The Expensive World Of Business Information
Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research?
Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.
There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results.
Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.
For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.
Business Resources at Academic Libraries
Colleges and Universities with business programs will have useful business collections you may be able to get access to through their academic library. Often these academic libraries can provide the general public with access to their collections, which include electronic resources like databases and e-books. For example, they could have alumni or community cards, and can provide temporary "guest" passes in certain situations. Contact your local college or university library to see what they can provide. Please note: you probably will not get access to their electronic resources with remote access.
Databases For Industry Research
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.
- McAfee, R.(2010). Edifying editing. American Economist, 54 (1), 1-8.
"I've spent a considerable amount of time as an editor. I've rejected about 2,500 papers, and accepted 200. No one likes a rejection and less than 1% consider it justified. Fortunately, there is some duplication across authors, so I have only made around 1 ,800 enemies. The purpose of this little paper is to answer in print the questions I am frequently asked in person. These are my answers but may not apply to you."
- Proof-Reading.com; Social media consulting firm slashes proofreading costs by using Proof-Reading.com. (2008, November). Marketing Business Weekly, 280.
"Octane Interactive, a premier social media consulting firm, has reduced proofreading costs and increased its ability to turn around proposals by using the proven editors at Proof-Reading.com. Octane Interactive has been a Proof-Reading.com client since April, 2006. The firm's editor outsourcing program has allowed co-founder, Harry Hallman, to prosper in a harsh economic environment."
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.
- Spangler, N. (2010). In Demand: A week inside the future of journalism. Columbia Journalism Review, 49 (4), 51-53.
"The article discusses U.S. online content provider Demand Media and the author's experience working briefly as a freelance writer for the company. Demand's business model of supplying large amounts of commercial content on the internet, such as how-to videos and instructional articles, is discussed, as is its use of algorithms and search data to determine what information consumers want and what advertisers will pay for."
- Fitzgerald, M. (2010). Building from the basics. Quill, 98 (5), 32.
"The author offers tips on how freelance journalists can achieve success. Freelance journalists should develop a network of writers who will help them handle rejection. They are advised to leverage their specialties and expertise that will help them get a career in higher-profile publications. The author also offers information on the importance of foundations to the success of journalists."
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.
Provincial Library Database Partners
How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.
BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases
ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.
First Research Industry Profiles
How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).
Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.
"Companies in the sector provide support services to businesses, such as office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, security services, travel arrangement, cleaning, and waste disposal."
"Companies in this industry produce and distribute magazines and other print and electronic periodicals."
"Companies in this industry publish fiction and nonfiction trade books, as well as educational and professional titles, in print and digital formats."
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.
Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide
How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.
UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.