No matter how established or successful your business is, it’s important to keep up with trends in your industry.
Your customers need to see that you’re up to date, you’re modern, you’re flexible, and able to move with the times and change with the circumstances.
You should show your customers that you are willing to take risks and that you know what risks are worth taking.
So, how do you keep up with the latest trends so that you know what’s going on and can stay ahead of the competition?
Follow Key People and Brands on Social Media
Social media is the place to be when it comes to trends, the memes are there first, the photo challenges, and the reactions to the news on social media.
Sometimes you even find out the news on social media before you’ve looked at a reliable news outlet.
Last year TikTok came out of nowhere and now businesses know that if they want to reach a huge audience, they need to advertise on TikTok.
(But as always, research what audience is on each of the social media networks to see if it matches your audience.)
By following key people and influencers online, you’ll know what’s trending and what’s not and what you can relate to your business.
(But as always, research what audience is on each of the social media networks to see if it matches your audience.) #socialmediamarketing Click To TweetSubscribe to Top Business Blogs
Find the most popular business blogs relevant to your business and make sure you subscribe to them. You don’t necessarily have to read everything, but reading headlines can give you an idea of what’s going on.
You can easily subscribe via their RSS feeds or newsletters.
Hence, if you subscribe to a number of them you’ll see if they’re all talking about the same thing.
Find the most popular business blogs relevant to your business and make sure you subscribe to them. #keepingrelevant Click To TweetUtilize Your Network to Keep Up With The Latest Business Trends
Ask questions to the people you know to find out about trends.
When you speak to people directly you can find out more information and real intel about the current trends.
And don’t just ask one person, ask several! You could do a survey or poll on your favorite social media network.
How often do you take #polls here on Twitter or on other social media? 🤔
— Lisa Sicard 👩💻🙂💭 (@Lisapatb) January 8, 2021
Use Your Analytical Tools
If you look at your analytics you can sometimes find the trends before anyone else does.
Use tools such as Google Trends, google analytics, and your social media analytics and you might find yourself way ahead of the game.
Google Trends is a great tool to know what is being said the most on the web on a topic and what the rising topics are related to it. Now, that’s invaluable information!
How do Google Trends work? See below:
These trends above we based on 30 days, you can change the time to all time, a year, a month, etc.
Make The Most of Alerts to Keep Up With the Latest Business Trends Online
Just like Google Trends, Google Alerts will also keep you up to date with what is going on in your industry.
You can set your alerts once a day or once a week – whenever suits you. You can ask Google to alert you of certain keywords, phrases, and topics so you’re always in the know.
Be sure to also have an alert set up for you and your business.
Google Alerts will also keep you up to date with what is going on in your industry. #InspireToThrive Click To TweetKeep An Eye On Your Competitors
Your competitors will be looking out for trends too and they’ll be using the same tactics you are, so keep an eye on them in case they’ve caught onto something before you have.
You can also use them as a little bit of a guinea pig and see if they’re having success with something or not and then you can decide what action you take.
You don’t always have to be the first one on a new trend, sometimes it’s far more effective to learn from others’ mistakes first.
Speak to Your Customers to Keep Up With the Latest Business Trends
Customers are beneficial for telling you what’s going on in their lives and what is in demand and what isn’t.
Find out from your customers what they’re looking for and what they need from you, this customer feedback will be imperative to you on whether jumping on the latest trend is even necessary.
How are you keeping up with your industry’s trends? I’d love to know more ways below or which of the above ways you are using today.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 11 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
You can purchase her eBook about Twitter on Amazon.
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Lisa,
Simply putting efforts, closing eyes will never work. Should always keep an eye on the market trends and competitors. By the way, analytics tracking is super-essential for any business to keep optimizing for the growth. Your ideas are to the point. Thanks.
Hi Sathish, yes, I was just looking over analytics for clients yesterday to see the effect of what is happening with social media this past week. You always have to be a step ahead and not behind. Thanks for your comment and make it a wonderful day ahead.
Agreed on the networking point in terms of following the latest business trends Lisa. I learn many recent business trends from you because you are timely, informed and on point. Bravo!
Ryan
Hi Ryan, good Monday morning! Thank you for that one. Yes, these past 4 days have been quite the news cycle for social media. I’ve been exploring several other alternative channels out there. A few are down because so many are signing up! It’s become really crazy. I wonder what will happen with it all becomes so fragmented, sort of like cable TV and Sirius radio.
I’m also concerned about censorship and how does a country unit with such fragmentation? This is a bit more than what I signed up for managing social media, LOL. 🙂
But when I get phone calls from clients thanking me for information I know I’m helping others and that is what it is ALL about!
Make it a great day and week there Ryan!
Hey Lisa! Hope you’ve been well.
Great advice here. I know mainstream audiences don’t really use RSS anymore but for business owners an RSS reader like Feedly can be an incredibly valuable (and free) tool for staying up to date with all of the business and industry blogs in our space.
My Twitter feed is flooded to the point that it’s near useless but one of my goals to do before the month end is make a collection of curated lists to better stay on top of things in that area as well!
– James McAllister
Thank you, James. Nice to see you here! Yes, RSS feeds are a great tool still. I know years ago we all talked about them going away but they are still here and very much alive. Yes, the lists there are great. Keeps me focused if I’m on the right lists. Thanks for coming by here on Inspire To Thrive and make it a great weekend.