If you can get a sense early on of any shifts in your industry or in the world as it effects your customers, you can position yourself as a leader, capture market share, and be leagues ahead of your competition.

So, how do you stay abreast of what is new that will affect your world? In simplest terms, pay attention!

Read as much as you can

You need to be reading. Its an absolute must if you want to be a successful business owner. To keep your ear to the ground, make sure you are reading a wide variety of stuff. You have your industry magazines, sure. But also, check out small business magazines like Inc., general business magazines, news, blogs, books on all topics. Just read all sorts of things.

By having a broad base from which you draw your information, you will be able to get a clearer picture of what is going on in the world. You will also be able to pull out bits of information and ideas that will help you succeed in your business.

Try out new tools

There is a steady stream of new software, hardware, gizmos, and the like being introduced. You can’t try them all, even if you would like to. But you should be paying enough attention to them to know which ones might be good for your business.

Look at social networks. When Twitter was new, I didn’t get it. But some people, those who had their ear to the ground, did. They are now tapping the power of the tool to grow their business.

Yes, its okay to jump on to something after it is proven. But there is also great value in being able to figure out if something is going to be valuable to your business before others catch on. You can quietly tap the power of the new tool while others are still in the dark.

Also, be on the look out for tools that will help you do your business better. Don’t be afraid to change things. There may be a CRM out there that would be a far better fit for your business. If so, why aren’t you trying it out? The same thing goes for everything, from phones, to computers, to advertising outlets, the list goes on. Try and master new tools.

Attend conferences

A great way to find out what is new and what people are buzzing about is to attend conferences. This includes conferences in your industry, for sure. But everyone in your industry is attending those and seeing the same thing. You can get ahead by paying attention and spotting the next big thing before the competition.

Besides your industry conferences, try to go to some broader topic conferences. Two that come to mind are SXSW, which is a huge conference in Texas that covers all sorts of topics, and 140Conf, which focuses on the power of Twitter and communication. There are a ton of interesting conferences dealing with marketing, sales, social media, and more. Get to some.

You will learn a lot at conferences and trade shows. One of the best things to do is to meet new people and have conversations with them about what they see in the world. You can compare notes, learn new things, and stay ahead of the game. Plus, you may make some great new friendships that will also be good for business.

Its in your best interest to keep your ear to the ground. If you know what is happening, or trending, in the world around your business, you can capitalize on it. Be the first, the brightest, the fastest, the smartest, all just by paying attention.

photo credit: theseanster93

Recommended Reading

I am constantly on the prowl for good business books. Right now, I am reading Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk. I love Gary’s take on passion and business. This book will give you a kick in the butt to get up and get moving as you pursue your passions and your business.

If you are interested in Crush It, you can get it through Amazon by clicking here or by visiting your local bookstore.

Have a Small Business Question? Ask me and I will answer it here – email me with your question now.

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Bradford Shimp is the publisher of All Biz Answers. He is also the co-creator of Idea Anglers, a place to see your ideas come to life through collaboration. Follow on Twitter @bradfordshimp. Let Bradford help you with your business – visit BroadRiverCreative.com