Free Market Research Tools

Dan Blank -- Expert Business Source, 4/16/2007 1:48:00 PM

ZweigWhite shares some free market research tools:

• Google Alerts
  Google Alerts are e-mail updates of the latest relevant Google results based on search terms or topics that you identify. You can use this to keep track of industry news, clients, and competitors.

• Del.icio.us
  Del.icio.us is a “social bookmarking” program that allows you to save links to your favorite webpages. The “social” part, is that it allows you to do a keyword search to see websites that others have tagged with a particular keyword – a great way to see what is grabbing people’s attention.

• RSS feeds
  RSS feeds allow you to “subscribe” to the content on websites in a single, easy-to-use reader. As soon as a website or blog is updated, the content is fed directly to you – essentially creating your own customized website of news you find relevant.

• Library databases
  Databases such as LexisNexis can include directory listings for potential clients as well as investment analysts' reports on major companies and industries. Your library may offer free access at their location or over the web.