ReferenceUSA:Business and Consumer ResearchReferenceUSA:Business and Consumer Research

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ReferenceUSAReferenceUSA

• Demographic database

• By the vendor’s claim, they are the “premier source of business and residential information for reference and research.”

• Great for market research; job searching; locate phone numbers for businesses; get driving directions, etc.

• Demographic database

• By the vendor’s claim, they are the “premier source of business and residential information for reference and research.”

• Great for market research; job searching; locate phone numbers for businesses; get driving directions, etc.

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ReferenceUSAReferenceUSA

• 5 databases– U.S. Businesses (14 million listed)

– Canadian Businesses (1.5 million)

– U.S. Healthcare (855,000 Physicians and Dentists)

– U.S. Standard White Pages (89 million residents)

– Canadian White Pages (12 million households)

• 5 databases– U.S. Businesses (14 million listed)

– Canadian Businesses (1.5 million)

– U.S. Healthcare (855,000 Physicians and Dentists)

– U.S. Standard White Pages (89 million residents)

– Canadian White Pages (12 million households)

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How might you use ReferenceUSA?How might you use ReferenceUSA?

• Job search: Locate lists of all employers of a certain occupation.

• Finding all businesses of a certain size, sales volume, type of business, location, etc.

• Market research for a certain area to determine all the businesses in a given radius.

• Locate people with whom you have lost contact.

• Many more ideas that you can try!

• Job search: Locate lists of all employers of a certain occupation.

• Finding all businesses of a certain size, sales volume, type of business, location, etc.

• Market research for a certain area to determine all the businesses in a given radius.

• Locate people with whom you have lost contact.

• Many more ideas that you can try!

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Let’s look at the databaseLet’s look at the database

• Start at the OCLS homepage– http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls

• Click on: Business (under Article Databases)

• Click on: ReferenceUSA

• Authenticate with your last name and 14-digit library access number

• Start at the OCLS homepage– http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls

• Click on: Business (under Article Databases)

• Click on: ReferenceUSA

• Authenticate with your last name and 14-digit library access number

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Click directly on U.S. BusinessesClick directly on U.S. Businesses

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Quick Search: Fill in your infoQuick Search: Fill in your info

Question: How many Starbucks are located in Dayton, Ohio?

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There are 7 (as of December 2012). Clicking on one will provide detailed information on that particular store.

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Navigate to areas of interest Navigate to areas of interest

View the options under Quick Links.

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Let’s return to the start screen and begin a Custom Search.

This option allows searching with a variety of options.

You customize the search criteria based upon what you need.

This option allows searching with a variety of options.

You customize the search criteria based upon what you need.

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Let’s search for all companies in the Cincinnati (OH) Metropolitan Area with a sales volume over $1 billion. Start by clicking on the Geography tab…

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Now choose business size…(We will fill in city/state information in just a bit)… remember, we are choosing our custom criteria first!

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Under Business Size, choose Sales Volume…

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Time to fill in the specifics --Time to fill in the specifics --

•Select the state and then the city or cities.

•Select the sales volume. (Note : to select multiple items, hold down the CTRL key)

•Select the state and then the city or cities.

•Select the sales volume. (Note : to select multiple items, hold down the CTRL key)

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39 Results! Clicking directly on a company name will take you

to the company info page.

The last column contains data that has been verified by the ReferenceUSA company…

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Use the drop down menu to see the available options, including a Corp. Tree…

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The Corporate Tree column tells you that there are either companies above or below (a parent company and subsidiaries). Click on the arrows…

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Now you can view the information located under the Quick Links.

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Another custom search: Get specificAnother custom search: Get specific

• Perhaps you want to know how many rehabilitation centers are in Marion, Indiana. You can create a custom search to match your criteria.

• Start by choosing the Business Type and Geography categories

• Perhaps you want to know how many rehabilitation centers are in Marion, Indiana. You can create a custom search to match your criteria.

• Start by choosing the Business Type and Geography categories

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Rehab. Centers in Marion, INRehab. Centers in Marion, IN

We find there are 6 Rehab. Centers in Marion, IN.

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Another Custom Search possibility:Another Custom Search possibility:

• Find which companies have an office in your city.

Example: How many AFLAC offices are in Louisville, KY?

– Search for company name

– Search for geography (city/state/zip code)

• Find which companies have an office in your city.

Example: How many AFLAC offices are in Louisville, KY?

– Search for company name

– Search for geography (city/state/zip code)

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We find there are 10 AFLAC offices in the Louisville, KY area.

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Another Custom Search possibility:Another Custom Search possibility:

• You work for My Favorite Muffin in Indianapolis, IN. You want to send a coupon to all the businesses within 5 miles of your store.

– Search for the company and pull up the company info. page.

– Now search for ALL businesses within 5 miles of your store.

• You work for My Favorite Muffin in Indianapolis, IN. You want to send a coupon to all the businesses within 5 miles of your store.

– Search for the company and pull up the company info. page.

– Now search for ALL businesses within 5 miles of your store.

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There are 20,000+ businesses!

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Review -- ReferenceUSA Review -- ReferenceUSA

• Conduct a variety of business analysis scenarios

• Create marketing plans

• Look up similar businesses in your local area

• Check out the competition

• Connect with other business owners

• Conduct a variety of business analysis scenarios

• Create marketing plans

• Look up similar businesses in your local area

• Check out the competition

• Connect with other business owners

ReferenceUSA: About us. (n. d.). Retrieved December 12, 2012 from http://www.referenceusa.com/Static/AboutUs

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Contact OCLS with questionsContact OCLS with questions

• Call:– 1-800-521-1848

• Email:– http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls/oclsform.html

• Call:– 1-800-521-1848

• Email:– http://www2.indwes.edu/ocls/oclsform.html

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