Help Clients Discover Their Pathways To Business Success
Knowledge is power. As a business owner, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been in the game, there’s still more to learn. Fortunately, with the web at our fingertips, knowledge has never been easier to find. There are numerous websites out there that offer information for all sorts of people seeking advice about their particular industry or niche. So if you’re starting to feel like you don’t know everything there is to know about your profession after all these years, here are some tips for finding reputable sources of information on the Internet:
First, do your research
By now, every business owner should have heard this phrase dozens of times before. But not all types of “research” are identical—you can be sure that when you read about marketing on sites like HubSpot or Search Engine Land, the information is accurate. Before you visit any of these sites, however, you’ll need to do a little background check on the people who run them. Even if you trust the company they’re representing, there are still some steps that should be taken in order to ensure your personal safety when submitting any potentially sensitive information online.
Second, ask around
If you have friends or entrepreneurs in your social circles who are more experienced than you in your industry, chances are they’ve probably visited similar websites in the past. Ask them where they go for reliable information and why. If their answer sounds promising, perhaps it’s time for you to start taking notes—or at least begin bookmarking pages for future reference. When all else fails…
Third, try using search engines
It may sound too simplistic, but it really is that simple. If you’re looking for a marketing blog, search marketing blog—if you can’t find what you need, try adding the word “recommendations” to the end of your query. In general, if you want knowledge about a specific industry or topic, just start typing in questions and see what turns up!
In the long run, use whatever method works best for you—after all, these sites should only be used as a way to get started! The most important thing is not where you learn from but how—make sure that anything you read online genuinely interests and inspires you. Otherwise, there’s no point in wasting your time on trivial websites when there are other, more exciting ventures waiting to be discovered…
Knowledge is power. As a business owner, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been in the game, there’s still more to learn. Fortunately, with the web at our fingertips, knowledge has never been easier to find. There are numerous websites out there that offer information for all sorts of people seeking advice about their particular industry or niche. So if you’re starting to feel like you don’t know everything there is to know about your profession after all these years, here are some tips for finding reputable sources of information on the Internet:
If you’re looking for reputable sources of tips to grow your business, make sure you start with trusted influencers in your industry. If you need help deciding who that should be, think about what people are saying about them online. Do they have proven experience? Have they developed anything unique to their field? Have other successful businesses worked with them in the past? Once you’ve identified someone whose advice carries weight within your industry, pay close attention to what they write or speak about online—obviously, this will come more easily if you follow them on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Secondly, figure out where your gaps are
There’s a reason there are so many outlets for information on the Internet—everyone has something to learn from someone else, no matter how experienced they are. However, some sources tend to focus on specific chunks of information that may not be relevant to your industry or niche. Try finding reliable online publications that carry news and advice about all fields related to your business, like eMarketer for digital marketers, Forbes for entrepreneurs, and Inc. for small business owners (just to name a few). You can then read around these types of sites until you spot pieces that catch your eye; if the publication is reputable, chances are good that their articles contain accurate tips.
Many popular publications also have entire sections devoted specifically to one topic; search around until you find the knowledge you need. For example, entrepreneur and investor Marc Andreessen have a great blog, which is largely about advice for other entrepreneurs. Don’t feel like you have to read every single word—find what’s relevant to your needs and get reading!
Finally, ask an expert
If everything else fails and you’re still uncertain about where to go next, talk to someone who knows their stuff. If you don’t know any influencers in your industry personally (or if they aren’t available), reach out on Twitter or Facebook; chances are good that even unpublished people will be able to point you in the right direction. Just make sure not to forget step one: do your research! There should always be more than one trusted source to back up any advice you receive.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in your industry—you can always learn something new! Keep reading and researching and asking experts for their opinions, and soon enough, you’ll be a reliable source of information yourself.
Knowledge is power. As a business owner, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been in the game, there’s still more to learn. Fortunately, with the web at our fingertips, knowledge has never been easier to find. There are numerous websites out there that offer information for all sorts of people seeking advice about their…