Insight Annual Round-up 2014: vouchers to be WON! NOW CLOSED

[annmumsnet]

The time has come for the insight team at MNHQ to do our annual round up of the year, to plead for those of you not yet on our panel to sign up and to thank you all for taking part in some amazing projects this year!

(In case you don't know insight covers surveys, product events, product tests and sponsored threads on MN, as well as bloggers reviews, and reviewers recruitment)

Read on for the chance to win...
~ A £100 giftcard to spend at M&S or
~ one of four £50 giftcards for Bella Italia

In 2014, we have given away around £40,000 in prizes - mainly in the form of vouchers but also including plumbing jobs, products but also Cetraben excema cream!

The range of products you have tested and given feedback on is as varied as ever – from Miele vacs, TomTom’s Go 5000 sat nav and Microsoft's Lumia 735, Xbox One Console and Linx tablet to Barny cakes and Ambrosia mini pots!

Plus we were thrilled when Mumsnetters had help getting pregnant by participating in the Clearblue Ovulation Test with Dual Hormone Indicator product test .

We have also run some extremely popular threads, enabling you to have your say on wider political issues such as the Scottish Referendum and the Cabinet Office. And really, who would have thought porridge was SUCH an engaging topic?!

We love meeting you face to face – and giving you the chance to experiences something new – from preview screenings of Annie to the family holidays at Butlins and Haven.

And loads of you enjoyed breakfast at Bella Italia with your family and recently some of you had a ‘behind the scenes’ visit to M&S.

There was even the chance to test drive the Renault Zoe, to see the videos click here

For a chance to win one of the vouchers, please share on this thread what you have enjoyed taking part in this year, or appreciated reading about. Or tell us what you’d to product test next year?

Most of the product tests are on site but we also do a lot of projects with our lovely (and fast growing) insight research panel, as well as often giving them the heads up about the latest things and chances to win on site. If you are not yet on our panel please do insight sign up now. You can select how often you get emailed and you can leave at any time if it’s not for you.

Thanks as ever for your time and feedback - all very much welcome
Happy Christmas!
AnnMumsnet, LaurelMumsnet, AngelieMumsnet, MichelleMumsnet and KathrynMumsnet.
x

I've loved being part of the panel and happy to do surveys at short notice if I fit the criteria. We've taken part in a good few trials - Flora being one of the most recent ones.

I've won a few prizes too.

Really appreciate the swift and efficient emails from the team, it makes a big difference to my intervention if I know that my responses are noted etc.

Thanks, look forward to another bumper year for 2015. xx

Thank you soo much for the chance to try the lolo snack pack it's something I'd never have bought but have been addicted to them ever since, I've started buying Melba toasts n chutneys now tho as them packs weren't big enough!
Also done the pampers nappy trial and a few others, yesterday I received a book for my daughter too which is very much appreciated.
For next year if like to trial anything that can make our lives easier lol x
Thanks again all at mumsnet and have a lovely Christmas and new year

I trialled the deep freeze patches and enjoyed that and I won a voucher for £100 for doing a survey - on the while I enjoy doing the surveys and product trials. I do like the competitions too. Not sure I'd change anything.

I have just joined this panel last week can't wait to participate and enjoy this panel thanks :)

Products I'd like to see tested would be:
Bra fitting in well known stores and independents.
Tooth whitening products
A comparison of comparison websites (yep ridiculous I know)

I like the variety of things tbh and often it's stuff I'd never thought about

We got to test the bosch tassimo, which was a fantastic product to test and enjoy. Thank you mumsnet.

I find the survey interface really user-friendly, they're always well-designed and simple.

Regarding the surveys quantifying the effectiveness of advertising, I wonder if it might be useful for there to be an option for us to state whether we use AdBlocker or similar software. I don't, but have done in the past and it makes such a huge difference to what is visible.

Really enjoy being part of the insight panel-Last year I was lucky enough to test a Samsung phone and this year a Karcher steam cleaner-good to feel part of the feedback for the companies and obviously it is lovely to receive a parcel in the post! Will definitely be continuing to participate!

I've trialled some pull ups, which I enjoyed. The surveys are quick and easy to complete

I enjoy the surveys and am currently testing the steam cleaner. (Thanks MN) I would love to see some more trials aimed at older children.
I do like getting the emails reminding me about various surveys as I am not always on MN.

