On the computer screen of …
Peter Han, founder,
Hanrick Associates, Seattle, WA
We help clients optimize their Web sites by profiling their Internet customers, understanding their purchase tendencies, and their patterns in walking through on-line stores. It's a very data-intensive business, so the more we know about what's happening in the larger Internet market, the more effective we are. These Web sites help us get smart.
Nielsen/NetRatings
http://www.nielsen-netratings.com
Nielsen/NetRatings is a gold mine for information on Web traffic. I especially like their weekly reporting on top Web ad banners. Public reactions to different creative trends in Web advertising are always interesting to chart. Today's hot thing is yesterday's old news. You see innovations in rich media all the time, for example, so if you don't follow it regularly, you'll get lost. Also, we help clients understand from a competitive standpoint what their top rivals are doing, how many dollars they're spending, and so on.
StatMarket
http://www.statmarket.com
It gives me regular updates on portal popularity, and they've got a great feature measuring site loyalty. As increasing numbers of people get on-line, and Web sites to entertain them proliferate, customer retention will take on increasing importance. Companies today are spending so much money to get the first exposure to new eyeballs — look at the Super Bowl ads! — but getting them to come back is critical.
Forrester Research
http://www.forrester.com
This one is good for timely information and fresh viewpoints on tech issues. I don't always agree with their analysis, but I check them to cover my bases.
Jim Toole, consultant,
Milliman & Robertson's Denver office
I do a lot of international consulting, and my focus is in Latin America. These are some of the resources that we'll look into to get comfortable with the environment, the culture, the local economy, and the political climate.
The World Factbook
http://www.odci.gov
The World Factbook is put out by the CIA. It gives current and reputable population figures and historical background.
Latinworld.com
http://www.latinworld.com
I speak Spanish, but I like to couple that with cultural knowledge of where I'm going. It's not enough to speak the language — you need to know about the local soccer team. This site, which covers the Americas and Spain, is bilingual and comprehensive. It contains business and regulatory links and has a nice cultural section.
Latin Finance
http://www.latinvestor.com
This is a great site. Business news, the latest financial information and links to major government sites, all organized by country. It makes my job that much easier!
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