How do you learn about a company's distribution channel/strategy?

Hi HN,

I'm a software dev that runs a business (and a long-time lurker on HN).

I learnt about the following books on HN and learnt a lot from each: - Traction - Spin Selling - The Right It - Innovators Dilemma

PG and YC investors recommend aspiring founders to study their market thoroughly beforehand.

The ins and outs of the problem, the group of people who have the problem, how much it costs them, who decides to make the purchase, etc.

This process involves studying competitors, how big they are, who is their target, how they reach their customers, features, opportunity, etc.

While I use LinkedIn, Google search and other governmental sources to learn more about my competitors. Doing so, only gives me info about their product, location, number of employees and estimated revenue.

What's a good way to learn more about a company's target and how they reach them?

Most of the resources suggest that every company becomes successful with the help of a single traction channel and that even the course of a businesses life only a couple of channels are really useful.

How can one learn about which channel an existing company is using to reach their target?

Thanks in advance!