One of the resources we provide here at the British Library Business & IP Centre is free access to a number of business and intellectual property databases; helping entrepreneurs and businesses to research trends, markets and companies, and to utilise and protect their IP.

If you’ve ever wondered what the market trends are in a particular industry, how to write a business plan, or where to search for trademark registrations, then you can use our databases to find out. The databases are regularly updated and in a monthly blog series, we take a look at what’s new.

This month, we take a look at the eMarketer database, which provides international market research and trend analysis on internet, e-business, online marketing, media, mobile, and emerging technologies. eMarketer is particularly useful for those in a digital/technology focused industry or start-up, however, as most businesses now incorporate some element of ‘digital’ - from selling online, to social media - it also provides useful insights for entrepreneurs and employees across a number of sectors.

The reports bring together information from approximately 2,800 sources, including research firms, trade associations, consultancies, government agencies and universities. All research is globally focused and information is compiled into reports, charts, articles, interviews, webinars and newsletters. eMarketer is easy to search, with a versatile interface allowing both simple and/or complex search strategies. It’s particularly strong on data and statistics, with most reports including tables, charts and graphs.

Readers can download up to 10 reports per day.

eMarketer update their reports on a very regular basis, so there are lots of new ones each month. Some selected recent highlights are:

UK Holiday Shopping Preview: A Merry Season Forecast for Ecommerce

A look at UK ecommerce sales forecasts for the Christmas period, including statistics and trends. 

Healthcare Marketing to Baby Boomers: Helping the 'Forever Young' Age on Their Own Terms 

Examining the 'Baby Boomer' consumer demographic, with trends, issues and statistics. 

Digital Usage in the UK: Midyear 2014 Complete eMarketer Forecast

Comprehensive set of key metrics for the UK digital participation, including internet, mobile phones and social media users. 

UK Content Markeeting: Meeting the Challenge of Being Seen and Shared

Report looking at content marketing attitude and options, with a particular focus on the increasingly important role social media is playing in both its distribution and dissemination. 

Worldwide B2C Ecommerce: Q3 2014 Complete Forecast 

Comprehensive forecasts for business-to-customer ecommerce sales 

 

 

UK Cross-Channel Commerce: Keeping track of complex consumer journeys 

 

Report considering some of the current cross-channel behaviours UK shoppers and buyers display, their prevalence, and how retailers and marketers are trying - or failing - to keep up.

UK Social Networking Trends: Mobile is Becoming the New Normal 

Examining the size and composition of the social network user base in the UK, how these users are accessing the various platforms and what this means for marketers looking to reach them.