Becoming the expert in your industry delivers tangible benefits to your business. Want to know how to do it? Try these helpful tips:

1. Become an advocate for your clients

A big part of developing a status as an authority figure in your industry is by becoming an advocate for your clients. If you’re a financial expert who specialises in helping people with chequered credit histories access finance, blog and share news stories about issues bad credit can create and show life-changing ways that accessing finance can help people get their lives back on track.

2. Find Your Niche

Although it’s tempting to please everyone, focusing your energy on one specific aspect of your business, and a small amount of potential clients, can actually help establish your reputation as an expert in your field. If you become known as the go-to person for people with bad debt histories to find new finance, for example, you will service a clear sector of the market and you will become known as an expert in your field. Niching helps boost the effectiveness of your marketing efforts by enabling you to hone in on a specific target market and talk to them directly.

3. Contribute articles in industry-specific magazines and blogs

Blogging about an area you truly understand if a fantastic way to build a reputation as an industry expert. If you can’t afford to invest in a professional writer to help you, at least make an effort to invest in proofreading – ensuring the words you produce are professional and precise.

4. Hit the Speaking Circuit

Public speaking can be scary but if you learn how to master it, it can be the best professional development investment you’ll ever make. Speaking at industry conferences and events enhances your reputation as an expert. If you’re nervous, consider the investment in some professional public speaking training, or look up a speaking-focused group, such as Toastmasters, and hone your skills in a supportive, educational environment.

5. Get Involved

From industry-specific networking events to podcasts and radio shows – there are lots of ways to get involved and be seen as a specialist in your field. With so many community radio programs and a growing list of interesting podcasts to be part of, there are more opportunities than ever to build your business brand. 

Whatever you do choose to do to promote your profile, it’s important to be authentic and aligned with your core values and message. Acting one way on your social media forums and another way when you speak in public will only confuse your audience and confuse your marketing message. To be seen as a trusted expert in your field, it’s important to showcase your integrity, reliability and congruency – ensuring everything you do is true to you and the benefits of your brand and service offering. 

Education is a big part of building your reputation. When you first start, you may not have all the skills you need but the good news is that skills can be taught. If you admire a particular speaker that you’ve seen at an event, don’t be afraid to ask them how they honed their skills. They may recommend a public speaking workshop that can turn your nerves into confidence – and help you build your brand with positivity and class.

Whatever you do choose to do to promote your profile, it’s important to be authentic and aligned with your core values and message. Acting one way on your social media forums and another way when you speak in public will only confuse your audience and confuse your marketing message. To be seen as a trusted expert in your field, it’s important to showcase your integrity, reliability and congruency – ensuring everything you do is true to you and the benefits of your brand and service offering.