If you are attempting to build an audience as an expert in your niche it is important that your blog posts show off your expertise.
Some people attempt to paint themselves as an expert by telling everyone what an expert they are. Unfortunately this approach–even when it is true–tends to create the opposite impression.
Here are some tips to help you make an “expert” impression:
- Talk Like an Expert without Apology
Sometimes even when we are an expert we feign false humility. We pretend we aren’t as accomplished as we are.
Go ahead and speak with authority. Others will see the difference between your absolutes and imposters’ weaknesses.
- Teach Others How to Do Something in Your Niche
This is one of the best ways to show your expertise. Don’t just do it, teach it. Let others learn from your expertise.
- Expose Little Know Tips, Tricks and Experiences
Often the difference between someone who has real expertise and one who has none is the detail they provide. When you provide real details of what your readers will experience as they follow your direction you build your credibility. Your “little tips” and anecdotes will establish you as a real expert.
- Admit Your Lack of Expertise When You Don’t Have It
One characteristics of true experts is their willingness to admit when they lack expertise. I can teach you hundreds of ways to make money online, but I know absolutely nothing about making money on eBay. If someone asks me about eBay I just admit I have no clue. It’s not something I’ve done before and I’m secure enough in my expertise that I can admit that without any embarrassment or fear.
- Never Attack or Be Defensive
This is a tough one at times–even for someone with real expertise. If you are online long enough you will see someone doing something that makes your blood boil. You will want to attack them. Or even worse, someone will attack you.
In almost all (if not all) of these cases your best course of action is to ignore it. When you attack someone else you hurt, not help, your credibility in the minds of many of your readers. When you get defensive, you often look weak.
If you do have to make a statement, use something neutral. One I like is: “I’ll let my track record speak for itself.” You appear strong and make your accuser appear weak.
Whether you are an expert in trading stocks or in knitting, following these tips will help you to project that image online.
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8 Comments
Hi Aaron,
I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that you don’t need a lot of knowledge to be an expert. It’s all relative. If you know something about a topic that someone else doesn’t, you’re an expert to them. The key is to be honest about what you do know, and to admit what you don’t. Thanks for the great post!
- Dave
Aaron — I think that your last point is perhaps the most critical. I see so many “hate bloggers” attack other bloggers. Often, the attacked blogger stoops to the level of the attacker. In business (and blogging/IM is a business) it is always better to take the high road.
Thanks for the post,
Mark
Love this post! Such good advice, and not just in my virtual life. I was recently “flamed” in a physical world meeting for being defensive - and I hadn’t realized I was. I then spent the next few days discovering where else in my life I was being defensive, and resolving the issue I had around it, which was not recognising nor acknowledging myself for my level of expertise, and projecting that onto the rest of the world. What a gift that fellow turned out to be!
Great advice Aaron,
My experience is that people love to hear what other people like themselves are doing, it makes them feel comfortable and can give them confirmation.
Being able to admit you don’t know is a great strength.
I had my first really defensive comments the other day, was interesting that when I replied in a calm and thoughtful way, I had no negative responses
Thanks for sharing these important points. Because one of my blogs is in the creating-your-own-happiness niche I’m sometimes tempted to clarify that I’m not setting myself up as a moral expert. But I resist this route and share details that make my points. That works better for all.
Your last piece of advice re: not attacking or being defensive is critical. It’s easy to respond to positive remarks; it’s how we respond to negative responses that is the true display of character.
Dave - you make an interesting point. When I first started my blogworld blog, it was a place for me to record things I was learning so I didn’t forget them. I also figured there were others who might need help with the really “basic” stuff to do with blogging. So when it comes to “blogging”, I’m nowhere near an expert BUT hope that I do have something to offer my target audience.
Aaron - I think you make good points. And NO-ONE can ever know anything so why people feel it’s “bad” to admit they don’t know something is an area I struggle to understand. The “negative” side of blog comments (attacks etc) is an area that concerns me. I HATE conflict of any kind. I think your thoughts on not retaliating are VERY wise.
This is really an eyeopener.Someone may say”Hey,everybody does know about these bookish stuffs-whats new about it?” Correct,but expert think the same thing in different way.They stand out with a voice.Nice post,Aaron.
Aaron — I remembered something else last night when I was thinking about this.
You cannot wait for someone to “appoint” you an expert. You need to claim the title for yourself.
Regards,
Mark
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