{"id":4726,"date":"2011-08-08T09:43:51","date_gmt":"2011-08-08T09:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.questionpro.com\/?p=4726"},"modified":"2011-08-08T09:43:51","modified_gmt":"2011-08-08T09:43:51","slug":"how-to-become-an-authority-in-your-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.questionpro.com\/blog\/how-to-become-an-authority-in-your-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become an Authority in Your Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"image\"It’s more important than ever to become an authority in your industry. \u00a0You may think that the market is overcrowded, but don’t be fooled. \u00a0Most people assume that you have to be an author, self-employed or a CEO to be seen as an authority.<\/p>\n

Nothing could be further from the truth. \u00a0In fact, with the job market being what it is — your chances of landing that dream position may hinge on how you are perceived in the industry. \u00a0Any company would be happy to build its own credibility by having the industry authority as part if their team.<\/p>\n

In a recent article on the AMEX Open Forum<\/a>, I discuss fourteen ways that you can build your authority and become an influencer in your industry — pay special attention to item #12 and see how research plays an important role:<\/p>\n

You may already be an influencer and not even know it \u2013 in which case, the steps I\u2019m going to describe here will catapult you into stardom (maybe not, but they will help).\u00a0 And if you\u2019re not an influencer, but would like to be, you\u2019ll find this roadmap a helpful start on your strategic plan toward dominating your target market.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Focus on a very specific topic area (niche).<\/strong>\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t quite figured this one out, you\u2019re going to be in for an emotional ride.\u00a0 You MUST find a targeted, focused niche<\/a> in which to specialize. You will not limit your audience, instead you will attract a very interested audience.\u00a0 Start by brainstorming. Then do some keyword analysis; use Google Keywords<\/a> and check out SEO Book<\/a> to start.\u00a0 You can also go into your own accounts and target the most profitable and fun ones.<\/li>\n
  2. 10,000 hours of working in your area.<\/strong>\u00a0 In his book Outliers<\/em> Malcolm Gladwell says that you need 10,000 hours<\/a> to get good at anything.\u00a0 This is another way to look at where you may have influence. \u00a0What subject or work has engrossed you over the last decade to the point that you\u2019ve invested 10,000 hours in becoming better?\u00a0 The answer may surprise you because it may NOT be in your existing business.\u00a0 But this says something about where your talents and passions lie.<\/li>\n
  3. Own the keywords in your area of expertise<\/strong>.\u00a0 You will need to have done the Google Keyword exercise above to do this step.\u00a0 Pick a handful of keywords that you will own.\u00a0 This means that when people type in this combination of words, your goal is to be at the top of the list.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t just apply for Google searches \u2013 this applies for mind-share.<\/li>\n
  4. Blog<\/strong>.\u00a0 You must blog if you want to be an authority or influence people.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to blog daily, but you must provide valuable content that is congruent with your keywords and your area of expertise.\u00a0 Blogging is a full page advertisement for who you are and what you promise.\u00a0 Use it well.<\/li>\n
  5. Write guest articles for high traffic blogs<\/strong>.\u00a0 If your blog content is good, then your guest posts should be better.\u00a0 Target popular high-traffic blogs in your area of interest and send the editor a killer article. Make sure that it will bring traffic to them as well as yourself.\u00a0 Educate their audience, inform them, make it easy for them to take action and learn something.\u00a0 The editor will appreciate the content and you will both appreciate the traffic.<\/li>\n
  6. Write a book or eBook<\/strong>.\u00a0 Self-publishing is not a bad word and publishing eBooks and Kindle books can be down-right profitable.\u00a0 Just read about John Locke, the Kindle Single sensation (he\u2019s an entrepreneur who writes short novels). He\u2019s figured out how to become a best selling eBook author as well as an influencer and motivator of self-published authors.<\/li>\n
  7. Schedule speaking engagements.<\/strong>\u00a0 Hit the speaker circuit. This will be a high investment in time, money and energy, but the payoff may be worth it depending on your presentation skills and your subject matter.\u00a0 Don\u2019t think that your niche is too small, rather focus on the value that you bring to the audience.<\/li>\n
