Today's world is becoming more busy than ever before. With so much at stake, it's definitely a good idea to stay informed about what's going on around you and in your respective industries.

Here are 7 tips that can help you:

1. Watch the news
   
2. Make sure you get a credible newspaper
   
3. Subscribe to news and opinion magazines
   
4. Stay balanced
   
5. Read books by top officials, pundits, and those in the know
   
6. Check news sites as often as you can
   
7. Talk with other informed people. (Source: www.wikihow.com)

Next week, 29-30 August 2012, Mobile Entertainment Africa returns for the second time, and gives attendees the opportunity to gain and exchange knowledge and expertise regarding maximising the entertainment opportunity on handheld devices in Africa. Keep up to date by following @mwebafrica or #MEA2012. I am certainly looking forward to attending this event and listening to what the speakers have to share about the mobile world.

In just a few weeks time, the Highway Africa Conference gets underway, and just last week it was announced that the Global Forum for Media Development will be co-hosting its third world conference with Highway Africa. This I'm sure is something not to be missed.

In August 2011, Bizcommunity partnered up with Aegis Media to host the Thought Leadership Digibates, a series of marketing/media debates broadcast live via audio streaming with a live audience. The latest digibate focused on choosing the right agency for your brand. Previous digibates covered topics including: search-based marketing; print media; marketing/media trends and social media to name a few. If you've missed out, you can go to our special section and listen to the podcasts.

Cheers to a productive week!

Evan-Lee Courie @evan1985

Responses to this column welcomed in our online editor's column archive. Send all your Africa marketing news to africanews@bizcommunity.com and opinion pieces to contributors-africa@bizcommunity.com, also take a look at our guide "How to contribute to Bizcommunity, from op-ed pieces to news". Follow Bizcommunity on Twitter @Biz_Africa and join our Facebook page.