What do you want to be known for?
Becoming known as an expert in your field is one of the best ways to grow trust with your audience.
As a recognized industry leader, you will garner recommendations not only from your customers but also from anyone who knows you as a specialist and trusted resource.
Over the last ten years, I became well-known first as a Squarespace Designer and Teacher, and now as an Calm Business Educator for online business owners and solopreneurs. Being an authority in my field has been a major contributor to the long-term success of my business.
Building authority is a long game. The sooner you start, the better. Some strategies offer relatively quick wins—like regularly helping out in online groups—while others take longer but are highly impactful in the long term, like blogging.
Here are my most successful strategies that have helped me build a successful and sustainable six-figure business:
How-to posts and business tips on my blog
Help out in online business groups (Facebook mostly)
Be a guest on podcasts, summits, and webinars
Host my own webinars
Offer Ask-Me-Anything sessions
What is your expertise? What do you want to be known for?
Here are three prompts to help you get started on your own journey to becoming an authority in your field or industry:
1. Name your authority: I want to be known for…
Grab your journal or a piece of paper and write a short description of what you want to be known for and how your expertise can help others. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the skills or experience yet; much of that can and will be learned. Consider where you are today and where you want to be in the future.
Not sure what to say here? That can happen when you are not entirely clear yet what you’re all about, which is why this is such a powerful question! Think about it in terms of a friend telling someone about you:
“I have a friend who does exactly what you are talking about! Her name is (your name), she is a… and she helps people with… ”
“My friend (your name) specializes in… ”
“(Your name) knows a lot about…”
2. Where are you already known as an authority?
Make a list of all the places where people already know you as an expert in your field, such as online forums and newsletter subscribers.
3. What is one thing you could put into motion now?
Have a look at my list of strategies above, or write down your own ideas, and select one strategy that you’ll work on to expand your own authority. For instance:
Contact a podcast you’d like to be a guest on
Start your own online group
Offer Ask-Me-Anything sessions
Write a series of how-to blog posts
Want more strategies and guidance?
Check out my Calm Authority Planner, where I share 10+ years of strategies that have helped me become known as an authority in my field and build a successful and sustainable online business. Pick one or two strategies from the workbook and make them your focus over the next 12 months as you build up your own authority.
