10 Tips for Building Your Expert Status

One of the best ways to separate your businesshelp? Well-written case studies help answer both
from the others is to position yourself as an expert.these questions as they build your credibility. We are
Experts charge more, work less, and are highlyall, generally, more likely to believe that something will
regarded. Experts regularly experience an inflow ofhelp us if it's helped other people who are just like us.
interesting opportunities. They attract business easilyA well developed case study file can shorten your
and regularly.sales process.
Assuming that you do, indeed, possess expertise in6) Teach workshops or seminars.
your chosen field...what are some ways to showcaseA fast way to build your expert status is to teach
this expertise so others see you as an expert, too?on your topic. This can be done in person, or on the
1) Build an expertise focused website.phone. When you teach on a topic, you are almost
Ideally, you will have focused your expertise in oneautomatically seen as an expert on the topic. Plus,
particular niche. Build a website to showcase yourteaching classes or workshops can be another way
expertise in this niche. Include client lists, pressto meet more people, add to your contact list, and
releases, and demonstrations of you speaking ordevelop another revenue stream, all at the same
teaching on your topic.time.
2) Publish a book (or at least some articles!)7) Present on your topic.
Even in this age of lightning fast e-publishing, there stillOffer yourself to relevant groups and associations as
exists some recognition and esteem for authors ofa guest expert, panelist, or conference speaker. Use
published books. It doesn't matter if you self publish,these speaking opportunities to refine your
publish on demand, or go the traditional publishingknowledge, polish your presentation, and to build
route, there is almost instant credibility andareas for possible lateralization. Public speaking also
recognition when people say, "Oh, she or he wrote aoffers you another way to build your contact list and
book on it."gain recognition at the same time.
If you can't get yourself to write a book on it, at8) Hang out with other experts.
least write some articles and distribute them regularly.If you spend time with other experts, you will, by
3) Build a focused newsletter around your expertise.association, be seen as more of an expert. If you
You may already have a newsletter, but is it focusedbelong to an association or professional group, make
around your expertise? If not, it might be time forcontact with the leaders of this group. By spending
some repositioning. When you do this, you'll find thattime with the leaders in your field, you will be more
your newsletters actually get easier to write,easily seen as one of them.
because it's always easier to drill down into one topic9) Refer to yourself as an expert.
than to develop multiple new ones. Also, this focusedFor some, this might be more difficult than it seems.
newsletter can be a great hand-out for prospectiveExpert status is not just given, it must also be
clients, and can be a way of articulating your expertclaimed. If you are an expert at what you do, there
position on relevant trends in your field.is absolutely nothing wrong with identifying yourself
4) Seek publicity regularly.as one. If you're not, do what it takes to become
This may be in the form of writing effective pressone. Authenticity and integrity are powerfully
releases or being quoted in industry journals oreffective marketing tools.
magazines. Just find some way of regularly getting10) Commit to regular actions to build your expert
your name and expertise mentioned in print. Therestatus.
are many resources on how to write effective pressAs you build your expert status, you will find the
releases. Aim to send out at least one press releaseflow of opportunities come faster and more easily.
per quarter or to attain two magazine or journalWhen this happens, continue to take regular actions
mentions each month.to keep building your expert status. Once gained,
5) Build a file of successful case studies.expert status must be maintained.
Most people will have two questions when they learnTry these strategies to build your expert status.
of you. One: can you help? and two: how can youYour business (and bank account) will benefit.