No matter whether you are a startup or an established company, staying on top of the latest trends in your business or industry sector is key if you want to get ahead and stay ahead. Knowing how market forces may be changing, or how customer needs or interests are evolving, helps to shape the future direction of your product and service development.. But how do you practically keep up with what is happening out there when you are busy running your business? Here are a few tips to help keep you on top of your game. Firstly, subscribe to one or two key industry e-publications - get them delivered straight to your mobile for fast updates. Secondly, check out the latest industry gatherings and meetups via LinkedIn, and if you can’t get there, make sure you read the post event feedback. Thirdly, make sure your major industry newsfeeds arrive in your inbox as soon as they are published. Fourthly, become a member of your industry associations and attend the regular networking events - you learn things and meet new people at the same time.