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The Knowledge - The Resource - Marketing

What kind of information do you need?

Customer care

ACT!
Contact management software including contacts, calendars, and to-do lists for small and medium-sized organisations.
W: www.act.com
Activia
Customer care training - bespoke training on your premises or at offices in Slough (Berks).
W: www.activia.co.uk
Adelphi Associates
Their courses include customer care training. Quality recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management.
W: www.adelphi-associates.co.uk
CRM (UK) Ltd
Customer relationship specialist. Profile, services, clients, forum and downloadable information sheets.
W: www.crmuk.co.uk
Customer service videos
Free preview on training videos.
W: www.atsmedia.com
Customer Champion Institute
Provides consulting, training, and publication services to improve customer relationships and loyalty.
W: www.customerchampion.com
Customer Service Benchmarking Association
Association of companies that conducts benchmarking studies to identify the best practices surrounding customer service issues that improve the overall operations of the members.
W: www.csbenchmarking.com
Destination CRM
Assisting in the development of customer-centric e-business initiatives and ventures in technology, communications, finance, retail, advertising, and healthcare industries.
W: www.destinationcrm.com
eCRMGuide
Customer relationship management in the E-Business World.
W: www.ecrmguide.com
eLoyalty
Focuses on building customer loyalty for Internet, call centres, marketing channels, sales force optimisation, customer service, and field service and logistics.
W: www.eloyalty.net
European Centre for Customer Strategies
More than just an information portal, ECCS is a total business support system and a reference site for everybody involved in gaining, keeping and growing customers. Membership to ECCS is free.
W: www.eccs.uk.com
John Seymour Management Training
Includes customer service training
W: www.managementtraining.uk.com
Learning Curve
Tailored training courses in customer service and customer care for UK companies. Also includes a growing collection of 'How to' articles.
W: www.yourlearningcurve.co.uk
Multi-active Software
Customer relationship management and contact management software with sales force automation, marketing automation, customer service, and e-commerce tools for small and medium-sized businesses.
W: www.multiactive.com

Online customer service
Provides 24-hour online customer service for online businesses who lack in-house resources. Offers the opportunity to test websites and gives live support.
W: www.dmsupport.com
Performance in People
Complete solutions for clients looking to improve customer service.
W: www.performanceinpeople.co.uk
Practical Training for Professionals (PTP)
Customer care training. Available in 50 UK cities from PTP. Group or bespoke in-house training.
W: www.ptp.co.uk
Sales Force
Online customer relationship management (CRM) service delivering customer support, help desk, marketing reporting and analysis, best-of-breed sales force automation, and leads management.
W: www.salesforce.com
Service Quality Institute
Offers a variety of services, including online store, discussion forums, articles and tips, news, press releases and free newsletter.
W: www.customer-service.com
Skill4
Training to build relationships with customers so that you can keep them and their business.
W: www.skill4.com

Market research

Beacon Technologies Ltd
Interactive customer surveys for customer satisfaction research.
W: beacontouch.com
Custom Insight Internet Surveys
Create and administer Internet-based surveys for any purpose. Ideal for customer satisfaction surveys, employee satisfaction surveys, 360 feedback, market research.
W: www.custominsight.com
Custom market research
UK branch of the largest custom market research consultancy. Contact details and link to their main site.
W: www.research-int.com
Customer Service Measurement
Want to know what your customers really think of you? Want to find new avenues for business? Better Business magazine use these guys to do their customer surveys and get a great response.
T: 0870 950 2445
E: oakleigh@customerservicemeasurement.com
W: www.customerservicemeasurement.com
FreePint
A network of thousands of global information researchers. Post your tricky research questions or sign up for newsletters.
W: www.freepint.com
Fresh Minds
A research company providing companies with fast and accurate market research and analysis, carried out by their bank of Minds, a collection of graduates, MBAs and PhDs from top universities supported by a team of in-house project managers.
W: www.freshminds.co.uk
Growth from Knowledge - NOP Research Group
One of the world's largest market research and business information companies, offering both custom and syndicated research.
W: www.gfknop.co.uk
Infoseek
Full service agency with experience in consumer and b2b markets. Specialists in researching customer behaviour and buying procedures.
W: www.infoseekmarketresearch.co.uk
IRN
Provides market research and business information consultancy to large and small organisations across a broad range of industry sectors.
W: www.irn-research.com
Jupiter Communications
Market research and analysis on the consumer online industry.
W: www.jupiterresearch.com
Keynote
Specialist online publishers of market information reports, all of which are listed on the site along with details of additional services they offer.
W: www.keynote.co.uk
Market Research Society
With over 8,000 members in more than 50 countries, The Market Research Society is the world's largest international membership organisation for professional researchers and others engaged or interested in market, social and opinion research. All members agree to comply with the MRS Code of Conduct, which is supported by the Codeline advisory service and a range of specialist guidelines on best practice.

