Market Research to Achieve Success - SBDCNet Judith Kraatz Johnson, Lead Librarian

Presented by the SBDC National Information Clearinghouse Serving more than 1,000 SBDC offices since October 1998 offices since October 1998 SBDCNet Services

Save Five Hours What can you do with an extra five hours in your workday? Based on evaluations received in FY 03.

Provide timely, relevant, and free research to SBDC counselors in the U.S. and its territories SBDCNet Mission

Reduce “in-box” stress Fill in the information gaps An added benefit to SBDC services to clients Another “staff” member How Can SBDCNet Help You?

Our Staff 1 Director (MA)1 Director (MA) 1 Assistant Director (MA)1 Assistant Director (MA) 3 Reviewers (2 MLS & 1 BBA)3 Reviewers (2 MLS & 1 BBA) 3 Business Research Associates (1 MA & 2 BBA)3 Business Research Associates (1 MA & 2 BBA) 4 Research Assistants4 Research Assistants (Graduate & Upperclassmen) 1 Admin (BA) + Support Staff1 Admin (BA) + Support Staff 5 Practicum Students5 Practicum Students 19 Staff – 11/2004

Contacting SBDCNet Internet: Telephone Telephone Fax Fax

Serve SBDC counselors not clients.Serve SBDC counselors not clients. Locate published market research data, articles, demographics, and financial ratios.Locate published market research data, articles, demographics, and financial ratios. Search patent and trademark files online.Search patent and trademark files online. Provide demographic information for market analysis (GIS).Provide demographic information for market analysis (GIS). Provide sample business plans.Provide sample business plans. What We Can Do

24/7 website of industry links for use by counselors and clients.24/7 website of industry links for use by counselors and clients. Lend Entrepreneur Guides.Lend Entrepreneur Guides. Train the SBDC community.Train the SBDC community. What We Can Do - Part II

Geographic Information System 2002 Census with 2007 and 2012 projections from Applied Geographic Solutions.2002 Census with 2007 and 2012 projections from Applied Geographic Solutions. Radii or ring studies.Radii or ring studies. Variables: age, sex, race and ethnicity, household, income, education, occupation.Variables: age, sex, race and ethnicity, household, income, education, occupation. Our expert: Michael ClineOur expert: Michael Cline

Geographic Information System

What We CANNOT Do Provide legal or medical advice and the interpretation.Provide legal or medical advice and the interpretation. Compile mailing and marketing lists.Compile mailing and marketing lists.

SBDCNet Resources Web site site Print collection and CD-ROMsPrint collection and CD-ROMs Online databases/Univ.TX - San AntonioOnline databases/Univ.TX - San Antonio State Data Center (BIDC)State Data Center (BIDC) Internet accessInternet access

Web Site  Counselor Area Information Request Form E-newsletter Training Class Info Links to 641s, 1062s, & 888s  Small Business Information Center  Industry Links  Local SBDC Search

Reference Books at SBDCNet Small Business SourcebookSmall Business Sourcebook Business Plans Handbook (9 volumes)Business Plans Handbook (9 volumes) Financial Studies of the Small BusinessFinancial Studies of the Small Business Lifestyle Market AnalystLifestyle Market Analyst RMA Annual Statement StudiesRMA Annual Statement Studies Household SpendingHousehold Spending Best CustomersBest Customers

Selected Books The Toy and Game Inventor’s GuideThe Toy and Game Inventor’s Guide Starting a Medical PracticeStarting a Medical Practice Dollars and Cents of Shopping CentersDollars and Cents of Shopping Centers 2001 Restaurant Industry Operations Report2001 Restaurant Industry Operations Report 1001 Retail Ideas to Create Retail Excitement1001 Retail Ideas to Create Retail Excitement Guerilla MarketingGuerilla Marketing Marketing Your InventionMarketing Your Invention Building an Import/Export BusinessBuilding an Import/Export Business

Lending Rules Entrepreneur Magazine Guides and BooksEntrepreneur Magazine Guides and Books –Titles available for 2 week checkout –Return via traceable carrier –Books loaned on case by case basis

SBDCNet - Online Databases “ProQuest Direct” (articles and newspapers)“ProQuest Direct” (articles and newspapers) “Academic Universe/Lexis-Nexis” (news, medical, finance, and articles)“Academic Universe/Lexis-Nexis” (news, medical, finance, and articles) “GaleNet Ready Reference”(trade associations)“GaleNet Ready Reference”(trade associations)

The Final Product Passes quality control measures.Passes quality control measures. includes introduction, evaluation form, disclaimer, and research. includes introduction, evaluation form, disclaimer, and research. Sent via , snail mail, or fax.Sent via , snail mail, or fax. Turnaround: 2 weeks.Turnaround: 2 weeks.

Keyword Operators BooleanBoolean Plus/Minus signsPlus/Minus signs Quotation marksQuotation marks TruncationTruncation for the “Best Search Engines Quick Guidewww.infopeople.org/search/guide.html for the “Best Search Engines Quick Guidewww.infopeople.org/search/guide.html

Boolean AND – both words are in the document (similar to +)AND – both words are in the document (similar to +) NEAR(or ADJ) - one word found within a specified number of wordsNEAR(or ADJ) - one word found within a specified number of words OR – at least one word is presentOR – at least one word is present NOT – excludes a word (similar to -)NOT – excludes a word (similar to -)

Quotation Marks The words within the quote marks are treated as a phraseThe words within the quote marks are treated as a phrase Similar to the Boolean operator NEAR or ADJacent)Similar to the Boolean operator NEAR or ADJacent)

Truncation The stem of a word is what is searched with variant endingsThe stem of a word is what is searched with variant endings May happen automatically or require use of an asterisk * to indicate the search functionMay happen automatically or require use of an asterisk * to indicate the search function Result of search* is searches, searched, searching.Result of search* is searches, searched, searching.

Additional Hints Check your spellingCheck your spelling Case sensitivity?Case sensitivity? Word variants like “car wash” or “carwash”Word variants like “car wash” or “carwash” Too many hits - use more specific termsToo many hits - use more specific terms Few hits or none - select broader termsFew hits or none - select broader terms Search SIC/NAICS at SIC/NAICS at

Small Business Topics Ed Lowe Lowe Entre World World Small Business Plan Guide Business Plan Guide

Industry Overviews for fee and free industry informationwww.valuationresources.com for fee and free industry informationwww.valuationresources.com for major city marketswww.bizjournals.com for major city marketswww.bizjournals.com for trade journal articleswww.looksmart.com for trade journal articleswww.looksmart.com for business contentwww.find.com for business contentwww.find.com

Competitive Information ZapData ( - market data by state and metro areas; fees for prospecting listsZapData ( - market data by state and metro areas; fees for prospecting listshttp:// InfoSpace ( - locate competitors nearbyInfoSpace ( - locate competitors nearbywww.infospace.com

Demographics ESRI-BIS ( - for lifestyle chracteristics and free zip code informationESRI-BIS ( - for lifestyle chracteristics and free zip code informationwww.esribis.com MelissaData ( - free lookupsMelissaData ( - free lookupswww.MelissaData.com Census ( - demographic data and geographic searchingCensus ( - demographic data and geographic searchingwww.census.gov

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