Five Key Steps To Gain Expert Status – Part Two
This is part two of a five part series on how you can gain expert status and be seen as the go-to person in your target market. To get the rest of the series, check out previous posts or subscribe to receive the next part in the series, subscribe in the box to your right.
Key Step 2: Take a Unique Stand.
In this age of information overload – when consumers are hit with thousands of marketing messages each day – how are you going to make your message stand out? How many other people do what you do? What makes you different?
Consider your niche market. What do you believe in so passionately that you are called to help this niche market? What do YOU think about in the middle of the night…that you feel called to share and teach? What makes you very happy or quite angry when you hear about your target market and their problems?
Perhaps you are a counselor or coach for at-risk teens. You believe strongly that the answer is: “Loving with consistent limit setting.” Perhaps you believe that “No child is at risk if they have love and structure.”
Maybe you find yourself angry when people say “We think divorce is the best solution. After all, we are fighting and don’t want the child to be exposed to that.” If so, maybe your stand is “Divorce hurts kids too.”
Consider Michael Yapko’s bold statement “Depression is contagious.”
I felt great when I first heard Pete Pearson from the Couples Institute say “The communication problems in your relationship are not your fault.”
What about Dr. Mike Brickey, Anti-Aging Psychologist who says: “Trash the pills, needles, diets, surgeries, and low expectations. Use your brain.” (to stay young)
These people passionately believe in their positions and take a stand with them.
If you haven’t already, take some time to reach inside and look at your core values – your hunger and your ideas that call you to help people.
What bold and provocative statement come to mind when you touch your core beliefs and values?
As you find this unique stand, begin to see how you can spread your passion abut it. Consider books, e-books, audios, and interviews. You will probably find that taking a strong stand creates both loyal followers and great critics. But a strong and unique stand serves a couple of purposes. You rise out of the sea of others doing what you are doing. You become known and talked about. You are now seen as an expert.
But the wonderful side benefit of a unique, bold stand is that you truly get to live your purpose.
Stay tuned next time for Key Step #3 in Five Key Steps To Gain Expert Status: Become An Author. It is easier than you think!
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Great post. I love the idea. Thanks for all you do, Casey!