Search tools, be it for Web 1.0 or Web 2.0 based content, has spoiled internet researchers when searching for industry information. Newcomers to an industry can use a tool such as Google Squared as discussed in “Competitive Intelligence Research With Google Squared?” to become familiar with a sector within the context of various metrics.
Here are some additional tips to consider when tackling industry-specific mandates.
1. Use Wikipedia
The Web 2.0 based encyclopedia is ideal to obtain an overview of the industry. The source can provide a description of the key elements of the industry and keywords to aid in a search later on in the mandate. Figure 1 is a screen shot of the Wikipedia entry for computer software.
Figure 1: Wikipedia Entry For “Computer Software”
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2. Consult Association Websites
Association websites are excellent sources for information especially when it comes to recent news, issues, statistics and trends. Consider visiting a source such as Google Directory which provides links to several association websites in one location on the web. Google Directory for industry associations is illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Google Directory For Industry Associations
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3. Benefit From LinkedIn Answers
Using LinkedIn Answers For Competitive Intelligence Research demonstrated how well the business social network can be used for secondary data gathering. By browsing through the site with the existing answers categorized by topic or posting a question with the hopes of getting a reply, researchers mine for information based on industry professionals’ expertise. Figure 3 presents the interface for the Advanced Answers Search
Figure 3: Advanced Answers Search Interface
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