In a world where seemingly, anyone can call themselves – or be labelled by others as – an influencer, one of the best ways to position yourself is as an authority in your industry.

What this means is that other people see you as a go-to expert in your field and will listen to you above almost all others.

Think Martin Lewis on personal finance? or Mary Berry on all thing’s cookery-based? These are 2 of the most-well known industry authority figures around today.

You can get to be an authority without being as famous as that, of course, and here are 5 steps you can take to help you do it.

1. LinkedIn is your friend

Just about every industry authority figure is active on LinkedIn. They don’t just like and share posts though. They use it as it’s meant to be used by writing articles, posting videos, and getting involved in lots of meaningful conversations. This helps build followers and connections. And you can follow this approach. Don’t just post dull, corporate-style content, however. Make it interesting by bringing your personality into it to make yourself stand out from others. Keep it professional though, so you don’t offend anyone.

2. Be a guest contributor

This is a great way to raise your profile. This could be in print, online, on the radio, or even on TV. Pitch editors a unique angle, offering intriguing and useful content that resonates with their audience. Start with local radio shows and business magazines and see where it takes you. Podcasts are also becoming more and more popular with business owners, so nabbing a guest spot on an one might prove to be a shrewd move.

3. Those who can, teach

One thing business owners love is learning new skills. So, why not be the one who teaches them? Online courses and workshops are relatively easy to host and can build your profile quickly. You don’t have to do all the work yourself either – arrange for guest speakers in a related industry to speak too or build a networking session in. Try doing your first few for free and then start charging people a fee once they become more established.

4. Bring others in

Truly great authority figures know the value of other leaders. They’re not afraid to mention or collaborate with them. Many will build other leaders up and talk about how amazing they are at what they do. It’s about helping each other become better. This is something you can do on LinkedIn by sharing relevant content by others or putting a list together for others to follow. They’ll more than likely do the same for you, which will help you grow your network and influence. 

5. Avoid the quick buck

Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away and chase the next big thing in the hope of making a fast fortune. Doing this can sometimes lead to getting caught up with scams, which can ruin your reputation if you’re seen as dishonest or untrustworthy. You might even be labelled a fraud. Building your profile isn’t something you can do quickly. It needs time and effort to do it properly, and it’s not worth risking what you’re developing for something that’s later proved to be a gimmick.

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