What is the best way to find site selection resources using the Web?

According to a 2005 survey report by one of the marketing advisors to places seeking site selection prospects, Development Counsellors International, 65% of senior-level corporate executives would likely use location data from websites. DCI also reported that ally networks of industry peers are ... the leading source of information influencing the executives ... (source).

The plethora of location data supplier websites available to the .network target audience today seems to bear out DCI's findings. The communications traffic between The Network and its users requesting delivery on its promise is additional proof that the surveys were reliable projectors, thus leading to the conclusion that the best way to find site selection resources is to search for networks providing accessible contact directories on the Web.

The Global Registry of Contacts is an example of a free-access directory. Users of The Network have an easy, search promise, path to contact data for resource and service providers.

The Regional Site Selection Directory is another example of a free-access directory.

The Network provides links to outside contact directories (for example).

Economic Development.net/Area Development specifically has links to location data suppliers.

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I tried the link you provide but could not access the file once I got there. Now what?

Send an email. Copy both the URL address string for the webpage where you found the problem along with the sentence containing the link. Paste both of these items in the memo section of your email. For solutions to other problems using The Network, CLICK HERE.

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What does it cost to advertise in the .network site selection guide?

We should point out that The Network focuses on networking rather than advertising and that, as a site selection guide, it is dedicated to serving both the economic development and enterprise development processes. Take a look at the description of our target user group. Advertising comes under the .network participation offerings. CLICK HERE for details and costs. A participant who leases a webpage has an advertising medium for personal use. Webpage sponsors are advertisers.

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How should employees be informed about their employer's relocation planning?

The first consideration should be the protection of confidential plans and activities. It makes a difference when there are legal concerns, such as contractual agreements with employees. The last thing management or a relocation team wants is for rumors to get started and employees or, for example, labor organizations begin taking action on their own to protect job security. Another consideration is for the relocation project leader to know who among employees as well as outside resource and service providers can be trusted. Generally outsiders called upon during a relocation project are the same as those used for site location assistance (see the answer to the question below about working discreetly with outsiders). Employees who have served the enterprise well but for whatever reason will not make the move deserve to be treated with respect and dealt with fairly. There is also the consideration for employees that an enterprise on the move wants to take along. A relocation checklist is available, CLICK HERE.

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Should enterprise developers work discreetly with resource and service providers?

Anyone with experience in planning and carrying out enterprise development projects successfully will tell you that confidentiality is important. Nothing says it better than loose lips sink ships! More often than not the site location process is one of potentially exposing confidential plans and activities surrounding the relocation or expansion of the operations of an enterprisesomething that owners don't want competitors to know about. Likewise, when there are site selection projects underway for starting up new ventures, enterprise developers and smart entrepreneurs do not want information to fall into the hands of those in position to torpedo plans. Remember: It's the responsibility of a site selector to protect the integrity of an enterprise development plan. Experienced site selection advisors know the process for building networks of reliable and trustworthy resource suppliers and service providers. Bottom line: Work discreetly while searching for site selection resources!

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Are site selectors able to contact The Network discreetly when needing assistance?

Absolutely! We (who we are) have arranged for enterprise developers and site selectors to email us by typing the identities of places of interest in their subject lines where they would normally type in their names. See the answer to the often asked question about the best way to find information about places throughout the world seeking economic development to learn more, or if you are interested in requesting that a location be listed in The Network, CLICK HERE.

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Is an area developer and economic developer?

An area developer is a economic development practitioner who works on behalf of more than One community. See the definition of area development in Economic Development.net. Area developers are contacts for gathering location datasee location data suppliers.

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Where can I find an economic development directory?

The Area Development section of Economic Development.net is a global economic development directory. Given that economic development happens in a location, Area Development moves you directly to a list of countries around the world. By selecting a linked country name or requesting that its file be opened, you either have access to pertinent information about economic development contacts or you are able to make your way to the local level. In the later case, access is provided to the websites of location data suppliers.

The Global Registry of Contacts is an economic development directory. Site Location Assistance.com is a resource for searching for contacts who are area and local development representatives. For example, Site Location Assistance has a resource listing the US states and their economic development directories. We would be remiss not to mention that there is an Economic Development Directory website but it is not associated with The Network.

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Who are members of the target audience of The Network?

The target audience is made up of all who are interested in the mission or are otherwise engaged in starting up or expanding the operations of enterprises so that economic development can be experienced in the end results. Included are enterprise developers working to increase the excellence of their operations as well as those effecting relocations.

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What's the difference between a user of The Network and a participant?

Users are visitors to .network websites who avail themselves of the guides, tools and informational resources offeredThe Network is an online information service. Participants are users who choose to be a part of a mission by offering themselves, usually as resource providers and service providers within the enterprise and economic development process, for virtual business networking. In other words, participants position themselves to serve members of the target audience of The Networksee the answer to the question above. If you are interested and want to consider becoming a .network participant, CLICK HERE.

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Why does The Network want information about the location of commercial airports?

Its Regional Site Selection Directory lists locations. Most regions are identified by the names of the places that are their transportation centers, which are generally the same locations that drive their economic development. The commercial airports for these development regions are typically located in the area of these centers. We (who we are) like to be alerted to the location of commercial airports by users of The Network because it help us identify places of interest. You can help out and contribute to building The Network. Email the location identity of a place of interest to you and tell us where its commercial airport is.