Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Build Your Own Search Engine With Google

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 30, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith and Internet tools
. 0 Comments

Are you aware that Google gives you the power to build your own search engine to fight information overload?

Here is a quick guide to  help you create a mini search engine for your specific information needs.  All that is required are the following:

  • A valid Google Account
  • A list of sources that the engine will use to find relevant information (Be sure to remove “http://” from the web addresses.

Step 1: With a valid Google Account, log onto www.google.com/cse/ where you will be prompted to complete the form as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Form Needed To Build A Google Customized Search

For the purposes of this exercise, a search engine specifically for news articles regarding “foreign direct investment” will be built using the following sources:

  • CNN - www.cnn.com
  • Financial Times  - www.ft.com
  • CBC - www.cbc.ca

Figure 2 presents the completed form needed to build the search engine.

Figure 2: A Completed Form Needed To Build The Search Engine

Step 2: Once you have clicked on “Next”, you can begin to use the engine.  The index page of the engine is illustrated in Figure 3:

Figure 3: Index Page Of Intelegia’s Search Engine

To test the engine, the keyword(s): “foreign direct investment” was entered to obtain the results seen in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Results For “Foreign Direct Investment”

To access the Intelegia’s Search Engine For Foreign Direct Investment, please click here.

It is important to note that if a database is among your list of sources, Google will not able to retrieve some information that is stored within the database.  This is the case if you wish to obtain information from trademark and patent databases.

To learn about more internet research tools and to improve your internet searching skills, attend Intelegia’s seminar, “Effective Online Research Strategies”

Best of Tools For Thought 2009 - Internet Research Tools

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 28, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith and Internet tools
. 0 Comments

In the past year, Tools For Thought introduced many internet research tools to be used in competitive intelligence and economic intelligence contexts.  Here is a look back the top three tools that readers were interested in as indicated by the number of page visits.

Samepoint - A Powerful Social Media Search Tool

Samepoint is a one-stop location on the web to search for “social discussions” available on the web.  Simply enter your keywords and receive relevant results on discussion groups, wikis, Twitter, podcasts just to list a few.

Click here to read Intelegia’s review of this tool.

Organization Structure Intelligence Using The Official Board

At times, finding information on how companies are structured along the line of corporate function can be a challenge.  Using a research tool such as The Official Board can make life easier for competitive intelligence practitioners.  The tool will provide you with organigrams to help identify individuals that the capacity to make key business decisions.

Click here to read Intelegia’s review of this tool.

Site Selection Intelligence With Bing Maps

This blog post highlights the innovative use of Bing Maps to investigate a potential piece of real estate for commerical purposes.  With the address of the location, you can access images of the place in question and the surrounding area.

Click here to read Intelegia’s review of this tool.

Best of Tools For Thought 2009 - Economic Development 2.0

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 23, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Economic Development, Social Media Marketing and Web 2.0 Strategy
. 0 Comments

In 2009, we examined the use of social networks for economic development initiatives.  Web 2.0 tools such as Facebook, Twtter and YouTube serve as efficient vehicules to market a region without spending a huge amount of money.  The following post highlights the best practices in economic development 2.0 and related fields.

YouTube: Nova Scotia On The Map For Investment Attraction

This post provided an excellent example of how a private sector organization can use a Web 2.0 application to convince potential investors that Nova Scotia, Canada as the best location for foreign direct investment.

To learn more about this initiative and view the video spotlighting the key locational factors, click here.

Web 2.0 For E-Government?

Can Twitter be used in an e-government context?  Why not. Both Tools For Thought and Des Outils et Des Hommes identified San Francisco and New York as the cities that are utilizing Twitter to compliment a government service such as an 311 information telephone hotline.

Click here to read more about this simple use of Twitter.

What Is Available On YouTube For Site Selectors?

YouTube has quickly become a search engine for information.  Rather than using Google, some individuals are turning to the Web 2.0 site.  Intelegia conducted a search on YouTube to see what relevant videos are available for site selectors in terms of promotional content for investment attraction.

Click here to read the results of the exercise.

