Mystery shopping

Mystery shopping is widely used by companies to assess how well their service or product is being sold or marketed to the customer. But is it just an excuse for companies to snoop on their staff or does it help everyone work more efficiently? Here's how to get the most from it - even as a tiny company.

Harness geography and sell more

Geographical patterns are useful in business because they can help you pinpoint key market sectors in a far more accurate way than 'gut' feeling. An overview of how to harness geography in your business, and two simple and inexpensive software packages that could make your life easier.

How to find more profitable customers

There is a simple way to use the information you've gleaned about existing customers to find new ones.

How to leap-frog your rivals

Competition keeps you on your toes. To keep ahead of it means knowing precisely what it is up to. Here are 18 crunch questions to ask if you want to keep one, if not several, leaps ahead of your rivals.

Finding out lots for next to nothing - tips from a pro

Good information is vital to success in any business, especially about the market, trends and competitors. Yet it's not always necessary to spend thousands of pounds on professional market research surveys. Ask yourself these six key questions and you could find all the information you need right under your nose.

Finding information on the Internet

The Internet offers the largest, most accessible and quickest source of data ever known. There is information out there on almost every conceivable subject, a lot of which is free. The question is how and where to find the precise information you want... without getting drowned. An overview of the worldwide web, libraries and directories, and commercial services.

Do you know what your customers really think of you?

What you imagine your customers think about you may not be anything like what they actually think! Finding out the truth can stop you losing clients to the competition and can open up new opportunities. Here's how to find out more, painlessly.

How to find out other people's secrets

What you imagine your customers think about you may not be anything like what they actually think! Finding out the truth can stop you losing clients to the competition and can open up new opportunities. Here's how to find out more, painlessly.