Frequently Asked Questions
1. When would I use the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
3b. Where does Edwards obtain the information contained in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
4. How long has Edwards published the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
5. Why would I purchase the print and/or CD version if the directory is available online?
6. Why would I buy a directory ‘combo’ (book and CD) at the same time?
7. How is the directory organized?
8. What happens if I lose my copy?
9. How does an organization or company become listed in the directory?
11. Does it cost anything to be listed in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
12. How often is the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory updated?
13. Can my company or organization advertise in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
15. What is the ‘Private Label’ offering that Edwards has?
18. My company’s information is incorrect in the directory. How can I get it fixed?
20. Who typically buys the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
21. What is a ‘standing order’, and how do I place such an order?
22. Does Edwards offer discounts for bulk purchases of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
1. When would I use the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is used by customers in two ways; as a reference source when preparing a disaster recovery plan, and after an event has occurred, to identify the types of vendors and organizations who can help one recover. Many customers find that in using the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory, they identify areas of risk that they had previously not considered in their disaster recovery plan. So the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory can be a very efficient ‘checklist’ to insure that your plan considers ALL of your organizations needs. And if an event has occurred, the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory can provide those ‘hard to find’ vendors in areas which are unique and overlooked by other websites.
2. Why would I use the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory when I can simply search the internet for disaster recovery and business continuity information?
As we all know, the internet can be an extremely useful resource and tool. But it can also provide information in an unorganized and over-the-top kind of way.
When one enters ‘disaster recovery’ and does a search on the internet, there are over 11 million search results. For ‘business continuity’ there are over 5 million results. Sifting through all of those results would take more time than any reasonable user would have, and even then, the results would not be organized in any way.
For less than $200, you can obtain the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory in print or CD, and all of the sorting, sifting, and organization are done for you, which saves you an incredible amount of time and money.
3. Do other firms offer a Disaster Recovery Directory and if so, how do they compare to the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
There are several firms and websites who offer some type of directory. Some of these tend to specialize in one area or another. In several cases, the vendor or organization has to pay the publication or website to be listed, and in that sense, those publications and websites are not directories but media companies who cater to vendor advertising and not the end user – you.
So Edwards takes a different approach to this by considering first and foremost what kind of information is important to our end user customers. If it’s information that we believe is useful to our customers, we include it in the directory - at no cost to the vendor, conference company, or organization who seeks to be listed.
The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory has been published for far longer than any other ‘directory-like product’ and it contains more than TEN TIMES the number of listings. So it’s clearly the most comprehensive source for this type of information.
When you’re planning for, or recovering from a disaster, which would you want to have at your fingertips; a publication that caters to a limited number of advertisers, or the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory, whose sole purpose is to provide the most comprehensive and objective listing of information available?
3a. I’ve used other websites but it seems difficult to find a complete listing of conferences and events. Why is that?
Many of the companies which offer a ‘directory’ of disaster recovery and business continuity resources do that as a side show to their main business. Their main business will usually be a conference, magazine, newsletter, or all of these activities. As such, their main interest is to promote their particular conference, and not include competitive conferences in their ‘directory’.
The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is independent of any publication, magazine, website, conference, event, association and publisher. We have no allegiance to anyone except the end user – you. Our goal is to make available the most comprehensive and well organized listing of resources that is available anywhere, at any price.
3b. Where does Edwards obtain the information contained in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
There are two main ways that Edwards obtains listings for the directory. First, we attend several trade shows and industry events during which we can identify and talk to those companies and organizations which should be listed in the publication. Second, we scour the internet on a continual basis to identify companies, organizations, associations and conferences which belong in the database. We have a full time staff who do nothing but obtain new listings for the book, and verify that the existing listings are accurate and up-to-date.
4. How long has Edwards published the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
Edwards has published the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory for 18 years.
5. Why would I purchase the print and/or CD version if the directory is available online?
We all know that disasters can cause a major disruption in the way that organizations and companies conduct their day-to-day operations. Not the least of these problems can be access to computer networks or the internet. The last thing you would want is to be in need of critical disaster recovery resources at the same time that you do not have access to your computer, or access to an internet connection. So the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory becomes very cost effective ‘insurance’ at a time when every moment counts and access to information about who can help you recover is critical.
6. Why would I buy a directory ‘combo’ (book and CD) at the same time?
Many people work from their home office, but also conduct some amount of work from home, or perhaps a satellite office. For those who have responsibility for insuring that their company or organization stays up and running after an event, having an extra copy of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory in one’s home or satellite office is a prudent thing to do. Plus in buying the ‘combo’, the second product is offered at a very steep discount. So it’s worth it for a company to have that second copy, in another location.
7. How is the directory organized?
There are several ways to use the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory. The main method of organizing the directory is by category of product, service or topic. The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is hierarchical in that there are 14 main areas (i.e., Communications, Information Technology, Security, etc.) Under each of these areas, there are approximately 40 sub-categories (i.e. under Information Technology, you will find a sub category entitled ‘Hardware’.) Then within each subcategory, one can find several ‘detailed categories which are very specific to a particular kind of product or service. There are over 450 detailed categories in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory.
The directory also has an index which allows for searching by company name.
The end result is that it’s very efficient to find the product, service or company you need.
8. What happens if I lose my copy?
Edwards has a very unique offer in that if you ever lose your copy of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory, we’ll replace it at no cost.
