The internet can be a great tool and an incredible source of information. As anyone who has ever googled something knows, you have to be careful however. In a previous post we discussed ways to stay on target when searching, today we’re going to focus on ways to be sure that you find valid information. Almost anyone can post their opinion online and it is often hard to distinguish fact from fiction. If you have the time, look up one of your favorite songs. Chances are you’ll find countless accounts of how and why the tune was written and what the lyrics mean. Often people cite sources that sound very reputable and state their opinion in such a convincing way that it sounds like the absolute truth. When it comes to understanding a song, this is probably harmless, but when you are researching options for your small business it’s very important that the expert opinion you follow is from an actual expert in the field. How exactly can you trust us when we say our free inventory management software really is the best? Well you have to look for yourself - as you'll see.
How do you know who to trust? First check your sources. Look for sites that you know to be reputable. Corporations that you are familiar with and know to be leaders in the field. College websites can be great resources, institutions have a vested interest in ensuring that the information they present is accurate. News sources can also be helpful although there is a chance for bias in their presentation. For example, our free inventory management software has been reviewed by several news site. How do you know they are telling the full story?
If you have to go with an unfamiliar source there are still ways to determine which ones are most trustworthy. Look for the author’s name and credentials on the site. You can then look them up and gain some insight into their reputation. Once you’ve determined that the author is educated on the subject they are presenting, take the time to evaluate why they are writing on this subject. An unbiased opinion should always be given more consideration than a piece that was clearly written to sell a product or persuade an audience.
Always get a second, or third, or fourth opinion. The best way to check for accuracy is to see if the same information appears in multiple unrelated sources. If you find multiple conflicting facts chances are good that what you are really reading are just various opinions on the subject.
Remember to also check when the information was posted. If the information is out of date it may not be useful in your current situation. Look for recent posts or for information that has been updated to reflect changes.
Your business decisions are too important to be made based on someone else’s opinions. When you are looking for expert advice, be sure that you are getting it from actual experts. It would be silly if we diverged from small business topics and over-viewing features for our free inventory management software to write about food, right? Pay attention to the source and see if they consistently deliver high quality work in a given topic area. It's a bad sign if they don't.
If you’ve been reading our blog for awhile now, you know that we are committed to helping you grow your small business. That’s why we provide the best free inventory management software for small businesses at the best price (FREE!) Try Stockpile today!
