| These days, when it comes to seeking out information, | | | | business. According to Steve Strauss, Business Expert |
| most people turn to their computers to do the work | | | | for Microsoft Small Business Center, "if you want to |
| for them. "Surfing the Net" has become a routine way | | | | succeed in business, doing your homework is critical. |
| of gathering necessary data, facts, and other such | | | | Knowing what the competition does right (and wrong), |
| knowledge. Need directions to your Aunt Susie's | | | | what they charge for their products or services, and |
| friend's garage sale? Head to and you're likely to find a | | | | where they seem to be headed can give your |
| customized map, tailored to your specifications. Can't | | | | business a significant boost." |
| remember what macerate means? will remind you. In | | | | Dawn Rosenberg McKay, writer for Career Planning |
| fact, these days, people use the Internet to search for | | | | at about.com, agrees: "It's important to keep up with |
| answers to nearly any and every imaginable query, | | | | business news about the industry in which you're |
| including information on business competition. | | | | working or are considering working. It's good business |
| But how sure are you that the information you are | | | | practice to be well informed about your clients' |
| obtaining via the World Wide Web is as accurate as it | | | | industries as well. It will help you stay ahead of the |
| could be? What exactly do you sacrifice in the name | | | | competition." |
| of convenience? I, for example, have been steered | | | | The accuracy and depth of this information is often |
| astray on more than one occasion by the almighty | | | | the key to a successful business. Being aware of your |
| Map Quest. And, although is helpful, it certainly isn't able | | | | competitor's strengths and weaknesses is an |
| to replace the vast resources available at your local | | | | invaluable learning tool. In the opinion of Warren Struhl, |
| library. Speaking of local libraries, even they have taken | | | | writer for Inc.com, "the more information you have, the |
| content online. AccessMyLibrary ( is a site from | | | | better position you will be in to propel your business |
| Thomson Gale featuring free access to over 15 million | | | | forward. So don't become the entrepreneur that says, |
| articles from leading as well as trade/interest specific | | | | 'If I only knew that before I started.' Stay informed and |
| publications and journals. | | | | you'll be building a platform for success." |
| Powerful and accurate online resources do exist, | | | | Essentially, using the Internet to gain pertinent |
| though they are often buried beneath a virtual layer of | | | | information can be an effective process, but it can just |
| illegitimate websites and flashing advertisements | | | | as easily yield inaccurate and out-of-date information. |
| informing you that you are, in fact, the winner of a new | | | | Valuable corporate information is out there and ripe for |
| pink Motorola RAZR phone. Lucky you. | | | | the picking. You just have to know where to look. |
| However, if you are searching for information on your | | | | Sources: |
| company's competitors, chances are you'd like that | | | | Rosenberg McKay, Dawn. Keeping up with Business |
| information to be as accurate and as easy to obtain | | | | News is Good for Your Career. 29 August 2006. |
| as possible, a feat that is likely far more difficult than it | | | | From: careerplanning.about.com/od/companyresearch |
| should be. However, sites like ECNext's Goliath ( | | | | a/business_news.htm |
| simplify this task by providing you with clear, accurate | | | | Strauss, Steve. Ask the Expert. 29 August 2006. From: |
| company profiles, industry information and market | | | | microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/expert |
| reports as well as business news, resources, leads | | | | strauss120105.mspx |
| and more. Essentially, the site does your homework | | | | Struhl, Warren. Doing Your Homework. 30 August |
| for you. | | | | 2006. From: inc.com/resources/startup/articles |
| I probably don't need to remind you that this sort of | | | | 20050701/homework. |
| information can be imperative to the success of your | | | | |