9. How does an organization or company become listed in the directory?
The quickest way to be listed is to go to www.edwardsinformation.com, and follow the links and instructions to add your company to the directory. Once the information is completed, it’s reviewed by our staff to insure that the information is complete and correct, and most importantly that your company or organization are actually relevant to the customers of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory. We may (and have in the past) decide that your organization or company are not relevant, in which case you will not be listed.
You can also print out a listing form and fax it to the number provided on the form. Again, this form can be found on www.edwardsinformation.com.
10. How does the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory compare to other products which offer vendor information?
Most other directory type products aren’t really directories. They don’t seek to be complete or comprehensive, and are really adjuncts to another product or service (i.e. some conference companies may offer a vendor directory but it is not their main line of business.)
So in many ways, there is no comparison with another ‘directory’ because no other directory really exists.
The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is the oldest, most complete, most comprehensive and most up-to-date listing of disaster recovery resources – bar none.
11. Does it cost anything to be listed in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
A key premise to the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is that we cater first to the end user customer. As such, we seek to include ALL relevant resources in the directory. We therefore do NOT charge to be listed, and will list any firm that we decide is relevant for our audience. This allows us to be completely objective and independent and to think first of what information our customers need, and not what our advertisers need.
Any organization, company, conference, association, government agency, publication, website, etc. can list for free in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory. Our only criterion is the relevance of the listing to our end users.
12. How often is the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory updated?
The directory database is updated daily. Each listing is reviewed at least once per year to verify the accuracy and completeness of the listing.
13. Can my company or organization advertise in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
While it does not cost anything to list, we do offer the opportunity for organizations and companies to advertise in the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory. This does not impact whether or not they will get their initial listing. It’s simply an option for some firms who wish to take advantage of the channels to which the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is distributed.
14. I have a website and feel that visitors to my site would benefit from having access to the directory. Is it possible to link to the Edwards website?
Yes, Edwards welcomes other websites to offer a link to the Edwards site. From there, your users can search the directory, buy the print or CD version, list their company, and advertise.
For those firms who have a unique audience that would benefit from a more integrated approach to offering the directory, Edwards has a ‘private suite’ program which will tailor the directory to your websites branding and appearance. Please contact Edwards if you believe your organization falls into this category. Otherwise, you can go to the ‘Affiliates’ page at www.edwardsinformation.com and obtain a link which will fit your needs.
15. What is the ‘Private Label’ offering that Edwards has?
Edwards has found that some organizations want to distribute the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory to their members, customers or prospects, but wish to do so under their brand rather than the Edwards brand.
Edwards welcomes such use of the directory, and we’re happy to work with our private label customers to create a version of the directory which caters to those customers’ specific needs.
For example, an association might want to distribute a private label version to their members as an added benefit of membership. Another firm which offers disaster recovery or risk related services might wish to distribute a private label version of the directory to their key customers, or to sales prospects as a marketing premium.
Basically Edwards can feature your organization’s branding, colors and can even modify the content of the directory to cater to a particular need. We can create versions of the directory that are specific to disaster types (i.e. fires or floods), to particular regions (i.e. a hurricane version for the Southeast), or industry versions (i.e. for the banking industry.)
A private label version of the directory, in any form, provides your members, customers and prospects with an extremely useful resource with a long shelf life and a perception of high value.
16. Is it possible to resell the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory through my organization’s bookstore or website?
Yes, it is. Edwards partners with several organizations, associations and bookstores to offer the directory to their members and customers. Discounts may be available. Please contact Edwards for more information.
Yes, as long as we believe the publication or article is relevant for our user. Please email Edwards at info@edwardsinformation.com.
18. My company’s information is incorrect in the database. How can I get it fixed?
19. Is the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory distributed through other websites, and if I advertise, will my ad be viewed by the visitors to those websites?
Yes, and actually this is a key advantage to advertising with the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory.
Other publications and websites in the disaster recovery/business continuity industry can typically only offer their own user base as the recipients who will see your ad.
The Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is syndicated through many, many websites so that the exposure you get as an advertiser is exponentially greater than with any other firm. When you advertise with Edwards, you’re really advertising through an entire network of disaster recovery websites, nonprofit organizations, associations, libraries, government agencies, etc. It’s a terrific way to turbocharge your ad campaign.
20. Who typically buys the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
One of the more interesting aspects of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory is the breadth of the market which buys and accesses the directory. Actually, it’s not at all a surprise, since any organization has to consider what it will do in the event of a disaster. It doesn’t matter if your organization is large small, for profit or not, a government agency, or corporation. The basic intent of any organization is to continue to provide its product, service, benefits, etc to the community it serves.
The specific answer is that Edwards is sold to any type of organization you can think of – corporations, government agencies, non profits, universities, libraries, museums, hospitals, hotels, courts, government at all levels (local, state, federal), law firms, accounting firms, consultants, utility and power companies, insurance companies, banks, credit unions…..
21. What is a ‘standing order’, and how do I place such an order?
Many customers who buy the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory choose to get it automatically each year when the new edition is available. This insures that they always have the most current edition on hand, without having to remember to order it. And they get a 10% discount!
22. Does Edwards offer discounts for bulk purchases of the Edwards Disaster Recovery Directory?
Yes. The best way to get additional information about bulk discounts is to contact Edwards directly at info@edwardsinformation.com, or call 301-774-5414.
