If you’re reading this blog, we know you’re the kind of business owner who likes to stay current on the trends and developments in your industry or market niche. That’s just what smart business owners do. However, you might be struggling to find time to do so when your busy schedule commands so much attention.
Here are some tips and suggestions for staying on top of your industry even as a busy business owner.
Listen To Podcasts
We love this idea because it’s easy to do in combination with your other work tasks throughout the day. Are you in the middle of data entry or some other monotonous tasks? You can probably dedicate part of your attention to hearing a good podcast about a pertinent topic in your business field. This is one of the best ways to stay abreast of all the current events you’re otherwise missing.
Get Alerts and Notifications
It helps to get savvy with the Google Alerts feature. You can program into it the keywords you want to generate news e-mails or alerts for you. For example, the owner of a real-estate business might use keywords like “housing,” “commercial real estate,” or “residential real estate.” This eliminates the need for you to manually search for relevant news and programming.
Your customers and clients are great sources of information because they determine the demand for your products and services. If you pay attention to what they tell you, you could shave hours off all the market research you’re doing. Some of your best data is ascertainable through dialogue with those already buying from you.
Commit To Reading for 20 Minutes Every Day
Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad/Poor Dad, warns entrepreneurs not to overly rely on formal education, but instead to focus on educating themselves daily while pursuing their business endeavors. This involves continuously reading and availing oneself of what’s happening in the real world. Shoot for reading at least 20 minutes a day and make a permanent habit of it.
Network Often
Here’s why websites like LinkedIn are so popular. They provide news, a pretty sophisticated networking platform, job postings, and more. Whether you prefer to network online or through trade events, it’s wise to dedicate at least some of your time to this so that you don’t fall out of the loop with colleagues, competitors, and customers.
Hallmark Business Brokers hopes you found these strategies helpful. We know it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all your commitments, especially during the peak times of the year for your business. If you enjoyed this and want to learn anything about buying, selling, or improving a business, we’re here to assist. Call us any time at (941) 445-4726.