Of course, you can choose to allow for more time to develop your subject matter expert status in your market. The steps are the same; the time required to accomplish your goal is what differs. Earning market expert status within one year is a very reasonable goal for most people seeking to use their expert status as an effective marketing tool.

Publish, Publish, Publish

One of the quickest and perhaps most effective means of gaining subject matter expert status is to write articles for publication in print, either in newspapers, trade magazines, on websites, in ezines, anywhere that you can get your article printed with your name and title. You will, of course, at first offer your articles at no charge simply to get your name out there as a market expert. After some time, you may actually have buyers seeking to obtain your articles because they now recognize you as a subject expert.

Another way to quickly get published is to set up your own website about the subject on which you want to be considered a subject matter expert. Populate the website with only the finest quality content that is informative and accurate, as well as search engine optimized. Of course, you can outsource some of the content writing to ghost writers, but it is best if you write original material yourself so that you truly become the expert you are advertising yourself to be.

Now, add all these publication successes to your resume and you are well on the way to earning expert status.

Create a Newsletter

This is different from getting published in newsletters only in the fact that you will create the newsletter. You can write content, obtain content from others and compile a top-notch product that will be of great value to subscribers on your double opt-in mailing list. Of course, your byline, photo and company information will be included, establishing you as an expert source of information on the topic. Here's another credo to add to your resume indicating your expert status.

Offer a Workshop

Whatever type of business you may be in or whatever topic you wish to obtain expert status in, you can provide a public service by offering a workshop on the topic. If you want to become known as the home appliance expert in your area, offer a free 2-hour workshop about how to best select the right appliances for your home. If you want to be know as the best gardening expert in your market area, offer a workshop on selecting the right plants for your landscaping needs. Two hours of your time, plus some preparation time, is a small investment for obtaining expert status in your market.

Speak at Events

Chambers of Commerce and local organizations are often in need of public speakers to provide informative speeches to their members at meetings. Often, the speeches needed are short but they provide a very effective means of getting your name known to many people. Obviously, anyone invited to speak on a subject MUST be a subject matter expert in that market.

Offer to speak at Career Day at a local school. Some elementary schools ask for people from different professional arenas to provide short informative speeches about what their jobs are like. High schools frequently have Career Days, as do local colleges. Offer to tell about the market in which you are a subject matter expert. You'll build a great deal of good will from the world of education and your name will become even more widely known. Give the attendees a pen, pencil, notepad or other gift with your name and company information to ensure you are remembered.

Trade Shows

Trade shows need subject matter experts to provide demonstrations of products, information and other services. Be a part of this opportunity to become recognized as a market expert in your field.

In Closing

The common factor in all these techniques for becoming a recognized expert in your market is to get your name visible and well-known. Make yourself available to any event that allows you to tell people about your market. Soon, your name will be associated with your market as "THE person to talk to about