How To Quickly Learn About Companies
How do you quickly ascertain how legitimate a company might be? Most companies are not well-researched and lack standardized or verified information, making it hard to tell how strong or weak a company is.
In this guide, we explain how to research this, based on our experience analyzing hundreds of companies over the past decade, including:
- What to keep in mind first
- Why to start with LinkedIn
- What 3 key elements to check for on LinkedIn
- How to use a LinkedIn premium feature to show trends
- Why and how to check physical addresses and phone numbers
- How to check who owns the company's web domain
- How to check if a company is publicly traded and how to use that
- Why online company revenue estimators should be ignored
- What are the best options for determining / finding revenue
- How to analyze manufacturer revenue claims
- What 2 key things to keep in mind when reading manufacturer websites
- How to use employee reviews (both in the West and China)
- How to use import records
- How to search for company statements in two less commonly searched options
- Plus, take the 20-question quiz to test and reinforce what you learned
Don't ***** ******* ******* ** ********* *********
**** ***** ** ******* ** * company's ******* *** **** ** *****. A *******, **** *** ********* *********, presents **** * ******* ***** ** be ****** **** **** ** **. Some ********* *** **** ********** ** their *********, ****** *** **** **, and ******* ******* **** ***** *** companies, ** ** **** ** ** certain ******* **** *** ** ******* at ********** **** *********** ******** ** inflated ******.
** ********, ** *****, ** ** better ** **** *** *********** **** is *** ******** ** *** ******* itself, **** **** ** ** **** likely ** ********** ********* *** *******'* position.
Starting **** ********
********** *** **** ***** ** ***** typically ***** ** ****** *** **** how **** ********* * ******* ***, and (**** * **** ****) *** trends ** ********** *** * ******* over *** **** * *****. **** is ******** ******* **** ************* ***** how ***** * ******* ** (** employees) ***** ********** ****** *** ** excellent ********* ** *** ****** *********** of * *******.
***** ********* ************ ******** **** ***** LinkedIn ******* *** *** ********, ** our ********** ** ********** ******** ** companies, ******** ** ********* **** ******** and * *** **** ******** ********* than * *******'* *** *********.
********* ***** ******* *** * ******** profile, ** *** **********. * ******* without *** ** ****** ** ** illegitimate (** *** ******** *** *** wrong ****, ****** ******-***** ****, *.*. there *** ****** ** ********* ***** 'Milestone' *** ****** * ***** '********* Systems' ** *****):
*** **** ************* ******** **** * ******* ***? One *** ** **** **** ** considered '*****' ** '*****' *** * given ******** (*.*., * ****-***** ******* like *** ** ***** *** ~*,*** employees ***** *** ***** **** **** companies ******* ~***,*** *********). **** *** have **** ***** ** ***** (**** we **** ***** ** ********** *********), you *** ***** ****** ********** *********** of *** **** / ***** ** a *******.
*** *** ***** * *******'* ******** profile **** *** *********:
**.
***** ** * **** ** ***** for ********** *********:
- ***** ** *********: **** ** * very ***** ***** ** * **** tiny ******* **** ** ******** ** have ************ ******** ***********. ** ** simply **** **** *** * ******* with ** *** ********* ** ** able ** ** ****. ** ****** skeptical ** *** ****** **** **** companies ****** **** **** **** ****** backgrounds (***** ** ******* *****).
- ** ** ** *********: **** ** a ***** ********** *******. **** ***** be ****** ** * ***** *** even **** **** ******* ** * yellow **** ****** *** ******* ** very *****. ******* ********** ** ********* here.
- ** ** *** *********: ** **** range, * ******* ** ******** *** size ***** ** *** **** ****** scale *** ********* ** ** *********** in * *****, ****** ** ** still * ***** *******. **** **** level *** **, * ***** ****** will ** ******** ****** ** ******** growth (** *******).
