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Marketing Analysis Resources
(Research and Data Analysis)

Chat Rooms, Conducting Research, Consultant and Freelance Sources, Cookies, Online Focus Groups,  Porter's Five Forces Competitive Analysis, Research Information Sites, Researchers and Analyst Sites, Statistics and Trends, Traffic Analysis

Traffic Analysis

Webmonkey includes a collection of articles about using Web logs and cookies for tracking your site traffic.

Web Trends Live offers several levels of service, tailored to different needs. The company offers a free service for personal sites. Pricing for business sites is based on monthly page views, starting in the low-$ for up to 25,000 page views. The subscription is monthly, with no long-term commitments.

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NetTracker software, sold by Sane Solutions, reports detailed information about your Website’s traffic. The software delivers numerous reports, including repeat visitors, robots/spiders, keyword reporting, usage path, and many others. The reports are in summary form, with drill down capabilities to view details. The NetTracker software comes in three versions, priced at mid-$$, low-$$$, and mega-$$$$. It is also available by subscription from some Web hosting companies.

Nedstat offers Nedstat Pro for small businesses. Nedstat Pro comes in three versions, ranging from mid-$ to low/mid-$$. Among other statistics, the service tells you the number of visitors, click paths, visitor origin, and keywords used to find your site.

Cookies

Cookie Central is packed with information about cookies. The FAQ section gives a good cookie overview. Other areas delve into the controversy over privacy and report current news. The site also includes a lively message board, with users and Webmasters both amply represented.

Marketing Terms Dictionary, Cookie Page includes a brief cookie definition as well as links to directory listings.

Porter's Five Forces Competitive Analysis

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael Porter is Porter’s landmark book that details his Five Forces model. 

Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance by Michael Porter is Porter’s continuation of Competitive Strategy, digging deeper into ways a business can identify strategic opportunities.

Business Insight software, developed by Business Resource Software, Inc., analyzes your marketing strategy against Porter’s Five Forces model. Using the analysis, it shows your strengths and weaknesses as well as identifies potential threats to your business. A free sample analysis of your marketing strategy is available online. The program cost is in the mid-$$.

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These resources were originally developed as companion to the strategic marketing plan development book How Much for Just the Spider? Strategic Website Marketing for Small-budget Businesses. I've updated them as additional appropriate resources come to my attention. In developing these resource lists, I scoured the Web for resources useful to small-budget businesses and entrepreneurs. I looked for sites and services that would help you learn more about Internet Marketing and help you get things done efficiently. My focus is on services that appear to be designed for the needs and time frames of small businesses. Bobette

To the best of my knowledge, resource information was accurate at the time of this writing. Current programs may vary from those reported here. Please let me know if you find any outdated information. Although my intent is to list only upstanding products and services on the site, I cannot personally  make any guarantees. It is wise to check any company out before purchasing, signing any agreement, or making a commitment. Online fraud bureaus and consumer groups are one way to do this. Among them are The Better Business Bureau (and BBBOnline), Fraud Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complain Center , Complaints.com, and Scambusters. Bobette