Websites using Research

Okay, let s break down how to research a company and find information on its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care details. I ll give you general strategies and resources you can use, and then I ll illustrate with a hypothetical example.

I. Research Overview (What the company does, its mission, its place in the market)

• Company Website: This is the first and most obvious place to start. Look for:
  • About Us or Company section: Mission statement, history, values, company structure.
  • Products or Services pages: Detailed descriptions of what they offer.
  • News or Press Releases : Recent announcements, acquisitions, partnerships.
  • Careers page: Can provide insights into company culture and future direction.
• Wikipedia: Search for the company name. Wikipedia entries can give you a broad overview, history, major events, and controversies. Always cross-reference Wikipedia information with more reliable sources.
• Crunchbase: (www.crunchbase.com) Especially useful for startups and tech companies. Provides information on funding, key people, acquisitions, and news.
• LinkedIn: Search for the company s LinkedIn page. You can see their company profile, employees, posts, and sometimes get a better sense of their culture.
• Industry Reports: Look for reports on the industry the company operates in. These reports often include competitive landscapes and market analysis, giving you context for the company s position. You may need to pay for these reports (e.g., from Gartner, Forrester, IBISWorld, Statista). Your local library may have access to some of these databases.
• SEC Filings (for publicly traded companies): If the company is publicly traded, you can find a wealth of information in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US. Go to the SEC s EDGAR database (www.sec.gov/edgar/search/). Key filings to look for:
  • 10-K: Annual report. Comprehensive overview of the company s business, financial performance, risks, and management discussion.
  • 10-Q: Quarterly report. Similar to 10-K, but less detailed.
  • 8-K: Current report. Discloses significant events like acquisitions, mergers, leadership changes, etc.
  • Proxy Statements: Information on executive compensation, corporate governance, and shareholder voting matters.
• News Articles and Press Coverage: Search Google News, Bing News, or other news aggregators for articles about the company. Look for articles in reputable publications like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, Forbes, etc.
• Company Blogs and Social Media: Follow the company s blog and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) to see their messaging and engagement with customers.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau): Check for consumer complaints, reviews, and ratings.
• Glassdoor: Provides employee reviews, salary data, and insights into company culture.

II. Revenue (How much money the company makes)

• SEC Filings (for publicly traded companies): Revenue is a key metric reported in 10-K and 10-Q filings.
  • Look for the Consolidated Statements of Income (or Statements of Operations ) section. Revenue is often called Net Sales or Total Revenue.
• Financial News Websites: Sites like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, Bloomberg, and Reuters provide financial data and analyst estimates for publicly traded companies.
• Industry Reports: Market research reports may contain revenue estimates for private companies, though these are often less precise.
• Company Press Releases: Sometimes companies announce revenue milestones in press releases.
• Estimates: If a company is private and doesn t disclose revenue, you may find revenue estimates from reputable financial news sources or market research firms. Be aware that these are estimates, not confirmed figures.

III. Alternatives (What other companies offer similar products or services)

• Google Search: Search for [company name] competitors or [company name] alternatives. Also, search for the type of product or service the company offers (e.g., project management software alternatives ).
• G2 (www.g2.com) and Capterra (www.capterra.com): These websites provide user reviews and comparisons of business software and services. They re excellent for finding alternatives.
• TrustRadius (www.trustradius.com): Similar to G2 and Capterra, focusing on in-depth reviews and comparisons.
• Industry Reports: Industry reports will typically identify the major players in the market.
• Competitor Analysis Tools: Some SEO and marketing tools (like SEMrush or Ahrefs) can help you identify a company s competitors by analyzing their website traffic, keywords, and backlinks.

IV. Pricing (How much the company charges)

• Company Website: The company s website is the best place to start. Look for a Pricing or Plans page.
• Sales Representatives: Contact the company directly and speak to a sales representative. They can provide detailed pricing information and answer your questions.
• Online Forums and Communities: Search online forums, Reddit, or other communities related to the product or service. Users may discuss pricing and share their experiences.
• Review Websites (G2, Capterra, TrustRadius): Review websites often include pricing information, especially for software and business services.
• Third-Party Resellers: If the company sells through resellers, check their websites for pricing.
• Free Trials and Demos: Take advantage of free trials or demos to get a better understanding of the product or service and potentially discuss pricing with a sales representative.

V. Customer Care Details (How the company supports its customers)

• Company Website: Look for a Contact Us or Support page. This should list:
  • Phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Live chat options
  • Help center or knowledge base
  • FAQ section
• Social Media: Check the company s social media accounts (especially Twitter) to see how they respond to customer inquiries and complaints.
• Online Reviews (Yelp, Google Reviews, BBB, Trustpilot): Read customer reviews to get an idea of the quality of their customer service.
• Forums and Communities: Search for discussions about the company s customer service in online forums and communities.
• Third-Party Review Sites (G2, Capterra, TrustRadius): These sites often include customer service ratings and reviews.
• Testimonials: Look for testimonials on the company s website or in their marketing materials. While these are carefully selected, they can provide some insight into how the company positions its customer service.

Example Scenario: Researching Salesforce

Let s say you want to research Salesforce, a leading CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software company. Here s how you d use the above methods:

1. Overview:

   • Salesforce Website (www.salesforce.com): You d learn about their mission (to empower companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way), their product offerings (Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, etc.), and their company history.
   • Wikipedia: You d find a general overview of the company, its history, and major acquisitions.
   • Crunchbase: You d see their funding history, key personnel, and acquisition history.
   • LinkedIn: You d see their company page, employee profiles, and content they share.
   • SEC Filings: As a publicly traded company, you can find their 10-K, 10-Q, and other filings on the SEC s EDGAR database.
   • News Articles: Search Google News for Salesforce to find articles about their latest announcements, partnerships, and financial performance.

2. Revenue:

   • SEC Filings: You d find their revenue figures in their 10-K and 10-Q filings. Look for the Consolidated Statements of Income.
   • Yahoo Finance/Google Finance: These sites provide key financials and analyst estimates.

3. Alternatives:

   • Google Search: Search for Salesforce alternatives or CRM software alternatives.
   • G2/Capterra: These websites would show you a list of competing CRM systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365, HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM, and others. You can compare features, pricing, and reviews.

4. Pricing:

   • Salesforce Website: Look for their Pricing page. CRM pricing is often complex and dependent on the specific features, number of users, and contract length.
   • Sales Representative: Contact Salesforce directly to get a customized quote.

5. Customer Care:

   • Salesforce Website: Look for their Support or Help page. They have a vast knowledge base and community forums.
   • Social Media (Twitter): Check their Twitter feed to see how they respond to customer inquiries.
   • Online Reviews: Search for Salesforce reviews on sites like TrustRadius or G2 to get an idea of their customer service quality.

Important Considerations:

• Date of Information: Always pay attention to the date of the information you find. Things change rapidly, so make sure your data is current.
• Source Reliability: Evaluate the credibility of your sources. Stick to reputable news organizations, industry analysts, and official company documents. Be wary of unverified information on forums or blogs.
• Triangulation: Don t rely on just one source. Compare information from multiple sources to get a more complete and accurate picture.
• Assumptions: Be wary of making assumptions. Verify information with multiple, reliable sources.

By following these steps, you can conduct thorough research on a company and gather the information you need about its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care details. Remember that thorough research takes time and effort! Good luck!