Most of us don’t have enough time to handle business both on-line and off-line, let alone locate and read the information we know we need and we know is out there.

We need to see who is doing what and how successfully; to generate ideas for our own business; to keep up with our competition and know what they’re up to. We’d all do it if we could find a method of regularly getting fresh, reliable information about what’s happening on the internet and specifically, in our area of interest -- so long as it doesn’t take too long.

Here are some tips and resources I use to stay informed in only minutes a day.

First, bookmark a site or two you can count on to give you accurate and timely information on the internet. eMarketer.com is an excellent resource, particularly valuable to those selling a product or service on the internet.
     http://www.emarketer.com

Here you'll find terrific articles on all things internet and several ways to search or browse past issues of Business Week.
     http://www.businessweek.com/ebiz/index.html

Here’s a site that houses a wealth of information on the internet, its size, scope and influence. For example, a recent article examined profitability of business-to-business web sites.
     http://www.nua.ie/surveys/

The second and third methods are even better. Instead of you searching for information, the information will actually come right to YOU.

You can receive information via e-mail by subscribing to e-zines. An e-zine is the internet version of a magazine. They lack glossy photos and fancy typefaces, but they can provide you with valuable information on the subject of your choice. There are e-zines published on just about any subject you can think of. Subscribing is easy, it’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Here are a couple of e-zine databases. Look them over to find e-zines specializing in your area of interest:
     http://www.site-city.com/members/e-zine-master/
     http://www.ezineseek.com
     http://www.oblivion.net/zineworld/

A third way is to utilize a portal (start page) equipped with a news feature you can customize. For instance, excite offers a NewsTracker Clipper Service that allows you to enter key words. The tracker regularly searches for articles related to those keywords and lists the articles for you. You can track entire industries or focus on your individual competitors. A real time-saver.
     http://www.excite.com