What does it mean to be an expert in a particular niche? What are people looking for in an ‘expert’? When people start looking for an expert in a particular field, they are looking for valuable information. Information that is valuable to them. They want to be taught something that they do not know.
Why do you want to be viewed as an expert within your niche? Expert status is a tool to increase the number of people who patronize your business. Creating expert status may be the missing step in taking your business to the next level.
So how do you become an expert within your niche?
1. VALUE WHAT YOU KNOW
How many times have you heard these questions…”how did you do that?”, “can you show me how”, “how do you know that?” If people are asking you how to do something or how you did something, guess what? You have something of VALUE and you can charge people to learn from you because they value what you know. They want to know what you know and it doesn’t really matter what that knowledge base is. It could be recipes, organizing tips, how to discipline your children, etc. The facts are this…everyone knows SOMETHING. Start with you and value what you know!!
2. VALUE YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES
We all have experiences that have shaped where we are today and where we want to go. Everyone has life experiences that they can draw upon to connect with others. Some have life experiences that some would call dysfunctional and guess what? Many others have had bad experiences or may be in a bad situation right now that you can impact by sharing your stories. Some have great knowledge around specific subjects that can help others in their personal and business life. Don’t be afraid to share your life experiences with your audience…it’s one way people connect with you!
3. IDENTIFY YOUR NICHE
What does your knowledge base revolve around? Who do you want to share it with? Who would be interested? Don’t say no one because, trust me, as I said above, EVERYONE knows SOMETHING that is valuable to someone else. You simply have to figure out what that is and who wants what you know.
Do some research and find out who would benefit from what you know. That is your potential customer base!
4. TAKE ACTION
Start putting your knowledge into a format that can be consumed by your audience. This could be an eBook, blog posts, conference calls, videos, a webinar, etc. There are tons of ways to disseminate knowledge.
Think about …have you paid to learn before? Most likely you have and many others do as well! You can be THE voice within your niche!
5. GETTING YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE
Much of marketing is about how you share your message. I am sure you have heard this before but it bears repeating because it is so true! STORIES SELL. If you can tell a story, you can sell what you know. You share how your knowledge can benefit them. Remember stories spread; people love sharing good stuff!
You goal should be to serve others and help them either personally, in their business or both.
6. KNOW YOUR WORTH
What are others experts charging for their knowledge? You are worth more than you think and you need to project that value to others. How much time and money can you save your prospects by sharing what you know? That’s VALUABLE!
7. DEVELOP MORE WAYS TO SERVE
Always be on thinking of other ways to serve your niche. The most important part of being an expert is to realize that is is not about you…it's all about who you serve!
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About Kim
Thanks for the suggestions. Part of the challenge is balancing time between staying on top of the field (with continual learning and keeping up-to-date) and disseminating knowledge.
Kim, you've touched on what people overlook the most when it comes to expertise: the value of their personal experience. Someone once asked, "What is it that you do, that people ask you for help with and that seems so easy to you that you can't believe they'd ever pay for it?" And they will!
This is great advice Kim. The way to be recognized as an expert in any field is to build trust and establish your voice as an authority. Your point #4 is especially relevant but often over looked. Yes, we do need to keep it personal and connect with our followers. On the other hand, we need to establish authority be commenting, tweeting and sharing content that brings value to people who are interested in our niche. Sharing posts by other bloggers is a great way of serving your niche. Thanks for posting.
Great ideas. I especially agree with point #6. It's amazing how much the right client will be willing to pay for Expertise. I would suggest that your readers also think about joining an Expert Network like Gerson Lehrman Group, CognoLink, JustAnswer or Maven Research. While some networks specialize in specific topics, many offer consulting opportunities in various niches.
Great article Kim! Thanks for freely sharing your knowledge with us all. You are a real gift!
This is an excellent post. I agree with so many of these points – they're echoed in Brendon Burchard's Millionaire Messenger, a great book for anyone looking to become a niche expert.
Great advice and usual:) Thanks for sharing your wisdom and teaching people that they too have wisdom to share and certainly make $$ from their wisdom!!
Thanks for your tips and for sharing your knowledge. I think everyone has something to offer others, just finding what it is and using it to its full potential. Believing in ourselves and what we have to offer ! Thanks
I absolutely love these, Kim! The 2 that really resonated with me are #'s 1 & 2. Last year I really started to value what I know as well as to value my life experiences. It is so important and when we do so, our business then takes on a whole new meaning and quickly soars to the next level. Thank you, for all that you do and share with all of us. You are Amazing
This concept is so important and often overlooked: KNOW YOUR WORTH What are others experts charging for their knowledge? You are worth more than you think and you need to project that value to others. How much time and money can you save your prospects by sharing what you know? That’s VALUABLE!
I remind myself of what I've invested in my education, training and such–do the math, it all adds up. We are all worth more than we realize.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I am working to become the expert in my niche in my community and this post helps! Thank you for sharing this wonderful information.
Hmmm Kim, great article, wonderful reminder! thank you! Patricia
Excellent post and awesome advice. I need to do a better job at following all of the points you mentioned.
Great information, Kim! Valuing what you know is so important. It's too easy not to value this within yourself and miss out on providing a service that other people need. There is a self-esteem component to this tip to value yourself then you value what you know. Thanks so much!
