Are you looking to establish yourself as an in-demand and trusted expert in your field?
If so, you’re starting out strong, but you need to stay committed and read through each of these nine articles.
Once completed, you’ll need to take true action and make things happen for yourself.
Try to complete each specific related task as you complete the associated article on the step itself.
In this series of articles, we will cover the 9 essential steps that you need to take to become an expert and attract more clients.
Before we dive into the steps, let me ask you a few questions.
- What inspired you to read this article?
- What does being an expert mean to you?
- And, more importantly, how will it change your business and your life?
Many people believe that becoming an expert requires 10,000 hours of practice, as popularized by Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers.
However, the truth is that you don’t need to be a master to be considered an expert in your area of interest.
According to ChatGPT, an expert is a person who possesses comprehensive and authoritative knowledge or skill in a particular area.
The keyword here is authoritative.
If you know more about a subject than the person you are speaking to, you can be considered an authority.
Being viewed as the go-to expert in your field is crucial for building trust with your audience and attracting more clients.
However, it’s important to note that being an expert doesn’t mean you know everything.
It’s okay to admit when you don’t know something and commit to finding the answer.
Vulnerability and honesty are key traits of a trusted authority.
To establish yourself as a trusted authority and go-to expert, you must add value and share educational content, be willing to market your skills and expertise, and follow your heart.
You don’t need to reach the whole world; instead, focus on knowing your ideal client and audience.
Now, it’s time for your assignment. Take a few moments to answer the following questions:
- What does being an expert mean to you?
- How will becoming an expert change your business?
- How will becoming an expert change your life?
Try to come up with at least 10 answers for each question. This exercise will help you gain clarity and motivation as you work towards becoming an in-demand and trusted expert in your field.
Let’s jump right into the first step!
Step 1: Make Your Decision
Step 1 is all about making that decision. You have to decide what you’ll become an expert in and what that will look like.
The first step towards becoming an expert in your field is to make a firm decision on what you want to focus on. This involves identifying what you want to be known for and who your ideal clients are.
Deciding means making up your mind about what needs to be done and how it should be done. It requires a never-give-up attitude and a commitment to stick to your goals.
It’s important to note that being interested in something is not the same as deciding to do it. If you’re interested, you’ll only do what’s convenient for you, but if you’ve made a firm decision, you’ll be determined to stick to it no matter what.
Indecision leads to a lack of progress, so it’s essential to make a clear decision and avoid the land of Squishyville, where nothing ever gets accomplished.
To ensure your decisions align with your goal of becoming a trusted and in-demand expert, ask yourself if each decision you make supports that goal.
Focus means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that come your way.
You must pick carefully and be comfortable saying no to things that do not align with your expertise.
Next, it’s crucial to identify what you want to be known for in your niche.
This involves thinking deeply about your unique subject within your chosen area of expertise.
Being specific will help you position yourself as the expert who knows everything about that specific subset of the niche.
When identifying what you want to be known for, it’s important to choose a 3-5 word phrase that accurately describes your expertise. This will help you to communicate your expertise to others and attract your ideal clients.
It’s crucial to avoid trying to be known for too many things at once, as this can dilute your message and make it harder to reach your target audience.
For example, here are what some well-known experts and mentors are known for:
- Melanie Benson, Revenue Strategist and Business Performance Optimizer
- Russell Brunson, Funnels (expertise) and ClickFunnels (product/service)
- Jeanna Gabellini, Law of Attraction Business Coach
- Mary Allen, AKA Life Coach Mary and America’s Inner Peace Coach
- Christian Mickelsen, who is known for his popular course, “Free Sessions that Sell.”
When you decide what it is that you want to be known for, it allows you to create content around that message, and helps you to stand out from the crowd.
This gives you the power of true focus which will help throughout your entire career, and, in truth, your life.
Get To Know Your Clients Really Well
To become a trusted and in-demand expert, it’s crucial to match your expertise with the right audience – your ideal client.
Instead of trying to please everyone, focus your efforts on a specific group of people who are looking for the solution you offer.
This approach allows you to gain a deeper understanding of your ideal client’s challenges and issues, which makes it easier to create content, programs, and services that they are hungry for.
When identifying your ideal client, you need to do more than just consider what keeps them up at 3 am.
Your ideal client should be someone you know like a BFF, understanding every aspect of their life.
To determine this, you need to ask questions like…
- where they work
- if they have kids
- their relationships
- financial situation
- hobbies
- personality
- sense of humor
These details help you develop an avatar of your ideal client, allowing you to tailor your content and services to their needs.
To sum it up:
- Decide that you will be a trusted and in-demand expert.
- Create a 3 to 5-word phrase that describes what you want to be known for.
- Get very clear about who your ideal client is – the people who will be drawn to you and the solution you offer.
To get started, make a list of your core teachings, the ones you are passionate about, and play with 3 to 5-word phrases that you want to be known for.
Then, draw an avatar of your ideal client using crayons or colored pencils, and answer the questions about your ideal client’s life to understand them on a deeper level.
With this information, you can create content and services that are tailored to their needs and become the go-to expert for your ideal client.
Next Up: Step 2
Now that you’ve made your decision, and you’re committed to it, it’s time to move to the next step. This is where we dig into what it takes to become that expert.
