As a freelancer, solopreneur or a small service business owner, it is tough to stand out and be seen as an authority in your niche. You aren’t selling a physical product that customers can easily compare with your competitors' offer. People buy your services if they trust your expertise, see you as an authority in your field and know that you can help them with their problems.

But how to establish yourself as an authority is the real question. With such fierce competition out there, how do you get noticed and remembered?

Short answer: You have to produce authority worthy content and be consistent.

Long answer: Read along.

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It all starts with a change in mindset

Most people think of being seen as an authority as something external. These people wait for the moment when something ‘external’ or someone ‘else’ will validate their expertise. But this is untrue.

Wait for no one! Rather than waiting to be seen as an authority and an expert in your field, anoint yourself as an authority. Share thought provoking and helpful ideas and create exceptional content so that your authority becomes undeniable. You don’t need someone else to validate you, rather your ideas will be validating your authority on their own.

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Have actual experience or obtain knowledge that will turn you into an expert.

Being seen as an authority requires you to have experience or knowledge in your respected field. You can’t be an expert consultant to startups if you haven’t studied entrepreneurship or owned a business. 

Stop pretending and start learning. People wanting to build a brand often overlook knowledge. You need to keep learning and stay on top of your game before others view you as an expert. Fortunately, in the age we live in, learning is easier than ever before. Books, courses and certifications are all available online. Just do it.

But as I have said before, people value experience more than a college degree. So if you have relevant experiences in your field, showcase it and be loud about it! 

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Target a niche

Align your vibe, attract your tribe!

If you have read my previous blogs, you would know that I am all in for niching down business. Targeting a niche helps simplify all aspects of your business, especially marketing and sales. 

It is far easier to be seen as an authority and an expert in your niche, then in a general market. Here is a quick example. Financial advisors, consulting all sorts of people and businesses will have a hard time getting noticed and remembered. There may be thousands if not millions of financial advisors out there wanting to sell their services. But what if we niche down the business. 'Financial advisor for millennials who are high earners but not rich yet'. The message automatically starts to resonate with the target audience. Your audiences’ ears will perk up when you tell them what you do. Also, it will become far easier to establish your authority because now you are targeting a group of people with the same problems/needs. Rather than competing for a tiny share in a sea of opportunities, become the king of the river.

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The Authority Formula

The secret that I have learned, which can be done by anyone. All it takes is a change in mindset and commitment to the formula: (Production + Visibility) x Time = Authority

1. Showcase your experience and expertise in the subject matter by producing authority-worthy content
2. Increase your visibility and get people to see it. 
3. Be consistent. Consistency is the multiplying factor. 
   

It’s that simple. But not easy.

If it’s so simple, why doesn’t everyone do it?

Well, most people don’t even try. They probably know that producing great content will somehow help their brand. But they haven’t digested the idea. They always have something short-term and more important to do for their business. 

Then there’s a much smaller group of people who try. But the idea of instant reward and gratification makes them impatient. They want results, and they want it fast. Or else, they’ll just quit.

Which leaves a very small group of people. You probably know these people more than the above two groups.

They are the owners of the social media groups you join.

They are the authors of the articles you read when you google a question.

They are the people who’s conferences you attend and watch on YouTube.

And you can absolutely be one of them.

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The Payoff Of Building Authority

Only the people who do the work and stay committed are the ones who become authorities in their spaces.

You might be thinking that the payoff of building authority is going to be better and bigger clients. But it is much more than that, way more.

The payoff is a future filled with massive opportunities that you cannot even fathom right now because you do not allow yourself to consider that they are even possible.‍

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Stay Committed, Stay Focused

As simple as it may seem. Being focused and committed over a long period is a daunting task. With so many things going on in a business, it is hard to prioritize. If you want some support in transforming your brand from a mainstream service provider to an expert that attracts ideal clients at a premium price, I can help you with it. We can even have a 15 min call to discuss your problems and opportunities!

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