Need to find a research agency? Then use its Research Buyer's Guide. It also has a Geodemographics Knowledge Base for sources of demographic information and Census news.
15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR, UK.
T: 020 7490 4911
F: 020 7490 0608
E: info@mrs.org.uk
W: www.mrs.org.uk
M4 Business Resource
For information about companies, products, market, legislation, etc. Used by business start-ups to inform their planning, by businesses large and small to broaden their client base, source goods and servies. (The organisation is a partnership venture between the University of Bath in Swindon and Swindon Borough Council.)
T: 01793 328 832
E: enquiries.info@m4br.org.uk
W: www.m4br.org.uk
Market research links
Resource for links to suppliers of market research, through a database of agencies and consultants as well as news and events.
W: www.mrweb.com
Market research toolbox
Specialises in top-line international market research. All data is compiled in house by an international team of research experts.
W: www.snapdata.com
Online research
Specialist online research agency; focusing on and/or utilising the Internet.
W: www.virtualsurveys.com
Online surveys
Write or post surveys and questionnaires online. Bar graphs and deep analysis.
W: www.communitypoll.com
Quantitative research
Internet market research firm providing customized quantitative research.
W: www.questus.com
Research statistics
Provides free access to a database of research statistics for IT marketing.
W: www.infotechtrends.com/freedemo.htm
RE5ULT
They search the Internet and other sources to supply customers with must-have information. Send your question to RE5ULT via text message from your mobile, by e-mail or directly to the pool of experts online and receive an answer quickly using the same medium.
W: www.re5ult.co.uk
Webside Story
Updated daily and based on stats from over 65,000 sites. Everything from search engines to browsers.
W: www.statmarket.com
Target Group Index
One of the largest UK agencies. Owners of the - TGI - portfolio of surveys. Expansive site which includes access to their free knowledge archive.
W: www.tgisurveys.com
Varinternational
Provides a full service market research facility for both business to consumer and business to business needs.
W: www.varinternational.com
Web usage
Information on website usage, Internet access, and advertising data.
W: www.nielsen-netratings.com
Youth research
Specialists in youth research. Concise site with tasters of example research and commentary.
W: www.act2.co.uk

Zoomerang
Business Market Research. Online survey software allows users to create and send surveys.
W: www.Zoomerang.com

Mailing lists

BRAD (British Rate & Data) Direct Marketing
Publishes a 'list of lists', and list brokers, the middlemen who can advise you. Available in business libraries.
W: www.brad.co.uk
Lists & Data Sources
The complete guide to mailing lists.
8a New Road, Mepal, Cambs, CB6 2AP, UK
T: 08700 629 299
F: 08700 629 298
E: info@ladsonhouse.com
W: www.ladsonhouse.co.uk
List-Link Network
Available online, the List-Link Network keeps you abreast of all commercially available mailing lists, new and old along with their respective managers
PO Box 6378, Derby, DE73 1XS, UK
T: 01332 86 56 52
F: 01332 86 55 72
E: info@list-link.net
W: www.list-link.net
Thomson Directories, also called Business Search Pro
Access to the Thomson Directories database of 2 million UK business listings. Anyone can perform searches and counts online for free and see a sample Hitlist of the first 5 listings resulting from a search. You can search by any combination postcode, type business, turnover, number of staff etc, to build your own mailing/contact list. (No good on Firefox - Use Internext Explorer.)
Thomson House, 296 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7NU
T: 0845 963 6261
F: 01252 390 578
E: bsp@thomsonlocal.com
W: www.businesssearch.co.uk
Yellow Pages
Comprehensive online classified information system listing UK businesses.
W: www.yell.co.uk

Other list sources
  • Conference attendance lists;
  • Directories;
  • Magazine and membership subscription lists;
  • Relevant trade associations;
  • Suppliers of a given product or service;
  • Yellow Pages and Thompson in your area;
  • List brokers (in Yellow Pages).


