Halloween is fast approaching. That can be particularly scary because that also means there are only two months left in 2017. Have you started making your business plans for 2018? To achieve strategic growth, it takes research. Access/Information has over 30 years of experience providing customized intelligence for business executives and attorneys. In addition, we have published a number of free resources that can help you with your plan for the future:

We live in a digital age, where information and data abounds. Customers are more knowledgeable now than ever before. How well do you know your customers? Are you tracking your customer experiences through a CRM system?

Defining market focus is far trickier than product focused marketing. When you are targeting manufacturing market segments, it is important to know what your target client group really needs. Do you have a strategy in place that will achieve long-term growth?

There are few better motivators to employers, than avoiding the high cost of safety related penalties or workplace injuries. However, there is no bigger motivator for safety related products and services than when your facility is found non-compliant. For suppliers of products that can prevent workplace injuries or being cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a good way to target potential customers is to understand trends in workplace injuries, including industry concentrations or occupations in which injuries that your product or service could prevent.

Do you know that the government is required to contract a certain amount of their projects to small businesses? Many of small businesses are interested in contracting with the government but are unsure of how to go about the process.

Many companies look to grow their business by entering into new geographic markets or serving customers in new downstream industries. Market expansion can help diversify your offerings and lead to company growth. However, if the market is not properly vetted to identify a significant need, it can also lead to loss of revenue and failure of your investment.

There are many advantages to using distributors to market and sell your products. Establishing a distribution network can help you reach more customers and increase the value of your products. However, finding the right distributor to represent your brand is essential.

The Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to request access to records from federal agencies that are not publicly available. You can put in a request any time you think that a federal agency has information that you might need for your business operations or for possible litigation.

No matter the size, an organization’s success is dependent upon how effective its sales efforts are. The type of team you have in place selling your products or services play a large role in the growth or decline of your company.

Are There Giants in Your Backyard? Competitive pressures are inherent to the business environment. However, there are some market players that contain so much market share that competing with them on any level seems insurmountable.

In North America, the IoT smart building market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% to reach $5.74 billion 2020. With increased adoption and connectivity, comes an elevated risk for security breaches. Is enough being done to protect your assets?

There are certain employee benefits that are required by law. The types of optional benefits that you offer can impact a potential employee’s decision about whether to accept a job with your company or may affect retention of current employees.