testimonials
Testimonials from OBB clients
Here’s what some of our previous online bulletin board clients say about us.
I was pleased to work with FieldworkHub to engage with small businesses. The team were friendly and engaging and they added value by make practical suggestions on how we could best capture the information we required in the fairest and most objective way possible. The team had to work to very tight timescales and they delivered. Their work contributed to the decisions and actions taken by us subsequently.
Tom
Regulatory Policy & Strategy
UK regulator
UK
We reached out to FieldworkHub after another firm told us they were not able to keep their commitment. Not only did Caroline respond to my email almost immediately, she picked up the phone and talked to me about my needs. Her team was super responsive and flexible, getting our work completed on time and budget. I highly recommend working with them and will absolutely be reaching out the next time I am conducting work in Europe.
Laura
Senior Director
Research Strategy
USA
Got questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
As consultants in the research space, we’ve got the answers to your questions about OBBs. And if there’s anything left unanswered, drop us an email or give the team a call. We’d be happy to help.
1
How long do OBB studies typically last?
OBB studies usually last from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the research objectives and the depth of information needed. This duration allows for thorough exploration of topics and sustained participant engagement.
2
How are participants recruited for OBBs?
Participants are selected based on specific criteria relevant to the study, ensuring they represent the target audience. Recruitment can be done via databases, social media, or specialised panels, aiming for diverse and relevant participation.
3
How is data collected and analysed in OBBs?
Most OBB platforms include lots of options for data collection, including surveys, open-ended questions, image uploads and video uploads. Many of the platform providers are investing heavily in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help speed up data analysis. These tools include automated transcripts of video files, automated content summaries, and sentiment analysis.
4
How does an OBB compare to a traditional focus group?
Unlike focus groups, OBBs allow for more flexible participation, can reach a wider geographical audience, and provide more time for participants to reflect on their responses. This format can lead to deeper and more nuanced insights.
5
Can you recruit participants for online bulletin board research?
Yes. We recruit participants for online bulletin board studies across consumer, B2B and specialist audiences. Recruitment can be based on demographics, behaviours, product use, professional role, purchasing responsibility or other detailed study criteria.
All participants are screened against the agreed requirements, and recruitment can be structured to support studies running over several days or weeks.
6
When should you use an online bulletin board?
Online bulletin boards are a good choice when researchers want participants to reflect, complete tasks or document experiences over time. They are especially useful for longitudinal research, diary-style studies and projects involving participants in different locations or time zones.
They can also work well when a live focus group would be difficult to schedule or when participants need time to provide thoughtful, detailed responses.
Planning an online bulletin board research project?
Talk to our fieldwork specialists about participant recruitment and research support for online bulletin board studies in the UK and international markets.