- *** ** *,*** *********: ******* ******** for *** *** ** *,*** ********* as *** ** ** *** ***** though ******* **** *** ********* ********* a ******* *** *** **** ***** of *******. *******, ** *****, ******** trends ** ******** ****** (** *******) is ********* ** **** ** *** company ** ***** ** *****, ********* or ********* *************.
- *,*** *********: ***** **** ********* **** almost ****** **** ** ***** * thousand ** ********* ** ********* ** the ***** ****** ** ***** ********* across *** ***** ******** * ***** number ** *********.
**** ** ***** ********* (********** **********) do? **** ** ********** ********* *** smaller *********, *.*., ***** **** ** or ***** *********, ** ***** *** marketing **** **** *** ************* ****** but *** ******** *** ****** ** educational ********** *** ****. ** *** company ****** ** ** * ****-**** startup **** ** ** / '**** learning' *********, ***** **** ** ** at ***** * *** ****** ********** team ******* **** ******** ********* (***, CS, ******** ******, ***.). ** *** company *** **** ** *** **** technical ****** **** **********-**** ************** ****** (e.g., ****, ****, ***.) ***** ******** to ******* ******** ** **, ***** are *** *****.
****** **** ***** ****** / ***** on ********: ** * ****** ** ***** LinkedIn, ** ****** ****** *** ******* company **** **** *** *********** *** execs ** ********. ***** ******** ** less ********** ** ********* *********, ***** legitimate ******* ** **** **** ******** had **** ********* ********* ******* ** LinkedIn. ** * ******* **** ***, regardless ** *** ******* ** ******** claims, *** ******* ** ****** **** relabelling ********* **** ** *** **** very **** ******** ******* ******** ** outside ***********.
Employee ****** *****
***** ********* **** *** ***** ** claims ***** ******, *** ******* ** company ****** *** ********* ** ********* by ******** ******** ****** ** ********. Indeed, ****** ******** '********' **** ***** reveal **** ********* *** ************, *****, or **** ******** *********** *********** ********.
*** *******, **** ** ********* ***'* chart, *** **** **** ** **** a ******* *** **** ** ******** (most ** ** *** ** ***-****) as *** ******* ***** ***********:
** ********,****** ** / *****, * ******* that ***** **** ********* *** ************ * ******** ******** ***** **** shows * ************* **** ** ***-****:
****, *** ****** ** ***** ***** interestingly ***** ******** ****** *** **** for *** **** * ****** ***** could ** ** ********* ** ******* (well-funded ****-****** ********* ********* **** ******** growth **** *-***** **** ******).
******, * **** ****** ******** ***** for ****** ** ***** * ***** decline ** *********:
** **** **** ** * ******:****** ******* ******, **** *****
******* ******* ** *******:
**** ***** ***** *******'* *** ****** decelerating, ***** ** ********* *** ****** monitor, ** **** ***** *** ******** changes ** ********, ********* ** ******* problems (****** ***** ******** **** ******* further ********).
*******, * *** ****** ************ ********* ******* $***+ ********** ***** ****** *** ********* ****** at ********** ******* *****:
*** ********** ** **** **** ** a **** ******** ******* ******* ~$** per *****. ** *** *** ********* analyzing *********, **** ** **** ***** it. ** *** **** **** *********** on * ********** ******* *** *** always *** **** ** *** ******** or ** * **********.
Checking ******* ******** *******
**** *** **** * ***** ** who ***** ** * ******* (** not), *** ***** ***** *** ****** look *** ** * ******* ******* is *** *******'* *******. ***** ** an ******* ** * '******** *******' whose '******' ** ** *** *********:
*******, * ***** ****** ***** ** is * ******* ******, *** ** actual ***:
**** ** **** ****** **** **** people ******* *** ** ********* * sign **** * ******* ** ****** a ******** ********.
******* *** ** ******** *** ** a '*******' ** '*****' ** **** a ******* ** ** ******** *******. For *******, '****** ******' *********** *** **** ***** *** **** are:
*** ****** *** ******* ****** ****** lists *** ** ******* **** ** is *** **** ******** ** ***** Alarm:
** **** *********, ******** * ***** number *** ** *********. *** *******, a '*******' ***** '*********.**' **** *** **** ***** *** they *** ** ***** **** **** from. **** ** ********, **** ******* their **********. *** ****** ********* ****** phone ****** (*** ****-****) *** ** returns * ***** *** ***********:
************ *******, ***'*******' ** ********* ******* * *** LinkedIn *********** ******* ********* *** *** ******* their ******** **-**** ***** ** ***********.
