10 Tips for Building Your Expert Status
One of the best ways to separate your business from the others
is to position yourself as an expert. Experts charge more, work
less, and are highly regarded. Experts regularly experience an
inflow of interesting opportunities. They attract business
easily and regularly.
Assuming that you do, indeed, possess expertise in your chosen
field...what are some ways to showcase this expertise so others
see you as an expert, too?
1) Build an expertise focused website.
Ideally, you will have focused your expertise in one particular
niche. Build a website to showcase your expertise in this niche.
Include client lists, press releases, and demonstrations of you
speaking or teaching on your topic.
2) Publish a book (or at least some articles!)
Even in this age of lightning fast e-publishing, there still
exists some recognition and esteem for authors of published
books. It doesn't matter if you self publish, publish on demand,
or go the traditional publishing route, there is almost instant
credibility and recognition when people say, "Oh, she or he
wrote a book on it."
If you can't get yourself to write a book on it, at least write
some articles and distribute them regularly.
3) Build a focused newsletter around your expertise.
You may already have a newsletter, but is it focused around your
expertise? If not, it might be time for some repositioning. When
you do this, you'll find that your newsletters actually get
easier to write, because it's always easier to drill down into
one topic than to develop multiple new ones. Also, this focused
newsletter can be a great hand-out for prospective clients, and
can be a way of articulating your expert position on relevant
trends in your field.
4) Seek publicity regularly.
This may be in the form of writing effective press releases or
being quoted in industry journals or magazines. Just find some
way of regularly getting your name and expertise mentioned in
print. There are many resources on how to write effective press
releases. Aim to send out at least one press release per quarter
or to attain two magazine or journal mentions each month.
5) Build a file of successful case studies.
Most people will have two questions when they learn of you. One:
can you help? and two: how can you help? Well-written case
studies help answer both these questions as they build your
credibility. We are all, generally, more likely to believe that
something will help us if it's helped other people who are just
like us. A well developed case study file can shorten your sales
process.
6) Teach workshops or seminars.
A fast way to build your expert status is to teach on your
topic. This can be done in person, or on the phone. When you
teach on a topic, you are almost automatically seen as an expert
on the topic. Plus, teaching classes or workshops can be another
way to meet more people, add to your contact list, and develop
another revenue stream, all at the same time.
7) Present on your topic.
Offer yourself to relevant groups and associations as a guest
expert, panelist, or conference speaker. Use these speaking
opportunities to refine your knowledge, polish your
presentation, and to build areas for possible lateralization.
Public speaking also offers you another way to build your
contact list and gain recognition at the same time.
8) Hang out with other experts.
If you spend time with other experts, you will, by association,
be seen as more of an expert. If you belong to an association or
professional group, make contact with the leaders of this group.
By spending time with the leaders in your field, you will be
more easily seen as one of them.
9) Refer to yourself as an expert.
For some, this might be more difficult than it seems. Expert
status is not just given, it must also be claimed. If you are an
expert at what you do, there is absolutely nothing wrong with
identifying yourself as one. If you're not, do what it takes to
become one. Authenticity and integrity are powerfully effective
marketing tools.
10) Commit to regular actions to build your expert status.
As you build your expert status, you will find the flow of
opportunities come faster and more easily. When this happens,
continue to take regular actions to keep building your expert
status. Once gained, expert status must be maintained.
Try these strategies to build your expert status. Your business
(and bank account) will benefit.