Business Research Guide: Free Internet Sources: Industry

To develop an understanding of an industry, you must understand its structure. Exploring your industry will help you gather information to persuade others to work in this industry. For a large industry, information is easy to find.  For smaller industries, which may be fairly new or filled with "mom-n-pop" and private businesses, a different approach is needed.  Examples of where you may find industry information include:

• Analyst reports
• Market research reports
• News articles
• Industry experts
• Trade or professional association

Using these sources enables you to find out what information already exists, see the opinions and ideas of experts, and reach your own conclusions based on facts and analysis.