The Young Entrepreneur Council asked 13 successful young entrepreneurs for their best tips for starting a new business in an unfamiliar industry. Here are their best answers.

1. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

If y'all're new to an industry, don't cower at networking events or do the "smile-and-nod" when you're speaking to someone with deep manufacture expertise. Instead, use every interaction equally an opportunity to learn. People volition be excited to answer your questions--while y'all may worry that your queries volition come off as ignorant, well-nigh likely, the other person will translate them as engaged involvement!--Doreen Bloch, Poshly

2. Study Pinnacle Direct Response Advertisers

Detect the summit direct response advertisers--the companies spending money every month--in your industry and written report their ad re-create. Reply to the ads and document their entire sales process. The elevation advertisers have already figured out the best method(s) to generate leads and sales and maximize lifetime value, so start with what's working for them.
--Phil Frost, Main Street ROI

3. Notice a Mentor

A mentor is pretty much your most powerful nugget in any new industry. By finding a mentor willing to piece of work with you, yous can learn from their mistakes, accelerate your growth using their knowledge, insight and strategies, and get pre-qualified introductions to big players in your space.
--Travis Steffen, WorkoutBOX

4. Leverage your Fresh Perspective

Become rid of all preconceived notions and fully immerse yourself in every attribute of the manufacture to gain a truthful understanding of the market and opportunities. Have advantage of the fact that yous're not biased and that you bring a fresh perspective and viewpoint, potentially providing you with a strong competitive advantage.--John Berkowitz, Yodle

5. Talk to Customers and Partners Every twenty-four hours

In any start-up, you lot don't know what you don't know. This is peculiarly true when you're inbound an unfamiliar industry. Get started through research, studying the compeition and talking to mentors. Merely in order to refine your business and make sure that you are providing bully value, you must chat with your customers every mean solar day. Effigy out their greatest pain points and deliver confronting them.--Aaron Schwartz, Alter Watches

vi. Presume Ignorance

If y'all're starting upwardly in an unfamiliar manufacture, practice non presume that you know the answers. In fact, assume the reverse and open up yourself up to learning. Talk to as many people in the industry as possible, ask lots of questions, go to know key players and connectors, and marinate in this new noesis.
--David Ehrenberg, Early Growth Financial Services

vii. Reconsider Whether It'south the Right Industry

There are pros to tackling an manufacture yous're unfamiliar with (fresh perspective, for example), merely generally, it's cons. Without an understanding of how an industry works, who matters in the space, and what contest already exists, succeeding in entrepreneurship just becomes more than impossible (though, hey, don't allow that stop you!).--Derek Flanzraich, Greatist

8. Attend a Trade Prove...

There is usually a national or international trade show or conference in every manufacture, where the "who'southward who" all assemble in one identify. This is an event that yous should be at. You'll have the chance to learn the lay of the country, see hundreds of people in person and learn about what'southward new in your industry. It'southward also a great place to form new partnerships. Bring lots of business organisation cards!--Luke Burgis, ActivPrayer

9...And Run across Your Match There!

Go to a trade show or networking upshot of the manufacture and notice who seems to have a strong presence, who knows everyone, and who is everyone talking about. Become friendly and close with that person, if they will let you. You can cut off a lot of trial and error time with the expert guidance!
--Andrew Bachman, Scambook.com

ten. Rent a Trustworthy Lawyer

A few years ago I started my first business concern later over 10 years of working for not-profits. I found myself so lost. I was signing documents and agreeing to things left and right. Because I didn't have my own personal lawyer or legal team advising me, I agreed to some of the dumbest terms in the history of the world and it eventually came back to seize with teeth me in the donkey. I'll never do that again.--Shaun King, HopeMob

11. The Devil Is in the Details

Brand sure that you try and plan every bit much as you can, but don't let it get you so bogged down that you don't actually exercise something. Know that there will be something you miss, accept that, and move forward.
--Jordan Guernsey, Molding Box

12. Learn Why Others Take Failed

People naturally want to emulate success past analyzing successful business concern models, merely I think it's more important to learn from companies that failed. There can be thousands of factors that contribute to business concern success, but when a business fails, it's frequently easy to pinpoint the the reasons...and avoid making the same mistakes yourself.
--Nick Reese, Elite Health Blends

13. Accept Help from the Experienced

Reach out to your advisors. They want to help you in your new adventure, and it is your responsibleness to let them.
--Caroline Ghosn, The Levo League