It is thrilling to maintain a business advantage by keeping up with new practices in the industry.
This blog is full of articles where I have written about the importance of business owners getting involved with social media and with looking for new sales techniques before they are needed. Those things are all important. It is equally important to keep up with new practices in the industry. In order to succeed in business and to remain successful, it is important not to rest on one’s laurels but instead to continually look for ways to improve, do better and increase sales/////.
Business owners who work in law, medicine, pharmaceuticals and similar fields constantly pay attention to the latest developments in their fields. These business owners watch what is going on in their industries. They know who the new players are, what the new products are, what new regulations are going to impact their bottom line. This is how every business owner should be. It is important that you take time out on a regular basis and devote time specifically to finding out what is going on in your industry. How much time and how often is up to you. But, at a minimum, you must devote at one hour per month every month.
When researching and studying trends in your industry here are a few ways to get the information you need:
* set up a Google alert to send you regular reports on anything on the web related to your industry
* subscribe to e-newsletters for your industry
* join LinkedIn and Facebook groups related to your industry
These methods will allow you to do reading and research online all at one time that is convenient to you.Some other methods for keeping up with what is going on in your industry include:
* join the local chamber of commerce
* join industry associations
* follow lobbying groups for your industry
These methods will keep you up to date with key players in your industry and with the newest happenings in your area and across the nation.Whatever method you choose, it is important to do research and keep up to date with things that are going on with your industry. In order to be successful, you must look towards the future and not rest on past successes. So, the question for you this thrilling day is, what are you doing to keep up to date with what is going on in your industry?
That is a great thing about small companies, you can be creative.
I work for a small company, and we do not rely heavily on outside changes effecting us too much. I do like to help create new things that we use for our clients. I like to do the what if we did this, can we do that, game.
That is where I am write now with my law career, not working in it, doing other things while the little ones are so little. Doing some reading keeps me up to date and from getting to far behind.
Great information! It is so easy to get stagnant – especially if you’re taking a break (whether voluntarily or not) from your industry. Staying in contact with others and up-to-date with the trends helped keep me motivated when I was at home with my little ones for a bit.
Hanifah, that is high praise fcoming from you so thank you very much.
Super, Duper article. This is certainly how u get to the next level and remain on top. Change is good and necessary. We’re living in a world today of constant change and if we’re asleep we will miss out. Thanks Janeane for the information. I love learning.