Offline and online marketing

Adwords Campaigns
Siserone provide Google Adwords campaigns that can be tailored to suit your budget, as well as full online strategic planning, web design and ecommerce services. Call to discuss your precise requirements.
T: 0118 9545 143
W: www.siserone.co.uk
LocalKnowledge
An online tool for ranking, mapping, comparing and profiling over 400 local areas of Britain on over 150 economic, social and environmental indicators. Subscription based.
W: www.localknowledge.co.uk
Marketing File
Provides business and consumer mailing lists, and mailing list cleaning.
W: marketingfile.com
Marketing Online
Offers many useful resources.
W: www.marketing-online.co.uk
Time to Market
Contains information on planning services including product development, programme management and distribution strategies. Includes a work-skills section and downloads.
W: www.timetomarket.co.uk
Web 4 Marketing UK
Offers free online audits and Web marketing advice.
W: www.web4marketing.co.uk

Podcasting

Podcasting is the latest craze for distributing audio or video programmes over the internet using syndication feeds, for playback on Apple's iPod. Podcasting is a useful tool for businesses, too, in terms of learning and marketing. Here's a bunch of Podcast-related resources.

Producing Podcasts

AudBlog
A service that provides bloggers with the ability to post audio to their blogs from any phone.
W: www.audblog.com
Audioblog
Podcast, audioblog and videoblog creation tool.
W: www.audioblog.com
Audioblogger
Free unlimited audio posts from any phone to your Blogger blog (long distance charges may apply). Each entry limited to five minutes.
W: www.audioblogger.com
Corante
Podcasting. Weblog with news and events related to Podcasting.
W: http://podcasting.corante.com
Podcasting News
Information relating to Podcasting, a Podcast directory and a user forum.
W: http://www.podcastingnews.com
Podcasting Tools
This site is a comprehensive Podcasting resource detailing everything you need to know about Podcasting.
W: www.podcasting-tools.com
Wikipedia
Podcasting. Encyclopedia entry covering basics of the topic.
W: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

Podcast Tutorials, Guides and FAQ's

E-cademy Podcasting Club
W: http://snipurl.com/wgpu
Electric LarryLand
Why do, how to, what is Podcasting? Podcast covering many Podcasting details on setting up a studio and publishing the results.
W: http://www.electriclarryland.com/?p=24
Hacks O'Reilly
Make Your First Podcast guide.
W: http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/4552
How to create your own podcast
A step-by-step tutorial by radio guide Corey Deitz.
W: http://snipurl.com/lxtm
How To Podcast
Free Podcasting tutorial with step-by-step instructions in everyday English (also includes video tutorials).
W: http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com
Macworld
Start your own Podcast. 'It's surprisingly easy to join the ranks of Podcasters. In fact, you probably already have most of what you need.'
W: www.macworld.com/2005/04/secrets/junecreate/index.php
MacZealots
Podcasting 101. The history of Podcasting, how to listen to Podcasts, and some resources.
W: http://maczealots.com/articles/podcasting
Voxmedia
How to Podcast. Summary with links to additional material.
W: www.voxmedia.org/wiki/How_to_Podcast

Podcast Directories and Resources

Audible
UK Podcast directory and audio shop.
W: http://www.audible.co.uk
Digital Podcast
Directory site with Podcast listings, news and forums.
W: www.digitalpodcast.com
Feed Shark
Submit your Podcast feed to numerous directories free.
W: http://feedshark.brainbliss.com
HyperPodcast
Podcast registry and archive provides search, download and catalogue feeds.
W: www.hyperpodcast.com
I-Podder
Searchable Podcast directory.
W: http://ipodder.org
ITunes
You can download and submit your own Podcasts on Apple's iTunes.com - where it all started.
W: http://www.itunes.com
Podcast Blaster
Learn about Podcasts and make your own.
W: http://www.podcastblaster.com
Podcast Bunker
Directory of high quality Podcasts, 30 second previews of Podcasts and a Podcast quick guide.
W: http://podcastbunker.com
Podcasting Directories
Categorised collection of Podcasts.
W: http://directory.pocketcasting.com
The Podcast directory.
W: http://www.podcast.net
Podcast directory with listings by category.
W: http://www.podcastdirectory.com
Podfeed
Categorised collection of Podcasts with a simple interface to listen to them via a web browser.
W: http://www.podfeed.net
Pod Safe Audio
Ranks independent music under the Creative Commons license for Podcasting.
W: http://www.itunes.com
Small Biz Pod
The UK's first small business Podcast. Interviews and practical advice for small business, start-ups and entrepreneurs.
W: http://podsafeaudio.com
UK Podcasts
A directory of Podcasts with UK-focused content and UK-based Podcasts.
W: www.ukpodcasts.info
Yahoo! Groups
Yahoo! Groups : Podcasting announcements for those who want to promote their Podcasts.
W: http://snipurl.com/wgqz