  8. Create and run seminars and\/or webinars<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is similar to live speaking, and yet it\u2019s very different.\u00a0 Running a seminar or a webinar involves your putting in some serious marketing and promoting energy.\u00a0 The upside is that you can charge for seminars and webinars, so they are a way to promote as well as sell.\u00a0 In addition to this, you can record them more readily and use them over and over.\u00a0 Check out Stealth Seminar<\/a> (I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m sharing this)\u00a0 it will allow you to record a seminar and run it over and over as if it\u2019s live.<\/li>\n
  9. Send Press Releases<\/strong>.\u00a0 Social media is a great public relations tool, but don\u2019t forget about press releases.\u00a0 They are still very powerful.\u00a0 Remember, that when you\u2019ve targeted a specific industry, you\u2019ve narrowed your distribution list AND also increased your chances of visibility.\u00a0 Post them on your blog, use PRWeb or other release distribution service.\u00a0 One last hint about releases \u2013 write them as a ready-to-print article so that the people who pick them up don\u2019t have to do too much editing.<\/li>\n
  10. Do a radio show or internet radio show.<\/strong>\u00a0 BlogTalk Radio is a great resource.\u00a0 You can set up an internet radio show in less than 30 minutes.\u00a0 Your content will be syndicated and distributed (based on those keywords again). And your content is immediately available.\u00a0 Do a show that features other experts in your area.\u00a0 This creates a win-win promotional opportunity for both parties.<\/li>\n
  11. Help others succeed<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is more of a general tip that goes with every strategy that you take on.\u00a0 For each action you take look for ways to partner and co-brand with other experts.\u00a0 When you cross promote with other experts, you get the benefit of being referred to their list and they get referred to your list.<\/li>\n
  12. Do research in your area and own the data<\/strong>.\u00a0 Another strategy that many experts forget about is doing research or surveys with their audience.\u00a0 With so many free survey tools available it\u2019s a huge waste of opportunity not to start gathering data about your industry and audience.\u00a0 You can use any number of free online survey tools, but also consider learning about mobile research panels<\/a>.\u00a0 This way you will be able to run shorter surveys and have a conversation with your respondents.\u00a0 It\u2019s the latest trend.<\/li>\n
  13. Create information products based on your expertise<\/strong>.\u00a0 There are already several information products that I\u2019ve mentioned in this list; seminar, radio broadcasts, webinars, books and ebooks.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let any bit of your knowledge go to waste, turn it into articles.\u00a0 Then combine the articles into a book.\u00a0 Take the book and rework it to become a seminar or webinar.\u00a0 Focus on one area and do a speech on that.\u00a0 If you\u2019re currently consulting, start a diary or blog post a review of your day.\u00a0 Convert the advice you gave into something educational for a broader audience.<\/li>\n
  14. Participate in Influencer projects<\/strong>.\u00a0 Last year Fast Company did an experiment called \u201cThe Influencer Project\u201d regardless of whether you feel that it was a valid or invalid measure of who an influencer is, it is evidence of a trend that includes creating communities of trusted experts.\u00a0 If you see events or projects like this; nominate yourself and your clients.\u00a0 Work to promote their progress in the project.\u00a0 Each of these projects creates a living database or list of people that others have felt are influential enough to describe in a nomination form.\u00a0 Take a look at the SMBInfluencer Awards<\/a> as an example.\u00a0 People nominated individuals, companies and media organizations they felt influenced small business.\u00a0 This is a living list and a promotional opportunity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Becoming an authority, expert or influencer is all within your control.\u00a0 Focus on where you spend the most time, money, effort and skill and share it consistently and persistently.\u00a0 And remember, to decide on whether you\u2019re in it to make money or be famous, because the two don\u2019t always go together.\u00a0 Focus on your business goals and then use these tips to build your influence to achieve them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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