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Information
is power, and the Internet is a primary conduit. Unfortunately,
the ability to locate desired information in a timely manner is
hindered by rapid growth and lack of standardized indexing procedures.
Web sites and software have been developed to address this challenge,
and as a marketer, I’ve had the opportunity to test various options
and have come up with a short list of my favorites.
Copernic
This free downloadable software allows users to search multiple
engines simultaneously. Whether looking for specific information,
Web sites, emails or product pricing, Copernic can meet the challenge.
In a matter of seconds, the software accesses up to 15 different
search engines, retrieves the results and creates an overall set
of results sorted by relevance. Users can also sort by site name
or URL and save search results.
Alexa
Internet
Alexa Internet is a downloadable tool that integrates into your
browser. Alexa provides real-time information about a vast majority
of sites. Basic information includes: site traffic, speed and size;
user ratings and reviews; site registration information and related
links. The data is generated primarily by Alexa users and is relative
to all sites indexed by Alexa. There are currently millions of anonymous
Alexa users surfing the Web, generating useful information and creating
common "paths" through the Web, helping future users via
"related link" suggestions.
Yahoo!
Yahoo! is still a leader in site traffic and overall size. As such,
it’s a great place to start any search. Whether you’re looking for
running magazines or dating Web sites, Yahoo! is likely to have
a specific category with links to many of the leading sites. The
quality of sites is nearly guaranteed due to the difficulty in registering
a site with Yahoo!
Special
Interest Resource Sites
The Web is a global community consisting of millions of special
interest sites, built by individuals and companies. These sites
provide a wealth of largely free information and links. The best
way to locate these sites is via Copernic, Alexa or Yahoo!. The
best special interest sites are usually trade publication sites,
vertical portals (vortals). Search engines and directories consisting
entirely of special interest content are the latest trend and can
be very helpful.
Literature
Searches
Many of the largest information databases have Web interfaces, including
The Library of Congress, Lexis-Nexis and DowJones. These sites aggregate
articles and research and allow instant access via keyword search.
Web-only databases have been created to meet increased demand as
well. Popular sites like eLibrary.com allow free searches but require
a subscription to access the results. Popular search engines and
portals also provide a powerful free alternative via news searches,
including Excite
, HotBot and Northern
Light.
Deja
on Google
Google provides a searchable index of popular usenet newsgroup discussions.
One of the earliest forms of Internet-based communication, newsgroups
allow text-based discussions via Web browsers. There are over 30,000
special interest newsgroups covering a broad range of topics. Monitoring
relevant newsgroups provides insight into customers, partners or
peers. Participating in conversations can be very rewarding, personally
as well as professionally.
Public
Company Information Sites
The stock market exploded in the mid and late nineties as a result
of the Internet boom. This lead to a surge in online day-trading.
The resulting demand for information on publicly traded companies
led to the development of superb tools and services, including CompanySleuth
and Edgar-Online
. These sites provide links to company news, charts, reports, analysis
and discussion lists. Many popular portals, including Excite and
Yahoo! also provide similar information. Day-traders can also access
this information and more through a paid account with online brokerage
services like e*trade
, Fidelity and
eSchwab .
General
Research Sites
Of course there are sites for surfers looking for general information
or answers to common knowledge questions. These sites include xrefer,
Learn2 and eHow.
Looking for a translation from Spanish to English, locate Temptation
Island or replace a furnace filter? These sites can help.
Web
Site Research Sites
Building a good Web site can be as challenging as finding one. Siteowner
and WebSiteGarage
have developed a set of free and paid services that help Web site
builders and owners improve the quality and visibility of a site.
From META tags to spell-check, these sites have it all.
Internet
Research Sites
If you’re looking for good statistics on Internet usage for an upcoming
presentation, there are a few good sites that provide this information
for free. CyberAtlas
, eMarketer
and The Industry
Standard are two of the best. Industry publication Web sites
and research firms are a great resource for statistics on special
interest topics (i.e. percentage of professional photographers with
Internet access). Leading market research firms include Forrester
, Jupiter, Gartner,
and IDC.
For
a list of relevant bookmarks including sites mentioned above, visit
my site on Backflip.
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