Useful Internet Sites

1. Customers and Markets

The Internet speeds up and simplifies the desk research that helps you find out about markets, products and customers.

1.1 It helps you find market researchers.

• The Research Buyer's Guide provides a directory of market research organisations in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
• ESOMAR, the World Association of Opinion & Marketing Research Professionals, has a 1500-name worldwide directory which you can scan for a research company with the specialities you need.
• WorldOpinion offers you a choice of more than 8,500 organisations in 99 countries, plus news of recent surveys.

1.2 It can put you in touch with suppliers of promotional merchandise to publicise your products.

• There are more than 900 UK sources listed at www.promotional-merchandise.org.uk.

1.3 It can even make sales visits easier, by generating street maps automatically from your prospects' postcodes (try www.multimap.co.uk).