How do you become an expert?
How do you establish yourself as an expert in your field, marketing yourself as the person to turn to for expert advice and becoming the number one consumer’s choice? There are a great many ways to achieve this seemingly impossible task. Here are five suggestions to get you started:
1. Writing for publications and journals is a great way to become an expert in your field. You don’t need to be a novelist to write a top ten list of helpful hints. Pitch an article to a relevant trade magazine (there are plenty of books available on writing query letters). Even if your idea doesn’t make it to print, you may be called upon as an interviewee in an upcoming article.
2. Giving talks. There are plenty of training institutions that need advice from working professionals. Keep an eye out for relevant courses and offer your services. It will heighten your status as an expert and you may even find a future employee.
3. Having an information section on your website. I was once looking for house inspectors in New York and my research drove me to a site that had an article: ‘Things you should be looking for when getting a house inspection’. This unsolicited advice made me choose his website over others and put him in a good position for getting the job.
4. Attending trade shows is always a good way to make new contacts and establish yourself. Have at the ready, business cards and a quick minute pitch about what you do.
5. Join an online team. The internet is an information galaxy. If you can allot half an hour a day, try joining an online team much like mindpetals.com or other sites that establish you as an expert. Someone who is able to let others learn from their mistakes.
It doesn’t take much to become the leading expert in your field. In fact, time, knowledge and expertise are not the main ingredient. Learning how to help others, provide useful information and dedicate time to promoting yourself will let you leap frog the rest.
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