Business Owner's Manual

Additional Library Resources

While it is possible to find some industry and market information on the Internet, many of the most comprehensive and up-to-date resources are still fee-based services. These online databases provide access to a wealth of marketing information, industry surveys, statistics on specific markets, market share rankings, articles on companies, analyses of market trends, etc. Although most of these services require a subscription fee, they may also be available for free at your local library. Some of the more comprehensive databases for industry information include General Business File (Gale), EBSCO Host, Business & Industry, Stat USA, and Dow Jones Interactive.

Listed below are some of the print, electronic, and Internet resources which you can access for free at the Science, Industry, and Business Library.   Check the New York Public Library catalogs for the availability of print items: CATNYP for the research libraries; or LEO for circulating books. Check SIBL's database list for descriptions of the electronic databases available for free at the library.

 

Print Resources

AMA Complete Guide to Marketing Research for Small Business

Consumer Insight: How to Use Data & Market Research to Get Closer to Your Customer

Encyclopedia of Associations

Guerrilla Marketing

Green Book (a listing of market research companies and services, published by the AMA)

Lifestyle Market Analyst

Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS)

Survey of Buying Power and Media Markets

 

Electronic Resources

Several electronic databases are available in the Electronic Information Center for finding articles, statistics, and other marketing-related information.

• Advertising Redbook Online
• Euromonitor
• Factiva
• Infoshare Online
• MarketResearch.com Academic
• PROMT
• EBSCO Host
• Reference USA
• Simply Map
• Stat-USA
• TableBase

 

Free Public Classes

SIBL offers a free public class on doing market research, which includes an overview of the library's print and electronic resources for gathering market research data and hands-on training in the use of these tools. Classes are also given at the library on searching directories, finding company information, and other marketing-related topics. A complete list of courses and the weekly class schedule can be found on SIBL's Web site.

 

Other General Resources

• KnowMarketing, also known as the Internet's Marketing Virtual Library, is one of the most comprehensive sources of marketing information on the Internet for those involved in marketing, advertising, selling, promotion and e-commerce.
  
  
• The Small Business Administration's Web site contains a wealth of information for small business people. The SBA Online Library provides access to the SBA's excellent publications on small business management, which includes a extensive section on Marketing.
  
  
• Marketing associations are valuable sources of information. Their Web sites usually provide a wealth of information, resources, tips, links to relevant Web sites, etc. In addition, most of them feature a "publications" section or an "online bookstore" which lists the best and most recent publications in the field of marketing research. See the the major marketing associations' Web sites listed below for more information:

  • American Marketing Association
  • Direct Marketing Association
  • Marketing Research Association

   

Selected Internet Resources

KnowThis.com's Virtual Marketing Library

The Small Business Administration's online library

Consumer Expenditure Surveys- Bureau of Labor Statistics

American Demographics

The American Marketing Association

The Direct Marketing Association

Entrepreneurial Edge — The Edward Lowe Foundation