Who to turn to for business advice
When new to a business, you need to mingle with people who are experts in and around your field. People just love showing off how they became successful, so these people would probably be more than happy to show you the ropes.
Look around you
Suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, subcontractors - there’s a wealth of advice that can be had from these people and their experiences. In some cases, they can even be your sources of capital. Get as much information from them as you can, from how they started their own businesses to the latest industry news. You can also seek out the opinion of your professors. Real world experience is much more potent than any business textbook you’ll ever read. You can also get a lot of contacts this way, and networking is every bit as important as traditional marketing, if not more.
Look at your competition
If you need help with a decision, it helps to talk with someone who has been in the business for a long time. However, if no one is available, have a look at the business of your direct competition. This is especially helpful if they are more successful than you (just for the moment, anyway, right?) Compare how they run their business with yours. What makes people flock to them? Take notes, and go back to the old drawing board.
Look at the web
There are websites who specialize in giving expert advice either for free, or for a fee. Search for business blogs (like this one, hah!) that are dedicated to your niche market, for example. Learn as much as you can, but don’t take all that you read as gospel truth. Some of the advices are good, while others are plain bad. Take them with a grain of salt.
Remember, getting good advice is only half the battle. Filtering the good ones from the bad, then implementing them for your self is an altogether different challenge.
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Don’t forget your local SBA or SCORE chapter. Both provide free consultations with skilled business people.