Are you seeking to create or improve your economic development 2.0 strategy for investment attraction?  Register for Intelegia’s seminar, Optimize Investment Attraction Strategy Through Information and Social Media Applications

Best of Tools For Thought 2009 - Competitive Intelligence

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 21, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith and Competitive & Internet Intelligence
. 0 Comments

At this time of year, we would like to take a look at the most popular posts on Tools For Thought in 2009.  Over the next three posts, we welcome readers to discover for the first time or to visit once again some of tools and best practices in competitive intelligence, economic development 2.0 and internet research applications.

Here is a look at the top posts over the past year dealing with competitive intelligence on Tools For Thought.

Defensive Competitive Intelligence In A Web 2.0 Environment

Do you know what is being said about your company on Facebook? Twitter?  LinkedIn?  Online social networks are quickly becoming valuable sources of information  that competitive intelligence practitioners are searching for strategic intelligence.  How do you deal with the possibility that details regarding business strategies are available on Web 2.0 sites?  Click here to learn more.

Competitive Intelligence Research With LinkedIn - Who’s Hiring?

The social network, LinkedIn, is not only for a place online to connect but a resource to conduct research on competitors.  The tool has a section in which users can find job openings at competing firms that may signify a change in strategy.  Click here to see a case example of how you can use LinkedIn as a business research tool.

Using LinkedIN People Search To Profile A Company

Accessing the resumes of former or current employees at a competitor can be tremendous help when constructing a profile.  Knowing what a particular individual did or does in a company may allow decision makers to become familiar with how competitors are structured along the lines of a corporate function and planning strategic moves.  Click here to see a case example of how you can use LinkedIn as a company profiling tool.

What Is Available On YouTube For Site Selectors? A Month Later

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 18, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Investment Attraction and Web 2.0 Strategy
. 2 Comments

To see how dynamic the search results are on YouTube for videos aimed at promoting a region for  investment attraction, we repeated the exercise performed for the post, “What Is Available On YouTube For Site Selectors?“  Here are some of the videos that were worth mentioning found on December 16th, 2009.

“Invest In”

Invest In South Africa

This clip is in the form of a traditional television commercial.  It promotes the country of South Africa as a location for possibilities when it comes to investing in a variety of sectors.

“Economic Development”

Pearland, Texas

Located on the southeast coast of Texas, Pearland presents a very clear message in terms of economic development and business attraction.  The video highlights the main locational factors that the town has to offer and as well a brief look at its competitive incentive programs.

The difference between the results obtained on November 18th, 2009 and December 16th, 2009 should not be a big surprise.  Online marketers should always keep in mind that search results are dynamic and SEO strategies must be considered to maintain or improve their search engine ranking position.

Are you thinking about implementing a social media marketing campaign for investment attraction purposes for your region?  Consider taking Intelegia’s seminar, “Optimize Investment Attraction Strategy Through Information and Social Media Applications“.

Web 2.0 & Health Information Delivery

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 16, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Social Media Marketing and Web 2.0
. 0 Comments

My colleague, Aicha Habiby, who blogs at Des Outils et Des Hommes, informed me on the use of social media tools to push health information to citizens.

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides health information in regards to the H1N1 flu via the following five Web 2.0 applications:

RSS Feeds

RSS Feeds allows the agency to disseminate information via users’ RSS readers.  As seen in Figure 1, there are four topics covered as of December 15th, 2009.

  • H1N1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Flu)
  • Travel Health Advisories
  • Canada Communicable Disease Report (CCDR)
  • Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC)

Figure 1: Public Health Agency Of Canada’s RSS Feeds

Widgets

To help citizens access information easily, the agency has created a widget in which individuals can plug into a website, blog or a social media platform.  Figure 2 presents a look at the widget and the content that is updated in real time supply information about the H1N1 flu.

Figure 2: Public Health Agency Of Canada’s Widget For H1N1 Information

Twitter

Figure 3 illustrates the agency’s Twitter page with 1,433 followers.  Browsing the past tweets, the agency disseminates information on the H1N1 Flu.

