MK 380: Principles of Marketing (Chamberlaine)

Tips for reviewing a corporate website:

• Look for headings such as "Our Company" or "About Us." 
• For public companies, look at the bottom of the website for headings such as "Investors" or "Investor Relations." 
• In the Investor's section look for headings such as "Financials" or "Financial Information" to find SEC filings (ex:  Form 10-K).  Not sure how to find a Form 10-K?  See the tutorial below.
• Look for a search box or search icon on the website to navigate to specific information. 
• You can also search for a topic on a company's site using Google.  Example:  sustainability site:mcdonalds.com

Important sections of the corporate website often listed in menu headings across the top or bottom: 

• Press Releases/News  
• Product Information  
• Social Media Postings 

TIP:  It is usually easier to find information on a public company.  One reason is that public companies must provide information to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  A helpful SEC filing for company information is the Form 10-K, which can be found under the Investor's section of a public company's website.

Try these tips for finding information on private companies:

• Look for directory listings, company profiles, and news articles using the databases listed below.
• Try to find local news coverage in the areas where the company's headquarters or other facilities are located.  Google News is a good source for this.
• Financials for private companies are often reported as "estimates."  The figures may be outdated by a year or more.  Use with discretion, and always cite your source.
• Check the Internet.  Many private companies have websites with useful information.