Checking *** **** *** ******
***** ********* **** *** **** *** names ** ****** ** ********** ********** with *** *******. ****, ** ******, is * *** ****. *** *** to *** ** *** *** ** associated ** ** ***** * ***** domain ******. *******, ***** ******* *** be ********* ** ** ***** **** records *** **** ****** / ********* through *** *******'* *********.
** ** *******, *********://******************.***/, *** *******'* ********** ** ***** at **** *** ** ***** ** actual ****** *** ******. *******, ********** **** **** ***** *** *******, ***** *********, ** ******* **** the ****** *** ********** **:
**** * ******'* ****, ** *** now**** *** ******** ****** *** **** person:
*** *** ******* ****,**** ************* ******** ******* *** *******, ******* ** ** * ********* agency *** ******* *********:
Beware ****** ********* ********** (******* *** ************
***** ***** *** * ****** ** sites (**** *****, ********, *******, ***.) that ******** *******, ******* **** *** wrong, ** *** **********. ** ** not ***** ***** **** *** ***** data **** *** *** ********** **** are **** *** *** **** ** know **** ****** ******* *** **** from ******* ****** ***********. ** ** someone ***** *** "******* **** **** did $** ******* ** $*** ******* in ****", **** ****** **. ** could ** ***** *** **** ***** more ****** ** ** ********.
********** ** ***** **** ** ***** fundraising *** ** ********* *******, ********** for ******* *********. ********** ***** **** to ***** ******* *** ********* ** misses ****** ***** ***** ************* ************** the ***** ******. ** *** *** Crunchbase, ********** ** ** ******* ********* for *** *******'* **** + ******** the **** + ******* ****** **. This ******, ** *******, ****** * matching ***** ******* ***** **%+ ** the **** ********* ******** ***** ******* publicly.
Getting ********** - ********* ********
******* ********** ** ********* *** ******** for ***** *********, ** ***** ** North *******. ** ********, ** *** UK, **** ************* *****, ***** *** ****** ********* ******* on **** ** ********* ***, ** our **********, ******* *** **** ***** surveillance *********.
*** ******* **** ** ********* ** mega-Hikvision ** ******* *** *** *** financials ******** *********, *.*.,***** **** ****** *********** ******* ****** *** * ***** decline ** *******:
**** ** * *** ************** * *** ***** *** **** the ******* *** *****-******.
*******, **** ** ******** ********* *** 'exempt', *.*.,*** ********'* ********* *** **** ***** ****** *********.
***** ******** ********* **** ******** **********, e.g., *******, ******, *** ******* ***** have ******** ********** ********* ******* **********.
Publicly ****** *********
***** **** ********* *** *** ******** traded, ** ** ****** ***** ******** 30 ******* ** ****** ****** ***** company **** + "***** *****". ** it ** ******** ******, ********* ****** engines **** ******** ****** * ***** price ** * **** ** ***** one *** ***** **** ***** *** stock's ***** *******.
*** ****** *********** ** * ****** with ******** ****** *********:
(*) ***** ***** ***** ***** *** see *** ** ** ******** (**, down, ** **** ****, **** **** up, ***.). **** **** *********** ****** to *** ***** ** **** *******. For *******, **** *******'* ***** ***** that ********* **** **** ******* ***** the ***** *** ***** ** ***** the **** *****:
*** *** *** **** ******* **** why **** **** ******* *** **** suddenly ****** **** *****.
(*) **** *** *** *******'* ******** presentation. ** *** *** **** *** filings ********* *** *** ****, **** is **** **** ***** **** *** everyone ****** ***** **** *** *******'* periodic ******** *************. *** **** ** search *** ******* **** + "******** relations" (*.*.***** ******** ********* ******) *** **** **** *** **** is ******* ****** ** ******** ************, generally ** *** **** ** * powerpoint ************ ********* ** * *** that **** *** *** *******'* ********* positioning *** ********* (*.*.,*** ***** ****** **** ************).
