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BRENT SAMPSON
6 Tips for Establishing Yourself as an Expert
1 Write a book
You’ve done this already, right? If you haven’t, consider it. You may find yourself closer to a finished manuscript than you realize. Writing a publishable book from your knowledge or experience is often a matter of simply putting your expertise on paper.
2 Publish your book
A published book becomes a calling card to line-up speaking engagements, freelance writing gigs, and other opportunities. Don’t become a victim of “Catch-22 Paralysis” where you can’t promote because no one knows about you, but no one knows about you since you can’t promote. Instead, become a “Catch-all front runner” where you’re an expert because you have published a book, and your published book proves your expertise.
3 Promote your expertise
Two good places to begin are AOL and ABOUT.COM. Both have category-specific forums in which you can participate. By mentioning that you are the “author of such-and-such” within the scope of your communication, you begin to label yourself as an expert.
Web-logs, or “blogs” are also a cost effective, efficient way to promote your expertise. Blogs utilize .xml and RSS feeds to provide dynamic, up-to-the minute publication across a variety of searchable platforms. The integration between blogs and contextual search engines becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy toward recognition. If you write about something, people searching for the topic will invariably find you, and that makes you an expert!
4 Overcome the fiction hurdle
Being recognized as an expert in a technical or non-fiction category is admittedly easier than the largely subjective category of a fiction expert. Even so, if you have written a work of fiction, becoming a recognized expert is not only possible, but necessary. Just look at Clancy, Rowling, and Robbins.
5 Explore the possibilities
Whether you’ve penned a techno-thriller, children’s fantasy, or romance, there is a forum in which to voice your expertise. The Internet is full of chat rooms, writing groups, genre-sites, and more. They’re all thirsty for content from published writers. You just have to know where to look. Conducting a Google search is a good place to start.
6 Join, participate, schmooze
Seek out conferences, associations, and other experts to help you. Outskirts Press is a member of PMA, SPAN, CIPA, SPAWN, and the BBB, just to name a few. This leads to professional relationships with experts, mentors, and opportunities.
BRENT SAMPSON President & CEO of Outskirts Pressand the award-winning author of Self-Publishing Simplified; a free copy is available at http://outskirtspress.com/publishing
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