Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information [Paperback]

Marcy Phelps (Author), Mary Ellen Bates (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

In today’s global economy, businesses need targeted, localized information about customers, companies, and industries, but adding the element of geography to any search topic—especially for counties, cities, census blocks, or any other substate areas—makes any project more challenging. Aimed at tackling these issues head-on, this guide offers free and low-cost options for using the web to find business and market information about various places, usually on the substate geographic level. Revealing how to use local sources for more in-depth research into people, companies, and national issues, this resource offers a manageable structure for how to approach this type of research, key resources, and practical solutions to specific questions. Each chapter includes valuable “Tips from the Pros,” short sections spotlighting expert researchers’ advice for finding information about local demographics, economies, companies, people, and issues. A companion website can be found at www.ResearchOnMainStreet.com.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marcy Phelps is the president of Phelps Research. She lives in Lakewood, Colorado. Mary Ellen Bates is the author of Building and Running a Successful Research Business. She lives in Longmont, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Information Today, Inc. (April 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910965889
• ISBN-13: 978-0910965880
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marcy Phelps is the president of Phelps Research, which provides professional research and research training services that help clients find and use strategic business information. She founded the company in 2000 after obtaining a master's degree in library and information services from the University of Denver. She is a past president of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (www.aiip.org).

Marcy is a contributing editor for FUMSI (www.fumsi.com), a publication for people who find, use, manage, and share information. She frequently writes and speaks on a variety of topics, from business and networking skills to finding and evaluating information on the web. Marcy is a contributor (Chapter 1) to the recently-released book, Advice from the Top: The Expert Guide to B2B Marketing. She also blogs about turning information into insights at www.MarcyPhelps.com.

A first-degree black belt in tae kwon do, Marcy lives in Lakewood, Colorado, with her husband and their two dogs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn How to Find the Right Local Information to Make Strategic Decisions!, May 19, 2011

By 

Ellen Naylor "Cooperative Intelligence Enabler" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information (Paperback)

Research on Main Street focuses on using free Internet, social media and low cost databases to access a broad spectrum of local data to support key strategic decisions. Specifically it provides an extensive directory of US city, county and state government resources; local news resources; local demographics and economic sources; and local company data and community issues. In addition to Internet sources, the book discusses how to connect with local people, such as reporters and authors, professors, chambers of commerce, economic developers, local company managers and other local industry and government experts.

This book has broad appeal as so much decision-making either is local or regional or contains a local component. How good a decision-maker feels when you have incorporated his specific local business information using his industry's jargon backed up by local insight and demographics to support your research findings. Even a salesperson can use the information in this book to bring a local aspect to his sales presentation with better knowledge of his client's decision-maker, which will set him apart from his competition.

What sets this book apart is the strategic approach that the Marcy develops to ensure success for information gathering:

* Think: who cares about the issue you're researching?
* Invest in the upfront time to identify your research goals and approach, and identify the required timeframe to locate the data and do the analysis.
* Access the appropriate website resources provided in this book and drill down for the specifics to support your research goals.
* Pick sources to help you learn all sides of the issue which will keep you from being blindsided.
* Uncover experts to telephone who will verify your Internet research findings, and gain the additional insight from a live conversation.

Marcy provides the added perspective of a seasoned researcher with these tippers:

* Separate facts from opinions and know which one to use in order to support your marketing and business requests.
* Question your findings with a healthy skepticism and cross-check and verify your data.
* Benchmark your local findings with larger picture regional and/or national statistics and other research.
* Consider the age and accuracy of your sources such as demographics and articles.

Follow the advice in this book to boost your knowledge about local and regional events that may trigger change, such as a major layoff, a change in leadership, deregulation, new regulation or a technical breakthrough. Collect business information and particularly local personalities to warm up cold calls before connecting.

The sources to numerous local and state government websites, demographics and regional figures help companies make practical decisions such as:

* Which city is the best location for your company's headquarters?
* Which neighborhood is the best location for that new restaurant and how big should it be?
* Does the community have the right demographics to sell your company's products?
* Does the local market contain the right talent to support your company's hiring needs?
* If you relocate employees to your new headquarters, how does the school system measure up?

Find data in often overlooked sources, such as local, regional and federal government agencies that regulate your industry or the "approved vendor list" from a state's official website, which often includes a description of company's business or lines of business.

If you miss an online resource or reference as you read a chapter, do not despair. Appendix A provides a chronological list and description of each reference source, including the chapter location to read more about it.

The blend of case studies and expert interviews breathe life into the dry business of information gathering and analysis to support specific local strategic business initiatives. There are numerous case study examples sprinkled throughout the book which identify the combination of resources you might tap into in order to find the information to support your local business or marketing initiative. The interviews with research experts lend a practical element as to why and how you conduct business research. Appendix B contains a set of specific business or marketing issues and lists the resources where you can find more information.

This book stands alone as the only research source I know of which focuses on how to find and use local and regional sources in the US. In short, Research on Main Street is a must read for anyone seeking the right local information to make strategic decisions.

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes You Look Smart to Clients, May 12, 2011

By 

Kim Dority (Centennial, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information (Paperback)

I'm all for any book that makes me look smart to clients, and "Research on Main Street" lets me provide clients with in-depth overviews of local business and market opportunities, competitor analyses, and emerging community and regional trends. The lead-off chapter on how to approach local research was especially helpful, and then depending on what client I'm working with, I hit the chapter resources on local demographics, local economies, local companies, people, or issues. The last chapter, on fee-based sources for local business info, provides a really helpful analysis of when it's worth paying for information (and how to justify it to a client or boss). One of my top go-to resources for business research.

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich with Practical Resources!, April 25, 2011

By 

Maverick - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Research on Main Street: Using the Web to Find Local Business and Market Information (Paperback)

This book is a must have for every researcher who does any form of corporate research for the public or private sectors. This book is so rich with resources! I consider myself an experienced researcher and found several resources I didn't know about that will enhance my work.