Figure 3: Public Health Agency Of Canada’s Twitter For H1N1 Information

Facebook

The content of the agency’s Facebook Fan Page is divided amongst the following four sections:

  • Wall - The wall offers access to links to current news and information about the H1N1 flu.
  • Info - Fans have access to links to Public Health Agency of Canada and Fightflu websites in English and French.
  • Notes - The Notes section offers general information on the H1N1 flu with the ability to have fans to post comments.
  • H1N1 Information Centre - This section is the one-stop shop for H1N1 information.  The resource is divided into 10 activity modules as seen in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Public Health Agency Of Canada’s H1N1 Information Centre on Facebook

YouTube

The agency’s YouTube Channel is composed of a series of bilingual videos regarding H1N1 Flu and on-going initiatives to keep the public health.  The video below is a short 30 second clip about the H1N1 Immunization Campaign.

Researching Technology Companies With Crunchbase

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 14, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith and Competitive & Internet Intelligence
. 0 Comments

Here is a company information source in a form of a wiki that we came across during a couple of Google searches and it deserves a closer look from a competitive intelligence research point of view.

Crunchbase provides access to information on internet and tech companies, people who manage them and financial organizations that provide funding.  Let’s take a look at the three elements of the source.

Companies

As of December 12th, 2009, Crunchbase had entries for 30,286 companies.  Users can sort the companies by industry, status (i.e., private, public, acquired, deadpooled) and funding (i.e., bootstrapped, funded and investor).  Here is what the source has to offer for each company:

  • Background - History
  • General Information (i.e., website, blog, category, employees, etc.)
  • Office Locations
  • People
  • Former People
  • Acquisitions
  • Investments
  • Funding
  • Competitors
  • Service Providers
  • Milestones

The Milestones section allows users to have a summary of the company’s financial transactions and latest developments.  Figure 1 presents a look at Facebook’s Milestones.

Figure 1: Facebook’s Milestones Listed On Crunchbase

Additional elements to the profile include: Videos, Screenshots, Products and Website  Analytics.

People

This section furnishes information about executives at the companies with such details as:

  • Biography
  • Degrees Held
  • Company (including position)
  • Web presence (on social networks)
  • Milestones
  • Videos

Figure 2 is a screen shot of the profile of Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook.

Figure 2 Profile of Mark Zuckerberg on Crunchbase

Financial Organizations

Users can collect information on venture capital companies and other sources of funding for internet and technology firms.    Profiles for the financial organizations may include:

  • Background Information
  • General Information
  • Funds (Management)
  • Office Locations
  • People (Partners)
  • Milestones
  • Investments

Figure 3 provides a listing of the investments made by Argonaut Ventures, a United States based venture capital firm.

Figure 3 Investments Made By Argonaut Ventures Posted On Crunchbase

Crunchbase is available at www.crunchbase.com

Google Integrates Real Time Search Results

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 11, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Competitive & Internet Intelligence and Web 2.0 Search
. 0 Comments

In case you missed the news, Google has hopped on the real time search train to compete with tools such as Collecta, itpints and LeapFish. If you blink, you will not notice that the search giant has integrated results from Web 2.0 and news sources.  Figure 1 illustrates the appearance of real time search results amongst the usual results for the query, “Twitter”.

Figure 1: Real Time Search Results Within Google Results
Please Click On Image To Enlarge

The results are presented a scroll that can be paused when an interesting entry appears.  It should be noted that Google does not always provide real time results for all the keywords that are entered.

Web 2.0 And Business Attraction - Canadian Cities Online Marketing Index : Update

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 9, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Economic Development, Investment Attraction and Social Media Marketing
. 2 Comments

In September 2009, E&B DATA, Intelegia’s parent company, published “Web 2.0 And Business Attraction: Canadian Cities Online Marketing Index“, a study that measured how well Canadian cities economic development agencies are marketing their regions to potential investors via the web.  Specifically, the use of social media marketing tools and the availability of relevant information for site selection purposes were assessed.  The top four ranked cities were:

  • Halifax
  • London
  • Hamilton
  • Ottawa

To see if any of the top Canadian Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSA) has adopted additional Web 2.0 applications as apart of their marketing strategy for investment attraction, Intelegia visited the websites of the economic development agencies of the CMSAs on December 3rd, 2009.

The following agencies have integrated some social media marketing tools over the past few months:

  • Vancouver Economic Development Commission
  • Hamilton Economic Development
  • Montreal International
  • Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency

Vancouver Economic Development Commission

Since October 23rd, 2009, the Vancouver Economic Development Commission has been micro-blogging via its Twitter page, vaneconomic. Figure 1 presents a look at the vaneconomic page.

