Who do people listen to online and what influences them to act? It is those that they deem as experts or specialists in their own field.

Simple as that.

This can be daunting to a business if being humble is a cornerstone of its tone and voice, but you want to brand yourself as an expert so that people will want to listen to you, share your opinions, and engage with you online.

One of the fastest ways to become an expert in your field? Stop talking so much. Surprised? I think you’ll agree that you can listen to the endless chatter emanating from an individual whose ego is out of control, or…you can listen to a real expert, offering laser-sharp advice stemming from deep and broad subject knowledge and true industry passion.

Who would you rather listen to?

If there is one thing an expert is not, it’s a blowhard. If you’d like to ensure your business sinks faster than a lead weight, go ahead and tell everyone how wonderful you are.

Nothing seems more pathetic than some virgin web designer, writer, or online marketer who is self-branded as #1 in every marketing piece and on every web page. Achievements are proudly displayed with adjective-filled descriptions and sometimes even proof about achieving vast wealth. I certainly don’t believe it. Would you?

Instead of running around and telling everyone that you are fabulous, you need to pinpoint your expertise in terms of what you have to offer your target audience that engages them with your brand and message. True experts understand their subject deeply, and it’s likely they know how to work it better than anyone else.

There are people all over social media sites who have effectively branded themselves as experts or a specialist in their fields. Let’s take me, for example. Personally, I don’t like the word “expert” used in my profession, as there is no such thing. The social media world is evolving at such a fast pace that no one can have all of the information. I prefer the term “specialist”, as I specialize in social media marketing.

With that said, I researched online marketing to see what people were discussing, what they needed, and how I could help them. Then I developed a myriad of interesting, engaging content that was centered around my target audience’s needs and concerns. I did this by pinpointing topics that I knew would create engagement, discussion, and comments.

Since I am a specialist, I share my insider knowledge, and I help others by answering questions whenever I am asked. I try to focus on creating content that is original and helps people grow and expand their business. I anticipate needs and create engaging content that fills those needs.

By generating innovative ideas, helping peers, and engaging with your community members, you can achieve one or more of these goals:

* Lead the market conversation
* Build loyalty
* Stimulate passion
* Build and maintain a buzz
* Create excitement

So calling yourself an expert is an ineffective way to become an expert, but repeating someone else’s claim of your expert status is a phenomenal way to become an expert. Why?

Expert status doesn’t stem from what you think of yourself; it stems from what others think of you. When others deem you an expert, suddenly your reputation grows, your credibility increases, and your reach is enhanced. In other words, your fans are your very best source for branding yourself as expert. This is beyond invaluable in the social media realm.

For example, in the copywriting industry, perhaps the most well-known expert is Bob Bly. Decades ago, publisher McGraw-Hill allegedly crowned Bob “America’s top copywriter.” The title stuck, and today it is difficult to read about Bob Bly without reading this accompanying fact. Whether he truly is America’s top copywriter or not has become of little importance. It is now considered an accepted fact, much like a royal title.

If you’re serious about building a strong business, let people notice your greatness, and they will tell others. This is why so many of us count referrals as such a valuable source of income.

When you are considered an expert by others, you become sought after for many reasons:

* Experts offer distinctive services that others cannot.
* Experts provide valuable sound bites.
* Corporations seek out experts to certify risky business enterprises.
* Followers are attracted to expert knowledge. (As humans, we all want the assurance we’re doing the right thing and following the right advice.)
* Experts sell more products because people are more apt to buy from an expert who is credible and legitimate.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start developing your own expert status!