Public Relations

ACPR
Offers a complete range of PR services for businesses, as well as tools that help you do your own PR.
W: www.acpr.co.uk
All That Women Want
Our aim is to bring together the very best of the web for women and children to save you having to search for it.
W: www.allthatwomenwant.com
Click Profiles
Searchable directory of links to company profiles of interest to UK journalists.
W: www.cp.prpn.com
Corporate Responsibility PR
OCS - A PR consultancy specialing in corporate responsibility PR.
W: www.onlyconnectsolutions.com
CyberSavvy
Online PR resource from CyberSavvy.
W: www.webpr.co.uk
Divine Publicity
Traditional PR company specialising in UK women's market - great if you no longer have the time to do the PR yourself.
W: www.divinepublicity.com
DIY PR
Do Your Own PR. Free newsletter to get your PR right.
W: www.doyourownpr.com
How to get free publicity
101PublicRelations.com is designed to give you the information you need to publicize your business to the press and other sources yourself.
W: 101publicrelations.com
Loquax
Add your competitions and let the visitors roll in.
W: www.loquax.co.uk
Newsnext
Free editorial forward planning tool for journalists and public relations professionals.
W: www.newsnext.com
PR Finder
prfinder.com - Dynamic directory of UK and global PR resources.
W: www.prfinder.newsnext.com
PR Press Network
A directory of UK PR resources.
W: www.prpn.com
PR Secrets
Everything you need to know about PR from experts.
W: www.PRsecrets.co.uk
PR Training Centre
The PR Training Centre provides One-day Masterclasses in Public Relations, Marketing and Web Marketing to delegates from a wide range of commercial and non-commercial organisations. .
W: www.theprtrainingcentre.com
Press Blast
Free guide to using press releases.
W: www.pressblast.com
Publicity Insider
Free tips and insider secrets about getting publicity.
W: www.publicityinsider.com
Radio Media
How to get radio publicity.
W: www.radio-media.com
Restaurant PR Company
Helping you get publicity for your restaurant, bar or hotel.
W: www.therestaurantprcompany.co.uk

Publications and Associations

Chartered Institute of Public Relations
W: www.cipr.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Marketing
W: www.cim.co.uk
PR Week Magazine
W: www.prweek.com/uk

Press Release Services and Contacts

ClickPress
E Worldwire
UK press release distribution.
W: www.eworldwire.co.uk Free press release distribution.
W: www.clickpress.com/releases
Journalism GB
Get your press releases written by professional business journalists.
W: www.journalism.gb.com
Press Dispensary
UK press release writing service.
W: www.pressdispensary.co.uk
PR Free
Free press release distribution.
W: www.PRFree.com
PR Newswire
News distribution, targeting and monitoring.
W: www.prnewswire.com
PR Web
Press release distribution service.
W: www.prweb.com
PressBox
Add your press release to this free database.
W: www.pressbox.co.uk
Response Source
Response Source is a suite of services to help PR professionals gain media coverage.
W: www.responsesource.com
SourceWire
SourceWire is the definitive online resource for tech and business journalists. Submit your press releases.
W: www.sourcewire.com
Webit PR
Online news release distribution and monitoring service.
W: www.webitpr.com

Industry Info and Resources

Audit Bureau of Circulations
The certified circulation figures for UK newspapers and magazines.
W: www.abc.org.uk
Media UK
A directory of UK media.
W: www.mediauk.com

PR Agencies and Media Training

Approved PR Companies
Approved PR companies in your area.
W: www.approvedprcompanies.co.uk
Media Mentor
Building confidence for company spokespeople.
W: www.media-mentor.co.uk
Media Trust
Tailored media training.
W: www.mediatrust.org/advice/tailored_training
Blue Click PR
Hints and tips for talking to the media.
W: www.blueclickpr.com/downloads/mediarelations.doc

