Positioning yourself as an expert in your industry requires you to deeply understand the field and its corresponding market and stay informed on the latest trends that could affect it. It also means constantly updating your knowledge base to remain current and adapting to changes that can impact the industry. It would be best always to strive to learn more and stay ahead of the competition.
Let others know what you know.
A solid online presence is critical to positioning yourself as an expert, as it will help build your reputation and brand recognition. Use social media channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to engage with potential customers, showcase your expertise, and share relevant content. Share your opinion, compare and contrast, spark innovation, etc. People want to know what you have to say.
Become an Influencer
An influencer is a person who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. Influencers often have large social media followings and have established credibility in a particular industry. Besides small business owners, they may work as journalists, bloggers, or even celebrities. Marketers work with influencers to create content to reach and influence target audiences.
Collaborate with other Professionals
Attend conferences, seminars, or webinars related to the industry and ensure you are on top of any new developments that could significantly impact it. Network with other professionals in the field and offer helpful advice, which can help establish credibility. Additionally, seek collaboration opportunities, which can be a great way to showcase your expertise.
Quick tip. When you’re in a room full of professionals, and the person at the front of the room takes questions from the audience, speak up. Take the mic and introduce yourself. Then, ask a thought-provoking question or your opinion on the subject matter.
Quality Wins Every Day
Ensure you deliver quality results with every project or engagement and always strive to exceed expectations. This doesn’t have to take up too much of your time. For example, you can develop a referral group of professionals to which you can send your customers. These are people you trust and know will take great care of your clients’ needs.
You can also create a library of resources. I like to create helpful articles and videos to share with my clients.
Sharing resources will help build trust and credibility with current and potential clients. With determination, hard work, and dedication, positioning yourself as an expert in your industry is achievable.
Conclusion
With your expertise, you can become an influencer by engaging target audiences through social media channels like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook. Stay inventive and get out there in a big way! Collaborate with other professionals in the same field, and attend conferences and seminars related to the industry.
Experts deliver quality results that exceed expectations. Rather than taking up too much of your one-on-one time (and eating into your profit margin), let’s brainstorm some ideas you can do to support your expertise and delight your customers. Please reach out to book a free consultation.
Janet Johnson is a small business advisor and author of My Money Pivot: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Finding & Making More Money and this educational blog. All views expressed belong solely to Ms. Johnson and do not represent the views of her employer.