For example, if you want to acquire information about leading companies in your industry, you can visit their corporate web sites or access any of several online business research centers. URLs are often cited in sales literature, annual reports or recruitment ads. You also enter the company's name in the search feature of an Internet directory or search engine. Another easy way to find information on certain companies is by visiting an online business research center. At Hoover's Online , you can conduct research on companies at no charge and acquire their URL, operating locations, officers' names, sales results and more.
Additional information is available for a fee.
Companies Online offers free information on 100,000 public and private companies, including their annual sales, workforce size, trade names and corporate structure. The Internet is useful for keeping abreast of developments in your industry and conducting research on key executives, new product introductions, company expansions and entries into new markets. Probably the best sources of this information are web sites managed by industry or professional groups, periodicals and associations. If you don't know the URL for your trade or professional group, check out the more than 1,000 sites listed in an online directory at the Virtual Community of Associations . The Internet is particularly rich in developmental activities for senior-level managers and executives.