This is truly one of my favorite articles as I am still just trying to make sure that I know who my specific niche is and how I can best reach them and market to them. I also love how you bring up that we must value ourselves and really see just how much we are worth. It's so easy to get caught up in thinking that what we have to offer is nothing, no big deal. But oh how false that is! Thanks so much for this article…it's a keeper in my book!
being new to all this i'm still working on what my niche and my ideal client is…i am also working on seeing my worth and celebrating it rather than doubting it.
thanks for a great post! i will definitely come back to it and more of your posts!
Great advice for anyone with a product and or service that they are trying to share with others.
Becoming an expert on a particular niche is very important especially if you want to gain respect from your audience. It is important for a blogger to know what he or she is doing in order for the readers to trust him or her.
Great advice worth printing and posting next to the desk. Solo-preneurs are often struggling with issues of finding value in themselves and their products/services. This is a road map away from those struggles toward financial wellness. Thanks.
Great suggestions and advice, Kim. I am also trying to be an expert in my niche… Thank you for always sharing you knowledge. You are truly amazing and a great example of being an expert…
Thanks Kim, all of these tips are so on point! I love the way you encourage people to realize that EVERYONE is an expert in something. (Usually more than one thing!) It's funny how when things are second nature to us, we don't even think about being an "expert" in them because we just take them for granted. Find your niche, find your audience, figure out how to serve them, and shout it from the mountain top!
Thanks for a great article – this is an area where I am still defining myself…. getting closer to my true self everyday! I have great mentors to lead me… <wink!>
Define what you want to share and then figure out who wants what you can share. You can do it!
Thanks Kim. This is so true in every aspect of my life today whether it's business, personal, recovery or fitness. I do have people asking my advice on many issues or help with their goals yet I feel like the furthest thing from an expert sometimes. I only have my experience to share and if I don't know the answer I'm not afraid to ask someone who does and that gives me more knowledge for the future as well. Never stop learning.
Agree, Michael! Never stop learning is my motto! A day without learning something new is a day wasted!
That's right. Everyone is an expert on something.
Because we are shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and our expertise, we should give ourselves a little more credit than we usually do. Somehow, we seem to be too hard on ourselves and end up selling ourselves short.
Also, I am biased towards "taking action" and do all it takes to get the word out there.
Great post as usual Kim. Keep 'em coming
Thanks!
Great article, and agree with all of your points. Although I think you've missed one great strategy for positioning yourself as an expert – and one that I think most people believe they can't achieve (but they can… quickly and easily) and that is to write a book.
I hear gasps…. "me, write a book, I couldn't because – insert excuse here…" But you can! In fact, anyone can write a book. Yes it takes commitment, and some planning – but with the right tools, it's not as difficult as you think.
Being a published author propels you to 'expert' faster and more effectively than any other strategy. And one that most people who have identified their niche can implement easily. There is a tone of free information out there on how to start. And in fact, if your a prolific blogger then you have great content right there – certainly to start you off.
I do agree but to someone just getting started a book is very overwhelming. I am releasing my first book soon so I get this side of it
Kim, I follow you on Twitter and finally clicked on a link to read something you wrote beyond the tweet … and I'm so glad I did. This is an excellent post. Thank you! I'm going to share this right now with someone who will be so very encouraged by your words and suggested process. He and I have been taling about "expertise" for 2 years now. He is a good friend and future business partner.
I've been focused on my own expert status for sometime now. Malcolm Gladwell in his book "Outlliers" talks about what it takes to build an Expert; 10.000 hours of practice. As you point out, there are many things in our life experiences where we've put in the hours … making us the expert. It was freeing when I discovered this for myself.
I figured it takes about 10 years to get the kind of expert-building practice of which Gladwell writes. I just completed my tenth year in my private coaching and facilitation practice. Over an issue where I was torturing myself, my wonderful wife looked at me and simply said, "You need to trust yourself." And there it is … the core of one's confident expertise!
So glad you followed the link, Jeff! You are right…confidence in us is the very core of success in so many parts of our lives. I have a motto ‘YOU CAN DO IT!’. Thoughts are things and I firmly believe we have no limits except those we place on ourselves.
Great article Kim. I love what you say about it beinng important to value ourselves and realize that what we have to offer is a way to serve others..Agree that telling stories is a great way to connect with others.
Great post Kim and great tips. When you've found you're niche – and passion – it's a very nice place to be!
YES, it sure is! What is your niche, Jason?
Thank you kindly….I am starting officially with Pam Ellis, Kaizen Creative NLP and wanted to let you know I will be signing on for everything I can from you……so excited. Imagine, starting a new career and my 70th year. Thank you for all the encouragement you have given me to date. I will be back more often now.
Amazing, Mary! Excited for you and if I can assist, let me know!
Great post. Several years ago as a small retailer, we were having huge success in online sales and building/retailing our own websites for our products. I didn't really think anything about it or consider myself any kind of an "expert."
Then a friend at our local Chamber of Commerce asked that I give a speech at the local Rotary about what we did and our success with it, after wards dozens of business persons approached me and engaged me in conversation about how to utilize the internet to increase their income streams.
That day Horton Marketing Solutions was born because I learned the value of what I knew, where I previously did not consider myself an expert at all. I'll be using points 5, 6, 7 to further refine and improve our work and the overall post was great as we're now starting a business consultant branch as I'm seeing a niche there where we can help our clients improve their business.
Thank you for sharing!
The day I realized that what I knew was valuable was the day my business become a much bigger vision!
Nice piece,I have been thinking of how to convert my experience into valuable knowledge,then editing same .These piece would motivate me to action
Thanks for dropping in Walter!
Great Ideas Kim! Thank you!
Thank you, Arinze! Thanks for dropping in!