Become a niche industry expert
If you are looking to build a successful career as an expert, invest in your training and build the skills that are in demand. Investing in yourself as an expert begins with aligning your skills with the market demand. It could be useful to look for additional training classes and even certifications.
Experts are not a jack of all trades. They focus on mastering specific skill sets within their niches. The reason people come to you is because they can’t find anyone else with the same level of understanding and same experience in your industry sector. In short, don’t be afraid to specialize strategically.
Become a go-to person
It’s important to have a website to establish yourself as an expert. You want people to be able to find you easily when they’re looking for someone with your skill set, so make sure you have a strong online presence with an SEO-optimized website and social media profiles. Whether you’re an architect trying to be more visible online or a business consultant seeking new clients, your website must appear for the relevant search terms. Your SEO strategy is the foundation of your expert presence. Of course, the website should include lots of helpful content, provide training about related topics (if applicable), and also offer products or services that might be of interest to your target audience. But without SEO, you’re never going to become their go-to expert.
Solve people’s problems
What are the most common issues that your audience is likely to experience? By creating targeted content to discuss these problems, you instantly show you understand their needs. More importantly, you can also use your content to help potential customers troubleshoot some easy problems. If your industry uses specific software tools, for example, you can create videos to guide people through the basic setup and functions of the tools. Helpful content will serve multiple purposes to establish your reputation as an expert:
- It shows you know what you are talking about
- It delivers value even before people book your services
- It is guaranteed to attract leads
Build strong relationships
One of the most important things you can do for your professional success is building a strong network. It’s not just about meeting people, but it is about knowing how they can help you (i.e., advice, mentorship, introductions) and what you can offer in return (i.e., help with their business).
Networking can also help you reach new contacts and businesses through word of mouth when your existing contacts recommend you further. In many ways, a strong network can be more effective than a solid portfolio, as people are more likely to trust what others have to say about your services.
Are you ready to bring your expert career to the next level? Building a career as a professional expert can be highly rewarding as it gives you the opportunity to work with a variety of different people and businesses.