The article provides a comprehensive guide on successful marketing research, focusing on understanding your market and competitors. It covers creative research planning, using convenient sources like libraries and telephone, and tricks of the trade for gathering intelligence. The importance of preparing a marketing plan, communicating with customers, and utilizing marketing information systems is emphasized. The article also discusses conducting surveys, interviewing, and problem-solving with marketing research. Overall, the key message is to make marketing research a regular practice to stay informed and competitive in the market.