(*) **** *** *** *******'* ******** call ***********. ***** *********** ***** ******* executives ** ****** ********* *** ******* go *** ******, ********* ******* ******* that *** *** ********* ******** ****. These ********* ******* * **** ************, which ** ********* *** ***** ****** to ********** * ******* ******.
Beware ************ **** ******** **********
************* ***** ****-****** ***** ********** *** in ***** ****. *** *******,***** *** ****:
***** *** ********, ***** ********* **** it *** ******** * **% ********** annual ****** **** **** *** **********
**** ***** **** **** ~** **** that **** *****. **** *** **** ************ *** *** *** *******:
*** ******* **** **** ** *********** the ******** *****. ** **** **** from $* ** $* *******, **** are ***** ****** ****. ** ** is $* ** $** *******, **** is **** *****. *******, ******* ******* the ******** ***** ** ** **** to *****.
****, ***** *** **** *** ******* specifically **** ****** ****. ** ** presumably ******* *** **** **** ******* it, *******, ***** ** ***** ******** or ******* ********* ** ***** *******. It ** **** ** **** **** a ****** ***** ** **** ** a ******* ** ***** ************ ** how **** ******* **** ****.
Reading ******* *******
*** **** **** ** ***** **** reading * ******* ******* ** **** companies ****** *** *** **** ********* (1) ******* *** (*) **** ******** information.
* ******* ********** **** ** **** BRS **** *** ********** **** ******. They ****** ** *** ***** ****** in '********', ***** **** ****** ******* assumed ** ******* *********** *** *** *******. *** **** *** ****** *** lying, ** ***** *** **********. *** problem *** **** ******** *** **** through, *** * ****** ** *******.
******* *******, ********* *** ***** ********** denied **** *** ******* ********** ** its *********** ***********. **** **** ** is********* ****
********* *** * ******* *** ** private *** ****** ************
**** ** * **** *********. **** do **** ******** ** ********* ************, including **** ******* ****. ** ** not * ***. ** ** **** highly ********** ***** *** ** ***** shareholders, *** '******' *** ** ***** controlling ***********:
Omitting ***********
*******, *** **** ****** ******* ******* practice ** *********. ********* **** ****** never ******* **** **** ** *** do ** ** ******, ******* ** up ** *** ** **** ** try ** ****** **** ***** ************ or ********* ***.
*** *** ********** ** ********* ***:
- *********** ** *** **** *************** ** the ******** - *.*., *** ******* may **** *** ******* **** **** do ******* * *** ****** **** anyone **** *** ** ***** **** out **** *** ******** ** **** it ***** *** **** ** **** works *** ****** ** ******* ************* conditions ** **** **** ******* ***** products **** *** **** *** ****, etc.
- *********** ** ***** ******** **** *** important ** ******. *** *******, ******* feature * *** ** *** *** away ****** *** *** **** *** material ********* ** *** **** ******* feature * *** **** *** **** features *, *, ** *, ** are **** ***** ** ******** *, E, *** *. *** **** ** think **** ******* ** *** ******* will ****** ***** **** **** *****.
Employee *******
******** ******* *** * **** *** to *** ******** **** *********. *** downside ** **** **** ********* **** a ******* ** **** ********* ********* have ****** ******** ******* *** ** to ** ********** / ******.
** *** ****,*********** *** **** **** *** ******* employee *******. * ***** *******: ********** **** ** *** * ****** stream ** ******** ******** ******** *******. ***** ** ** ******* ** such * ******:
**** ******** ******* **** ***** ** us, ******** *** **** ****** ***** leave * ******** ******. *** **** is **** (***** ********* **** **** monitor, ****** *** **** **** *******). However, ** *** ***** ** ********** company ********* *******, ** ***** **** they ******** ********* **** ****** ******** issues.
