How can you stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends when selling to institutional clients?

1 Subscribe to relevant newsletters and podcasts

One of the easiest ways to stay informed about the latest industry trends is to subscribe to newsletters and podcasts that cover topics related to your niche, your clients, and your solutions. Newsletters and podcasts can provide you with insights, opinions, and updates from experts, influencers, and peers in your field. You can also use them to learn about new developments, innovations, and challenges that affect your clients and their industries. You can subscribe to newsletters and podcasts from industry associations, trade publications, research firms, thought leaders, and competitors.

2 Join online communities and forums

Another way to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends is to join online communities and forums where you can interact with other sales engineers, professionals, and enthusiasts in your domain. Online communities and forums can offer you opportunities to ask questions, share experiences, get feedback, and learn from others. You can also use them to discover new trends, best practices, tips, and resources that can help you improve your sales engineering skills and knowledge. You can join online communities and forums on platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, Quora, Stack Exchange, and Slack.

3 Attend webinars and events

A third way to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends is to attend webinars and events that are relevant to your field, your clients, and your solutions. Webinars and events can provide you with valuable information, education, and networking opportunities. You can also use them to showcase your expertise, build relationships, and generate leads. You can attend webinars and events hosted by industry associations, trade publications, research firms, thought leaders, and competitors. You can also look for webinars and events that are sponsored by your company or your partners.

4 Follow industry leaders and influencers

A fourth way to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends is to follow industry leaders and influencers who have authority, reputation, and influence in your niche, your clients, and your solutions. Industry leaders and influencers can provide you with insights, opinions, and recommendations that can help you understand the market dynamics, the customer expectations, and the competitive landscape. You can also use them to learn about new opportunities, challenges, and solutions that can benefit your clients and your sales engineering process. You can follow industry leaders and influencers on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

5 Read industry reports and publications

A fifth way to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends is to read industry reports and publications that provide data, analysis, and forecasts on your niche, your clients, and your solutions. Industry reports and publications can provide you with facts, figures, and trends that can help you validate your assumptions, support your arguments, and quantify your value proposition. You can also use them to identify gaps, needs, and pain points that your clients and their industries face. You can read industry reports and publications from industry associations, trade publications, research firms, and competitors.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?