Why do you need to be a subject matter expert? Because it will build your credibility online! When you take the time to provide information and share your knowledge you will make a great impression.
Even if you think there are others with more knowledge… OK, there is always someone with more knowledge, don’t get hung up on it. You have something valuable to share in your corner of the web. Personally, I love this Tim Ferriss Quote: “Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.” It just nails it.
You are awesome!
And that brings us to Monday — Monday is when we focus on Subject Matter Expert and why it’s important to your small business persona.
Your status as a Subject matter Expert is comprised of four areas; experience, time, study, and research. Showcasing your knowledge in these four areas will elevate your status from regular person to “go to” person.
It is important to become the person people seek out because there is so much clutter on the web you need to break through it. I often say that you don’t have to be a Subject Matter Expert in the field that relates to your business. The reason is because, if you have a passion in an area, and someone is researching whether to do business with you, they will research you. When they find information you want to control the message.
Controlling the message is being a Subject Matter Expert. For example, I enjoy doing this blog, I work at my family’s marina, but I’m also a thought leader in baton twirling. Yes… baton twirling. I competed for 17 years, I’m currently a judge, and I’ve made an app for twirlers. If you want to do business with me, although it’s not in social marketing, you will find my status and involvement in baton twirling. This helps to lend creditability to you knowing “I’m real”. That’s why I say, although it’s better to develop your subject matter status in the field of your business, it is equally powerful to simply have a Subject Matter Expertise!
This is why it’s important to carve out your corner of the web. You need to focus on yourself… that’s what Monday is for… take a moment to enhance your status. Start with Linked-In and bulk up your profile. Maybe you choose Monday to create one addition to your blog/podcast/vlog that is just your subject matter expert area…
Let’s do this!
SME + Content/Consistency + Goals/Motivation + Customers = Infinity Marketing Machine
PS: Make sure to “like” this post… and follow me! (and please do me a favor… if you want more great ideas like the one in this post, just fill out this form and I’ll send them to you… start here)
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Action Steps
1- What area are you going to focus your Subject Matter Expertise around? Pick it, now.
2- Go to Linked-In and start enhancing your profile. Add awards, educational adventures… things… brag about yourself!
3- Install my free app! (SmallBusinessClubApp.com)
Podcast:
Listen to Episode #195 of the Two Minute Commute audio blog Podcast
