1. Select industry using IbisWorld.
2. Use SWOT analyses in Business Source Premier to find strengths and weaknesses about a model company in your industry.
3. Find trends and competitive environment in IbisWorld and Mergent Online.
4. Identify professional associations and mine their web sites for regulatory issues, legal matters, and (sometimes) marketing data.
5. Research government information and Economic Census data using NAICS codes
To see both sides of regulatory issues, look at the relevant Federal agency and Congress as well as at trade associations.
Trade and professional association web sites contain:
trends and forecasts, news, government relations, regulatory concerns, and new technological developments. Some may provide market data and sales statistics -- look for links called "research" or "data".
Use IBISWorld and Google to identify trade associations.
Step #1 - Define the industry with a NAICS code. Manufacturing? Retail? Service? Agriculture? Construction?
Step #2 - Find industry and market research
Step #3 - Learn about your target market and customers
Step #4 - Investigate trade association data
Step #5 - Research government economic statistics and data
Step #6 - Read industry news
Step #7 - Evaluate industry ratios and costs