Study your competitors' web sites . Searching through their sites can offer valuable information on rivals' strategies and how they position themselves in the market. Create an intelligence file on key competitors. This helps keep the information organized in a useful manner. Check industry and trade publications for information on competitors.
Articles can be a tremendous source of valuable data.
Subscribe to as many of your competitor's e-zines as you can reasonably manage. Buy competitors' products . Read the local papers where major competitors are located. Obtain credit reports on competitors. Attend industry trade shows , exhibits, and conferences.