There was a time when rigorous competitive intelligence was the sport of big companies with deep pockets and established market advantage.  Competitor profiles were created primarily through the routine perusal of SEC filings, newspaper articles and the constant communication exchange within sales networks. 

How times have changed! 

No longer are we limited to government filings, newspapers and verbal communication.  We can launch a Google search to get a fast read on competitor’s pricing, products, and customers.  We can review a year’s worth of Twitter feeds and learn who is a Follower and who is on the Following List.  With LinkedIn, we can comb through management and employee profiles, check on job postings, and recount a series of competitor events.  If we really want to start at ground zero, we can review competitors’ websites and blog posts.