How You Can Establish Yourself As An Industry Expert


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If you are looking to gain a leg up in the business world, it is important to for you to first take a look at yourself. Would you consider yourself to be an industry expert? If the answer is yes, then you should then ask yourself this question: would others recognize you as an industry expert?

Those who are recognized as an industry expert are not only able to command higher fees, but they are more often called upon by others for their opinion or their help. You may think that these individuals have many years studying the field or obtaining higher educational degrees to reach this level, but in reality that may not be the case. As this article points out, establishing yourself as an industry expert can be much easier than you think.

Here are some ways that you can establish yourself as a leader in your field.

 

1) Get Deeply Involved In Your Industry

 

Getting involved in your industry goes well beyond just working in the industry. It is important to become a member of the leading associations and organizations related to your industry. You can even go when step further by joining the board of directors, volunteering, speaking or sponsoring various events. These organizations or events will provide you with the opportunity to not only learn from others but also establish yourself in a leadership position.

 

2) Write About Your Industry

 

Seek out opportunities to author articles about your industry. Provide articles or news items for organization or association newsletters or publications, pitch article ideas to your industry’s trade magazines, or scan the news for topics to which you can add information as an industry expert. Editors are always looking for additional content that is interesting and informative, but something they do not know where to look. Therefore, you should take it upon yourself to step forward and offer your expertise.

 

3) Pitch Ideas To The Media

 

If your industry ever appears in national news, consider pitching topic ideas to the editors of online and print publications, or to the news director at broadcast media. Let them know why your topic is important and relevant now and why it will impact the readers or viewers that see the story. It is also important for you to outline exactly why you are the person who should tell the story. This will also help to establish yourself as an expert resource for future stories and interviews.

 

4) Write A Book Related To Your Industry

 

Although this is one of the more time-consuming strategies, writing a book can be one of the best ways to obtain instant credibility in your industry. Focus on what people inside — or outside — your industry need to know and provide helpful advice accordingly. If you are an industry expert, you likely have a wealth of information that you can use to teach someone else how to do something. Nonfiction books can fall into the following categories: self-help, how-to, biography, informational, and reference.

 

5) Create An Online Presence

 

It is important for you to create an online presence so that you can control your own message. Use your websites and social media outlets to create a strong and authoritative online presence. Think about what information other people can benefit from reading, then develop ways to disseminate that information through all the technologies and methods available today. This is a great way to grow your network and establish yourself as an expert in your field online.