If you have your own business, then it's highly likely that you have a thorough knowledge of your industry. This is beneficial to both you and consumers, as it helps you run your business more efficiently and provides quality customer service. However, there is always room for improvement. You may be able to expand your knowledge enough to become a leader in your field, which will lend a hand to your credibility and expertise.
1. Learn
You can't offer advice and explain aspects of your industry to others if you don't know the details. Reading books and listening to talks about the field from established experts can improve your own knowledge of the position you're in. Jeanine Blackwell, a motivational coach, best-selling author and founder of "Create 6-Figure Courses Virtual Bootcamp," recommended reading one book each week about a topic in your industry. This will give you the opportunity to learn about various aspects of the business so that you're prepared for any question, problem or job that comes your way.
"Read one book each week about a topic in your industry."
You should also attend as many conferences, meetings and conventions as possible, Kelly Services suggested. Just because you're no longer in school doesn't mean you should stop learning. These types of seminars give you plenty of opportunities to learn from your peers' experiences and ask them questions. This will help you improve your own knowledgebase and further establish yourself as an expert. Because you've expanded your comprehension, you'll be better able to produce content that provides in-depth insight into the industry.
While you may want to learn as much as possible, that isn't always the best decision. Too much information can prevent you from developing a full understanding of all topics. However, you may sound more knowledgeable if you narrow your learning down to one section instead of the entire field, Entrepreneur explained. By focusing on one aspect of the business, you can increase your comprehension and offer more specialized advice to your niche audience.
2. Get experience
While reading will offer you a general understanding of how the field operates, it cannot provide you with the same knowledge as hands-on experience will. If you're looking to become an expert on a certain topic, you most likely already have some familiarity with the industry, either in working in an office or owning your own business. By sharing your own experiences and understandings, you'll be able to provide more detailed information about what you're writing or speaking about.
One of the most important skills you learn from working in any industry is problem-solving. You need to know how to think critically and logically enough to make decisions for both the company and clients. According to Fast Company contributor Debbie Allen, author of "The Highly Paid Expert: Turn Your Passion, Skills, and Talents Into a Lucrative Career by Becoming the Go-to Authority in Your Industry," this talent can contribute to you establishing yourself as an expert. Your customers rely on you to provide answers to their problems, and this type of familiarity will show that you know what you're doing.
3. Share
Increasing your knowledge of the industry can contribute to the success of your own small business. However, what good is all that information if you aren't going to share it with the world? There are countless ways for you to do this, but all of them lead to you improving someone else's understanding and establishing yourself as a leader in the industry. Consider what you have to teach others, and then choose the best outlet to distribute those facts.
- Write – Your knowledge of the field is valuable to more people than just you. By writing your thoughts down, you'll preserve the information for others. Starting a blog or contributing to others' websites will lead to people considering you the authority on certain topics, Entrepreneur explained. With the amount of facts you know, you'll be able to come up with a variety of blog posts. Even if similar ones have already been written, you may be able to add new information that will make your content unique. Don't forget to post and share on your social media pages so that you'll be known as an expert among different crowds.
- Teach – While it may seem intimidating to stand in front of a room full of people, teaching or public speaking shows that you have a firm grasp of the material. There are masses of young and aspiring entrepreneurs looking for advice on how to break into the business world, and you can be their unofficial mentor, according to The Daily Muse. Start an online course, speak at a seminar or find a position at a college or university. Offer advice on how to obtain commercial loans or how to create a budget. You'll not only keep the information fresh in your mind, but you'll be helping others develop their business skills.
- Speak – Journalists are always looking for professionals to comment on trends in different industries, The Daily Muse explained. You can lend your expertise to their work. Let them interview you for their articles or appear on the radio or TV shows. According to Entrepreneur, podcasts are developed for niche audiences, which means your talk would reach the people who would benefit most for your knowledge.
There are many ways that you can establish yourself as an expert among both those in your industry and the general public. By making an effort to learn as much information as you can through education and experience and then sharing it with the world, you'll be able to create an authoritative persona on any topic you choose.