I think we should test broadband speeds around the country for the following reasons, there are adverts on TV all the time about how we all should get HD TV, except they don't tell you that even if you have a million pounds of kit, unless your local broadband speed(and you need that for HD TV) is 3MB or above you can't get it. BBC HD channels are paid for in my TV licence and I had to take back my new shiny Freeview HD box in shame and disappointment. The Money Advice Service said we had fibre optic broadband for our post code, which I know isn't true because I've been working with our Welsh Government AM to try and get it fitted by the licence holders for the contract, BT and 18 months later we are still waiting. Why are we buying all this new tech that our local infra structures aren't able to service?

I would advise anyone to join the panel (and think at least 3 of my rl friends have joined :) ). I like the variety of things asked about, it's nice to feel your opinion counts! I enjoyed trying the Kerry snack packs, pampers nappies and am very excited to have been selected as a chocolate taster today.. Dream job! I was very lucky to win a voucher for John Lewis this year! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an appliance test next year! I would love to see more consultation about make up...or colour me beautiful... I'd love to get my colours done!! Xx

I haven't tested too much this year if at all as I have had the most busy/manic year and haven't really managed to get on too much....

I have done a few surveys which I enjoy as they are not too long and I can do some when I have a few spare mins, plus it stirs my mind up about the subject involved....

I would love to see more chocolate review tests failing that maybe some more sample size testers so that more Mumsnetters have a chance at completing a review each time

I haven't tested or tried any product as not signed up Mumsnet panel, I will signed up now while I remember. I absolutely trust Mumsnet reviews on household appliances, I have recently moved house and spent ages reading them and made my choice. I must say I'm thrilled with them all. Thank you.

I am thrilled to be currently testing thr Miele cat and dog vacuum cleaner which is proving to be an excellent product so far.
I would enjoy applying for other household goods, pet products and vegetarian food. Or lots and lots of chocolate. Thank you!

Hi I got to test nappies and baby bath products. I had only joined not long before so it was a great surprise to be selected. Hoping for more in the future.

I'm ALWAYS happy to help you,
To give an opinion or two,
To test, to discuss and in depth report back,
To give my family's point of view.

Our situation's far from normal,
But then 'normal' is way over-rated,
I love a good sample - I really do,
My postman is oft over-weighted.

My 3 children couldn't be more different,
With their hobbies and penchants and likes,
So throwing a trial out in this house,
And the interest fair wobbles and spikes.

It's been a tough year for our family,
With illness and loss and the rest,
Which means making the most of each moment,
Of each moment we shall make the best!

So when we find a product that's useful,
That works or makes life that bit better,
Then we yell and we tweet and we blog -so discreet(!),
So that everyone knows to the letter!

A win of this proportion,
Would mean many smiles to us,
As a family grateful for each little thing,
Mumsnet gives us a fair buzz!

I've done lots of lovely trials and had one fabulous win - thank you all so much. For me the product trials are a brilliant way to get a bit of 'me' time, I thoroughly enjoy everything about them from applying to anticipation through to trialling and reviewing.

My favourite has been TomTom, who gets weekly use and has made a real difference to our lives. Bloody love him!

Toys would be great to trial and to read about too. There's so much choice now for all ages that it would be great to see MN being more involved in testing what's available out there and helping us avoid the tat

My favourite thing to take part in this year was the Annie Screening, the kids did another screening earlier in the year too which was fun. We always enjoy taking part and would love more product tests or chance to test experience / meals / days out.

We missed out on Bella Italia, Butlins and Haven ones but those sound great!

The netflix threads are also good

Have loved being a member as I love the diversity of surveys and items to test. Its so easy to participate and I'm not deluged with emails. Theres also the excitement of being entered into the draws and getting to hear about great products that have been tested and reviewed by other Mumsnetters. Have a great Christmas and I'm looking forward to see what next year brings via Mumsnet!!!

Sample size testers = excellent idea.

I really enjoyed testing the photobooks- thank you

I would've loved to have taken part in the Farrow and Ball test- so another would be great :) or other interior stuff. Anything not inLondon is also brilliant

I have enjoyed taking part in the surveys even though I have not won anything ...yet!
I would like to be on one of your test panels for next year-that sounds like fun.
I would like you to carry on with the competions and as others have said please can we have some more aimed at those with older children.Many thanks.

I have loved testing TomTom sat nav. It came at the best time and when I really needed one.
It's still keeping us away from traffic jams and generally making travelling easier. Used it today in fact and it avoided a jam. It's been brilliant and will continue to do so.

I'll be reading threads about vacuum cleaners as we need a new one so it will be good to read reviews on here.

I have tried out the snack packs, and the Flora, along with a few other things.
I agree it is great the surveys aren't overly long.

I like new products I wouldn't otherwise try - snack packs, and a previous year you did tomato seeds which was great, we hadn't done that before.