Improving your internet research skills Nancy Lucas September 25, 2008

Topics for discussion Google Evaluating information Library basics Company information Consumer information Statistics Citing your sources Help is available

Google  It’s all the web, isn’t it?  Let’s see … y4v1ccA y4v1ccA

Criteria for evaluating information…  Authority  Objectivity  Quality  Coverage  Currency  Relevance

Evaluating information…  Evaluating Internet Information Evaluating Internet Information Evaluating Internet Information Milton Library at Johns Hopkins University  Critical Evaluation of Sources Critical Evaluation of Sources Critical Evaluation of Sources University of Louisville Libraries  Evaluating Websites: Techniques and Questions Evaluating Websites: Techniques and Questions Evaluating Websites: Techniques and Questions UC Berkeley Library

Library basics… Business Library homepage Research guides Course guides

Library basics…  Remote access - 24/7 access - Login required - Off Campus Access webpageOff Campus Access webpage - Help available 24/7 at

SWOT Analysis  Internal Company Information Strengths Weaknesses  External Company Information Opportunities Threats (Marketline Business Information Center and Mintel)

Porter’s 5 Forces   Threat of new entrants into the industry  Bargaining power of customers  Bargaining power of suppliers  Intensity of the rivalry among firms in industry  Potential for substitute products or services

Looking at the trends…  Economics within city, county, state  Demographics  Organizational study  Industry as a whole  Who is the competition

Competitive Analysis How do I conduct one? Samples: Small Business Association Edward Lowe Foundation

Company information  ABI Inform ABI Inform  General Business File ASAP General Business File ASAP  Hoover’s Online Pro Plus Hoover’s Online Pro Plus  Lexis-Nexis Lexis-Nexis  Mergent Horizon Mergent Horizon  Reference USA Reference USA  Ward’s Business Directory Ward’s Business Directory

Food…  Food Institute Food Institute  Mintel GNPD Academic Mintel GNPD Academic

Consumer trends…  Mintel Market Reports Mintel Market Reports  Plunkett Research Plunkett Research  Global Market Information Database Global Market Information Database  Marketline Business Information Center Marketline Business Information Center  Simmons Choices 3 (Business Library only)

Consumer trends…  Trendwatching Trendwatching  Identifying a target market Identifying a target market  Marketing Trends Marketing Trends  Generational marketing Generational marketing

Industry trends Global Market Information Database IBIS World Marketline Business Information Center Mintel Market Reports

Statistical sources… Bureau of Economic Analysis County Business Patterns Census City data Un/employment Saurage Research Simply Map

Newspapers Factiva Lexis-Nexis Sources available at MSU Michigan

Citation Guides  Style websites Citing References in Your Paper University of Wisconsin Writing Center Using APA Format Purdue University Citing Business Databases in APA Style MSU Business Library

Help is available…  Nancy Lucas    Business