In the world of market research, the quest for actionable insights is paramount. Companies are constantly seeking innovative methods to gather data that truly reflects the dynamics of their target markets. One of them is river sampling. This technique holds the promise of capturing real-time, cost-efficient data of a large population.

Unlike traditional sampling methods that rely on static panels or databases, online sampling taps into the rapid flow of data across digital space, such as websites, emails, and social media. This sampling method gathers respondents by asking online users to participate in a survey via clicking on a link that directs them to the survey (pollfish.com).

River sampling - one of method sampling, is an online sampling method that drives potential respondents to an online portal where they are screened for studies in real-time. The survey will be distributed via social media ads. Respondents will be screened according to the criteria.

River sampling can often be more cost-effective than traditional sampling methods, and the most important, this sampling represent the target audience in digital world. This also allows users to engage in their natural digital settings. However, this method has some difficulties in getting an adequate level of representative sample for a large population.

Have you conducted river sampling method? Share your experience down below!