** *****, *** ********* ********** *********.***(看准, ** ***** ** *******). **** is*** ********* ******* ****.
Import *******
****** ******* *** ** **** ******* in ************* *** * *******'* ********* or ********* ***.
*** *******, ***'* *** *** **** to **** **** ***** ******* ************ TVT, *** ** ********** ********* ***** their *********. **** ** ** ******* of ***** ****** *******:
**** ***** **** ** ***** ********* but *** *** *** **** *********** who ******* ********** ********* **. *******,******** **** **** ******* *-***, * ******* ******** ********. **** for *** **** *********** *** ******** shows **** *** *** ******* ************:
********, *** *** *** ** *** companies *** ***, **** ** ******* Watchdog, ***** *******, *** *******:
** ***************, * ************ *******, ** ** our ********. ***** *** **** **** services, ****************, *** ** **** ***** **** to **** ******* *** ***** ***********. ImportGenius *** **** ***** ******** **** this ****** $*** ** ******** ** dollars *** *****. *******, *** ******* of ************ ** **** ***** ** we *** ****** ** ********* ** track, ** *.*., **** ********* ***** * *** ******** ** Juarez ******, ***., ** *** ** *****.
* ******* ********** ** ***** ******** is **** ** ** ******** *** companies ** **** ***** ****** *******. For *******, ** ******* ****** *********, dba ***** ***, *** **** ** 2018 ** **** **** **** ******* shipping ******* ** ******* ******* ** nothing, ******* ********* ********** ** **** / ******.
Company ********** - ********
******* ********** ********* ** ******** **** reveal ****** ******** *********** ** ********** about *** *******'* *********** ** **********. Search *** ************ **** ** ******* name + "*******" ** "***" ** "executive" *** *******.
*** ******** ** **** ******** *** be ** ******* ** ** ****, which ***** **** ****. ******* *** can **** ** ***** **** ** is ** ****** ** **** ** 1.5x ***** ** ****** **** ** Otter.ai ** ******** * ********** *** then **** ******* *** ********** *** the **-********* *******.
** * *****, *** ***** ***** more ***** *** *********** ** *** founder *** **** **** ********* (*** they **** ******* **** *******, ******, sales, *********, ***.)
Company ********** - ***** ************
********, ********* ********* *** ******* ** local ************ *** *** ******* *** feel **** *********** ******* ******* **** them. ********* *** ******* **** *** HQ ******** *** ****** **** ********. For *******,**** *** ******* ** *** ***** publication** *** **** ********.
** *** **, *** **** ****** cited ***** ******** *********** ** "*** ******** ********" ***** *** ******** ****** ** cities. ** *** **********, **** ** those ***** **** ******* ** ********* have ********** ******** *********** *** ******** elsewhere *** ********* **** ** ****** help. *** *******, **** ****, ** found****'* ******* ** * ******* ********** listing.
Employee ******** **** ************
**** ***** *** ******** **** **** and ****** ** **** ******* *** it *** ********* ****** ******** *********** available ******* **** ********.
********* ************ **** ******* ** ***** job *********** ** ******** **** *** company *** *** ********* ********. *** example, * *** ***** *** ****** refused ** ******** *** **** *** where ** ****** ******* *** ** checked *** ***'* ******** *** *********** bragged ***** **:
***** *** *** ******** ******* ** when ** ***** ******, ** **** able ** ****** ** **** ** he ********* ** *** ** ******* information ******* ************* **** ** -****** ****** $** ******* **** *** China *********.
******* ******* ** ******** ******* ******* ****** *** ********* Challenges *********** ********* *** *** ******* *** moving **** **** ********** ** ******:
*******, **** ******** ******** **** *** reveal **** ********* *********** ** ********* for **** ***** **** ****** ** meaningful ***********.
20 ******** ****
**** *** **-******** ****** **** *** ********* **** *** learned