Do you ever wonder how people become a “household name” and an authority in online business? 

Like, did they know someone or did they bootstrap it and now everyone seems to recognize their name and associate them with their industry or niche? 

Think of people like Jenna Kutcher, who’s basically synonymous with influencers. Or Amy Porterfield, the queen of courses. They’re well-known names and we look to them for their specialty and experience.

If you’re looking to grow your digital business, this is the key. No, I’m not saying you have to become a household name. But I am saying you want to establish yourself as an authority in your space.

Today, we’re going to dive into the strategies you can use to be recognized as an expert in your industry so you can build a successful business — and an email list that converts. Whether you’re a seasoned digital entrepreneur, or just starting out, we’re going to talk about ways you can be seen as an authority in your space, and how that can result in more list growth and more sales.

The key is to really position yourself as an expert and create content that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for awhile, we all have to start somewhere.

Why should you want to be seen as an authority in your industry?

Well, there are a lot of reasons.

It can help you land better clients. 

If you’re seen as an authority, people will be more likely to want to work with you. A prime example is from January of this year. I received a DM from a popular blogger and influencer who had posted on her Instagram stories of over 200,000 followers asking for an email marketing expert and several people commented with MY name. 

We emailed a couple of times about her specific needs and what I could do to help her achieve her goals, and next thing I knew, we were booked and she loved everything through the entire process.

Because I had positioned myself as the expert, there were enough people that had my name come to mind as soon as they saw “email marketing expert” and sent her straight to me. This happens more and more often, and it can and will happen for you too.

It can position you to charge more. 

If you’re seen as an authority and leader in your industry, people will be more willing to pay premium for your services.

It can help you to get media attention…

…If that is something you desire, because you can be featured or quoted in media articles and interviews.

You can also build a community and audience more easily… 

… and can make a difference by using your platform to make a positive impact in your industry.

So now that we’ve established how establishing yourself as a leader in your field can grow your business, now let’s dive into how you can get there.

First, be clear on what your area of expertise is.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to be clear about what you’re good at. There’s no shame in admitting that you don’t know everything, but you should be clear about what you do know. 
I recently had a conversation with a popular email marketer and she said “I can write the emails that sell, but I don’t know how to grow the email list without paid ads”

Her messaging is clear—she teaches people how to write emails. She has never mentioned teaching people how to grow their email list.

So like her, get clear on your expertise.

Develop consistent brand messaging.

Developing a clear and consistent brand message that resonates with your target audience will help establish you as an expert and make it easier for your audience to recognize and remember you.

Focus on content creation.

Once you have that brand messaging down, start creating valuable content in your industry and establish yourself as a thought leader.

Share your expertise in blog posts, on podcasts, webinars, and other formats so you can consistently provide valuable insights, tips, and solutions to your target audience.

Now that we’ve gotten you clear on your area of expertise, your brand messaging, and your content creation, I want to talk about one more thing:

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

This includes networking, speaking engagements and partnerships or collaborations.

The more you get your name, voice, and message out there, the more likely you are to be seen as an authority in your field. AND the more people are likely to sign up / subscribe / and come along with you on your journey.

Networking 

Networking can connect you with other experts in your industry – you can collaborate or partner with them on projects, or cross-promote each other’s services to reach a wider audience which will increase your visibility and credibility.

You can network at industry events, join professional organizations, or reach out to fellow contributors in summits or bundles that you are participating in.

I mentioned this in episode 2, when I talked about bundles. If you haven’t heard that, bounce over there and take a listen.

Speaking Engagements

Building authority — and an email list to back it up – is a long game, and it requires a lot more than just good work. You will have to put yourself out there. The key is finding the ways that feel good to you and connect you with the right people. 

It is not an overnight thing that happens because one Instagram Reel went viral or because you made a connection with one dream client. But you will see an ROI for the work you put in, and the wait will be well worth it.

By consistently creating valuable content, maintaining a consistent brand message, networking, speaking, and partnering with others in your industry, you can establish yourself as a leader in your field and grow your email list – which in turn grows your digital business.

I invite you to come chat more about this topic in the Facebook Group “The School of Marketing Community”. There are many like-minded business owners inside this group that are where you are at right now, or have been exactly where you are and we all love to help and support one another in this digital business space.

If this episode inspires you, leave a review and share your biggest takeaway with me! And while you’ve got your phone out, go ahead and do these 3 things:

1. Give this podcast a follow (click here for iTunes or here for Spotify, or look up “The School of Marketing Podcast for Digital Entrepreneurs” wherever you listen to your podcasts). 
2. Head to the Email Template Shop™ and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first purchase.
3. Go ahead and open up your instagram app and come follow me: @themaganward. I’d love to hear from you and I’m known to reply back via DM, sometimes even with a voice message, so make sure you hit me up there especially if you’ve got a topic you’d like me to cover in an upcoming episode.

Want more of where this came from? Check out other show notes here.

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