Networking

Networks and Forums

ADP
ADP - The Association of Disabled Professionals.
W: www.adp.org.uk
B-Gateway
Women's business networking.
W: www.bgateway.com
BNI Europe
With over 4,200 active chapters and 84,000 members, Business Network International is the most successful business referral organisation in the world.
W: www.bni-europe.com
Business Mix
Where business owners can mix business with pleasure.
W: www.businessmix.co.uk
Business Owners Coaching Club
Coaching, courses, newsletter, forums, articles and more for small business owners.
W: www.businessownerscoachingclub.com
Business Referral Exchange
Business Referral Exchange (BRE) hosts weekly meetings in hundreds of locations right across the UK.
W: www.brenet.co.uk
Business Startup Community
Free networking in Cardiff with the Business Startup Community.
W: www.startupcommunity.co.uk
Cornish Networking
A Cornwall-based networking organisation.
W: www.snipurl.com/12bll
Dorset Networking
Online networking for Dorset business people.
W: www.dorsetnetworking.co.uk
Ecadamy
Ecademy's cause is 'to build the world's largest trusted business network by connecting people to each other'.
W: www.snipurl.com/ecademyonline
Edward Lowe Foundation
Provides networking and other information services, helping business owners discover how to take their companies to the next level.
W: www.edwardlowe.org
Herefordshire Networking
Business networking in Hertfordshire with G9.
W: www.g9networking.co.uk
Impact Factory
A course designed to develop good networking skills.
W: www.impactfactory.com
Linkedin
An instant online network of more than 8 million experienced professionals from around the world.
W: www.linkedin.com
London Networking Expo
London Networking Expo - 'The ultimate business networking experience'.
W: www.londonnetworkingexpo.com
New Acadamy of Business
New Academy of Business, networking section.
W: www.new-academy.ac.uk/networking
Networking 4 Business
Networking 4 Business is a networking organisation which runs events so you can meet other owners.
W: www.networking4business.com
Networking For Success
Networking for success workshop.
W: www.networkingforsuccess.co.uk
Networking To Win
Sure-fire secrets to get more from networking.
W: www.networkingtowin.com
NRG
Effective business lunch-time networking events designed to do help you build better business relationships. Plus tips on how to network effectively. W: www.nrg-networks.com
Northants Networking Team
A business networking team in Northants.
W: www.networkingteam.co.uk
OpenBC
OpenBC is based on the idea of making contacts of contacts visible to members and in turn to integrate these contacts within a member's own network.
W: www.openbc.com
Six Degrees
Six Degrees business network group.
W: www.sixdegreesnetwork.com
Scottish CBS Network
Community Business Scotland.
W: www.cbs-network.org.uk
Scottish NI
Scottish Networks International.
W: www.scottishni.org
Small Business Forum
Forum for small business owners around the world.
W: www.small-business-forum.com
Small Business Forums
The Small Business Community Forums.
W: www.smallbusinessforums.org
Speak First
Networking skills training courses.
W: www.speakfirst.co.uk/networking_g.aspx
Speed Networking
More London contacts than weeks of ordinary business networking.
W: www.speed-networking.net
Switchboards
Forum for creative independent business women.
W: www.theswitchboards.com
Teneric Business Forum
Forum for anything related to starting and developing a small business.
W: www.teneric.co.uk/forums
Three-step guide to online networking at ecademy
W: www.snipurl.com/12bm2
Thrive for Business
Thrive is a series of membership based networking clubs in Scotland designed to help grow your business.
W: www.thriveforbusiness.co.uk
Tips on how to network
W: www.snipurl.com/12bl9
UK Business Scene
UK Business Scene is a growing network of networks that allows you to search geographically, by community or by industry for all relevant networks.
W: www.business-scene.com
UK Meeting Rooms
Networking in Bristol - free breakfast!
W: www.ukmeetingrooms.com
Wire
Wire - Women in Rural Enterpise.
W: www.wireuk.org
Women's Business Network
W: www.wbn.org.uk
Work From Home Network
News, reviews and forums for existing or potential homeworkers.
W: www.wfhn.co.uk
Young and Successful
Online community for young entrepreneurs.
W: www.youngandsuccessful.com
Young Business
A network for young entrepreneurs.
W: www.youngbusiness.net/entrepreneurs
Ziki
Networking, advice and connections.
W: www.ziki.com/people

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