using the internet to research private companies for competitive intelligence
DESCRIPTION
These slides describe my process and methods for using readily-available resources on the Internet to quickly and inexpensively research private companies.TRANSCRIPT
Using the Internet to
Research Private Companies
August Jacksonaugust (at) augustjackson (dot) net
http://www.augustjackson.net
Our Approach
Define Kits: From Information Request to Decision Support
Define KITs: Choosing Analytical Models
Define KITs: Common Information Requirements
Plan Research Strategy
Research Strategy: August’s Commandments
Build Secondary Research Plan
Our Use Case: Raynor Garage Door
Our use case: Raynor Garage Door
Premium Sources
Premium Sources
Premium Sources
Premium Sources
Company Web Site
DescriptionsOffices LocationsIdentified partnersExecutivesJob postingsPress releaseSales channelsCorporate history
META Tags and Web Page Source Code
META Tags and Web Page Source Code
META Tags and Web Page Source Code
Link Analysis
http://www.siteexplorer.search.yahoo.comUse “link:” command in Google
PartnersDistributorsPhilanthropic venturesFormer employeesFansCriticsBloggersUser forumsNews coverage
Legal and Regulatory Filings
Legal and Regulatory Filings
Local News Sources
Example of Local News Discovery
Industry Associations and Journals
Social Networks and People Search
People Search and Social Networks
People Search and Social Networks
Use Job Sites to Track New Hiring
Use Google Maps for Location Details
Street view or sky viewSquare footageNumber of parking spaces suggests workforce size and capacityAppearance of buildingsVehicles in the lotStreet accessUtilities evidentPreparation for location visit
Appendix: Directory of Filings Databases
• BRB Publications Free Resource Center– http://www.brbpub.com/freeresources/pubrecsites.aspx?h=1
• SearchSystems– http://www.searchsystems.net/
• State and Local Government on the Net (US)– http://www.statelocalgov.net
• Virtual Gumshoe (US)– http://www.virtualgumshoe.com/resources/
• International Organization of Securities Commissions– https://www.iosco.org/lists/display_members.cfm?memID=1&orderBy=none
• US Census Bureau building permits data– http://www.census.gov/const/www/permitsindex.html
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development building permits data– http://socds.huduser.org/permits/index.html
Appendix: Directory of Newspapers and Industry Journals and Organizations
• Google News– http://news.google.com
• NewsVoyager– http://www.newspaperlinks.com
• BizJournals (US city-specific business journals)– http://www.bizjournals.com
• Scirus Scientific Journal Directory– http://www.scirus.com/
• Google Scholar– http://scholar.google.com
Appendix: People Search Engines
• Pipl: http://www.pipl.com• Spock: http://www.spock.com/• 123people: http://www.123people.com/• Yo Name: http://www.yoname.com/
• Masters of Criminal Justice Web Directory of People Search Engines– http://www.mastersincriminaljustice.com/blog/2009/50-best-people-
search-engines-to-track-down-anyone/