Figure 1: vaneconomic Twitter page

This page provides information in the form of announcements regarding award winners to the latest news about the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Hamilton Economic Development

Hamilton Economic Development offers videocasts via investinhamilton TV.

Figure 2: investinhamilton TV on The Hamilton Development Website

The videocast offers news regarding companies that are investing in the city of Hamilton.

Montreal International

Montreal International recently revamped their website to include a videocast on the front page.  Figure 3 shows what the index page of the website.

Figure 3: Index Page Of Montreal International’s Website

Besides the content of the videocast that promotes Montreal as the best place to invest, the website has four navigational tabs that enable individuals to locate information easier.  By clicking on the “INVEST” tab, individuals can now access contact information for the person who is responsible for fielding inquiries about investment opportunities in the Greater Montreal area.  This piece of information was not available on past versions of the website.

Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency

The Greater Victoria Economic Development Agency has an online presence on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The LinkedIN group page was created in October 2009.  Figure 4 is a screen shot of the LinkedIN page.

Figure 4: Greater Victoria Development Agency LinkedIn Group Page

As of December 3rd, 2009, there has not been any activity on the page.   The agency’s Facebook group, started September 26th, 2009, offers the following elements to members:

  • Wall posts
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Links

Figure 5 is an image of the Greater Victoria Development Agency’s Facebook group.

Figure 5: The Greater Victoria Development Agency’s Facebook Group

According, Economic Development Marketing in Canada (2009), a survey commissioned by the Economic Developer Association of Canada (EDAC), 70% of respondents identified that social media or blogging will be new marketing initiatives in 2010 for their organizations.  Based on the benchmark conducted in September 2009 and visits to the four sites listed above, it seems that some cities are slowly realizing the power of using Web 2.0 applications.

Has your organization started to use social media marketing tools for economic development 2.0 initiatives? If so, tell us and we will happy to make it the subject of a future blog post.

Using LinkedIN People Search To Profile A Company

Published
by
Ian Smith
on December 7, 2009
in Author-Ian Smith, Competitive & Internet Intelligence and Web 2.0 Search
. 0 Comments

The blog post, “Competitive Intelligence Research With LinkedIn - Who’s Hiring?” discussed the use of LinkedIn to anticipate a strategic move at a competitor through a potential hiring (i.e., job opportunity).  This type of competitive intelligence  research can be an element to a larger initiative to profile a company.

Through the Advanced People Search function on LinkedIn, researchers may gain further valuable strategic insights about a company.  Figure 1 illustrates the advanced search interface.

LinkedIN - 1 - People Search - Tools For Thought - Intelegia

Figure 1: Advanced People Search Interface on LinkedIn

One of the pieces of strategic intelligence that can be collected from this type of search is profiling a department / function at a company.

Case Scenario: As a competitor to Hewlett Packard in Canada, you are asked to have an understanding about the company’s strategy planning function.

Solution: Using the advanced search interface, enter the following information to build the query based on the case scenario:

  • In the “Location” field,  select “Canada” and delete the content, if any,  in the “Postal Code” field
  • In the “Position” field, enter “strategy” and select the “Current or past” option
  • In the “Company” field, enter “Hewlett Packard”

Figure 2 presents the query when the details are entered.

Figure 2: Building An Advanced People Search Query For Individuals In The Hewlett Packard Strategy Planning Function
Please Click On The Image To Enlarge

Figure 3 is the screen shot of the results based on the submitted query.

Figure 3: Results For The Query For Individuals at Hewlett Packard’s Strategy Planning Function
Please Click On The Image To Enlarge

Selecting the individual with the position of “Senior Business Strategy Manager” leads you to access to the following job description available in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Job Description For The Position Of “Sr. Business Strategy Manager” at Hewlett Packard

From the image above, you can see that the strategic planning function at Hewlett Packard is composed of:

  1. Forecasting
  2. Budgeting
  3. Resource Planning
  4. Strategic Direction
  5. Financial Controls

Furthermore, you are able to find out that there is an existing competitive intelligence unit at the computer hardware giant in Canada.