In any business (agriculture-related or not), it’s essential to keep your business-savvy ear to the ground. Harkening back to my column last edition, joining the most relevant organizations to your business is one way to accomplish that. Certainly, attending relevant luncheons or seminars hosted by the relevant organization you’ve joined is a great way to stay in-tune with what’s happening in your industry.
But what are some other ways to keep well-informed and at the top of your agribusiness game? Certainly, in the digital age that we live in, information is right at the tips of our fingers! Here are a few simple steps to make sure you are always well-informed and, as a result, know exactly where to take your agribusiness next.
- Utilize the power of the hashtag. On Facebook and Twitter, we often see a word with a # before it. These terms are easily searchable on social media, and can help you stay plugged in to what experts, researchers, marketers, packers, shippers, growers, and even your direct competition might be saying online. For example, if you’re in the citrus industry, try searching #FloridaCitrus, #HLB, #CitrusGreening, and see what comes up. You might be surprised to learn a few things.
- Subscribe to relevant e-newsletters. Do you have a website you visit often for relevant information? If they have an e-newsletter, sign-up for it, and let the information come to you!
These simple information-gathering steps will bring you one step closer to making wiser business decisions for now and in the future.
CREDITS
column by BAXTER TROUTMAN
BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Arcadia. A citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer.