5 Ways to Stay Competitive As a Small Business

By MBO Partners • April 9, 2025

4 MIN

Key points

To distinguish yourself and stay competitive in your industry, it is critical to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
Expanding your education and skills can assist you in gaining new clients and maintaining long-term relationships with current clients.
With these five ways to remain sharp throughout your career, you can go beyond the basics and obtain a professional advantage.

Want to stand out from the crowd and maintain your competitive edge as an independent professional? In today’s job market, keeping your skills and knowledge current is essential for success. Continuously expanding your expertise helps you attract new clients while strengthening relationships with existing ones.

How to Build Your Skills and Reputation As an Independent Professional

1. Don’t Stop Learning

The beauty of working as an independent professional is that there’s always something new to discover. Your brain craves challenges, so feed it regularly.

Online courses, professional certifications, and educational webinars are all at your fingertips. Explore platforms like Udacity for free and paid programs in app development and data analytics. Or visit General Assembly for in-person workshops covering everything from design to business skills.

Prefer learning at your own pace? Lynda offers thousands of subscription-based courses that you can fit around your schedule.

2. Gain Fresh Insights

Reading serves as a powerful tool for professional growth. Regularly scanning industry news or diving into the latest business books helps you gain fresh insights from respected leaders in your field.

Challenge yourself with articles or books that push your boundaries or present familiar topics from unexpected angles. These fresh perspectives make great conversation starters at networking events, provide valuable insights to share with clients, and give you meaningful content for your social media followers.

Broadening your reading list to include diverse voices and global trends can further enhance your knowledge. Staying curious and open to different perspectives keeps you ahead of industry shifts and helps you identify emerging opportunities before others do.

Check Out: 10 Professional Development Tips to Grow Your Small Business

3. Seek Out a Mentor

Experience brings wisdom. A mentor offers invaluable guidance, support, and inspiration when you need it most.

Look for someone who’s achieved what you’re working toward—a friend, colleague, or industry leader—and ask if they’d meet regularly to discuss strategies, answer questions, or share advice.

Already established in your field? Consider becoming a mentor yourself. Working with a mentee offers fresh perspectives and often sparks creative ideas for your own business. Both parties benefit from this relationship.

4. Expand Your Network

Your network holds a wealth of knowledge about industry trends and developments—if you stay connected. Reach out to peers to discuss new ideas or share how you’ve tackled recent challenges.

Also, be sure to participate in industry groups on social media where professionals exchange ideas and opportunities. See someone whose work you admire on LinkedIn? Send them a personalized connection request.

As your online presence grows, you’ll create more potential work opportunities, feel more connected to your industry, and gradually establish yourself as a trusted expert.

Discover: 6 Ways to Network Via LinkedIn

5. Consistently Set Deadlines and Goals

Running your own business means juggling countless daily tasks, making it easy to lose sight of bigger goals. Keep yourself on track by breaking ambitious objectives into smaller, manageable tasks you can tackle every day.

Step back periodically and reassess your larger goals. Your field will change, and your plans should too. By adapting your business to meet evolving client needs, you’ll naturally identify areas where you need to grow your skills or develop additional expertise.

The most successful independent professionals anticipate changes in their industry rather than just reacting to them. Prioritizing continuous learning and growth keeps you relevant and in demand for years to come.

More Resources Available for Independent Contractors

If you’re seeking more resources to support your journey as an independent contractor, visit MBO’s blog for expert insights and practical advice. Our blog covers a wide range of topics, from financial planning to client management, to help you succeed in the world of self-employment. Plus, if you’re looking for opportunities in your field, join our talent marketplace to connect with top clients and exciting projects.