Background
Every major market in the United States has at least one periodical business journal or business magazine. Nearly all of these business journals conduct proprietary research, and publish ranked lists of businesses across multiple industries throughout the year. They compile these lists (annually) into one publication, the Book of Lists, in both print and digital form. The digital format is typically an Excel download, a PDF, or an eBook.
Sales Implications
Business journals conduct proprietary research (i.e. individual surveys) throughout the year, in order to produce "Top Rank" lists of businesses across industries. As a result of this research, business journals end up with a highly current, accurate, and deep database of the "who's who" in business in their respective markets. Generally, businesses want to be included on the lists, because the lists provide a public forum for peer recognition, prestige, and "bragging rights," in addition to free and effective advertising. The business journals leverage these relationships to obtain deep business data that cant' be found elsewhere. From a sales/lead generation perspective, the Book of Lists database is a unique, accurate, current, and profound "street-level" view of the top businesses in a given region. This is not an exhaustive database, but rather a premium product. It is a powerful supplement to any national database subscription.
Significant traits of the Book of Lists:
- The Book of Lists usually contains 30 to 120 individual lists.
- Each list is typically around 25 records. (i.e. Top 25 Advertising Agencies)
- The Book of Lists traditionally has been a print-oriented product.
- The Book of Lists is often a top revenue-generating publication every year, for print advertising.
- Only within the last few decades has the Book of Lists adopted a digital component (Excel format.)
- A consumer can typically purchase a digital Book of Lists for between $99 and $499. This price tends to vary in proportion to the size of the market. $199 is a typical price.
- The Book of Lists is precious to marketers, researchers, and job seekers because it provides a timely and accurate snapshot of the top businesses in a local region, across industries. Book of Lists makes an excellent lead list for sales professionals.
- The Book of Lists provides contact information for the top businesses in a variety of industries. But it also ranks them according to objective criteria, and this is where the magic happens. It provides the characteristics by which these companies can be evaluated against one other.
- Buyers pay 3 to 5 times more for a digital (Excel) version of Book of Lists than they do for a copy of the print product.
- Businesses disdain to be left off of the lists, and many would take it as a personal affront. This dynamic ensures a high level of participation by relevant businesses per list.
Chicago, IL Book of Lists
Providence, RI Book of Lists
Tucson, AZ Book of Lists
Los Angeles, CA Book of Lists
... and many more.
Aggregators
Some businesses aggregate the digital versions of Book of Lists all in one place, for easy professional access.
DataJoe National Marketplace: http://www.datajoe.com
American Cities Business Journals: http://www.bizjournals.com/bookoflists/
Free Lists
The following Web site provides a large variety of free business rankings, from markets across the nation, that you can download in Excel. Downloading some of these lists will give you a feel for what kinds of lists are out there, and what kinds of data they contain.
http://www.datajoe.com/buy-lists/free-downloads/
