Competitor Research for eMarketing.

Where are we now? (External Perspective).

As you plan for eMarketing and during the plan's implementation, one needs to pay careful attention to the activities of competitors. So competitor research for eMarketing is essential when attempting to answer the question where are we now ( external perspective)? There are a number of approaches that can be employed, with the emphasis on each approach shifting depending upon the nature of our eBusiness and market. Here are some key tools of competitor research for eMarketing:

  • Use search engines.
    • General topics such as Google, Yahoo!, and MSN.
    • Type names of competitors.
    • Type industry, product or term.
    • Search 'down' into a directory structure e.g Yahoo!
    • Search a competitor's web site.
    • Product information, press releases, job opportunities.
    • Pricing information.
    • Distribution information such as where to buy.
    • (So publish only what you'd give away at a trade show!)
  • Hunt for trade associations.
    • Search for personal pages or 'Blogs.'
    • Different perspective e.g fans, ex-employees.
    • E.g. www.blogger.com, www.myspace.com, www.youtube.com
  • Ask your target market.
    • Send questions to named personnel, newsgroups, personal pages, mailing lists.
    • Conduct a survey using.
    • Buy secondary reports e.g. Datamonitor, Mintel.
  • Newsgroups and post queries.
    • Newsgroups on bulleting boards or forums.
    • Deja.com (Google).
    • Read online financial information.
    • Research public companies.
    • III.co.uk Ample UK.
    • FT.com UK.
  • Read online competitive information.
    • E.g. Hoovers.com - Paid for, in US.
  • Study demographic reports.
    • Statistics.gov.uk/census in UK.
    • Census.gov in US.
  • Original source material.
    • Business Source Elite, Newspapers, Kelly's, Kompass.
  • Monitor special interest material.
    • E.g Marketing Week (BSE) , Campaign (BSE), Marketing (BSE).
  • Use a professional researcher.