Both market size and market share held by competitors are key factors when assessing the competitive environment. Keep in mind that there is no single source of market size and market share data. Market information is usually pieced together from various sources and is not often readily available for niche or emerging industries. One strategy is to combine a competitor's name or a comparable, established industry with the term market share in article databases or read market research reports. You will need to identify and describe your market – who your customers are and what the demand is for your products and services.
Library Resources
Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.
ABI/INFORM Collection
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.
Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.
- Meyer, M. (2015). Making it. Columbia Journalism Review, 53(6), 41.
"Meyer talks about survival strategies of an online freelancer. For Kyle Chayka and other winners in this economy, freelancing is both a career in its own right and a calculated risk, a bet wagered in the hopes of winning something better--whether that something is a staff job, a book deal, a larger professional network, a more prestigious beat, or some other means of advancement."
- Pratt, A. (2016). MacGyver your own freelance community. The Quill, 104(1), 31.
Author outlines her path to a freelance journalist career and the challenges along the way. Ends with several suggestions for places to seek support and help.
Business Source Ultimate
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.
Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.
- Bower, Crai S. (2012). "Getting fired without a boss." Quill 100, no. 2: 28.
"The article focuses on the challenges of freelance writing and being fired by losing contracts without a boss. It mentions how freelancers work like every other writer to produce pieces with clean content and maintain an inequitable relationship with editors and publishers who would not give future assignments for sloppy works. It mentions the unpredictability of freelance work and the need to work harder without a real boss."
- Frick, Elizabeth (BETTE), and Liz Willis. (2011). "Focusing Your Business: Support for the Independent Consultant or Contractor." Intercom 58, no. 2: 30-31.
"The article considers the issue of being a generalist in the field of technical communication. It discusses the lack of focus of independent contractors as one of the major disadvantages of being a generalist. The authors offer suggestions on how to have focus in the business of freelance technical writing."
eMarketer
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Or, contact your local public or academic library for their access details.
Global market research and trend analysis database that focuses on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media, and emerging technologies.
- eMarketing. (2015). "Marketing in Canada: Compassion, Humor and Helpful Tips Are the Ways to a Mother's Heart."
"Erica Ehm, founder and publisher of YummyMummyClub, a digital magazine for mothers, and CEO and creative director of YMC Works, a marketing company that targets mothers, spoke with eMarketer’s Alison McCarthy about what mothers in Canada are looking for from brands on social platforms and what brands can do to cultivate relationships with them."
UBC Library Business Databases
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.
Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject
There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.
IBISWorld Industry Reports
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.
IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.
Try Primary Research
The main point of this guide is to introduce you to a wide range of secondary market research resources but keep in mind there is great value in analyzing other information including:
- Advertising, blogs and sales brochures
- Your personal network and employees
- Direct observation and interviews