One of the most frequent questions I receive from my business coaching clients is how to stand out from all the others who do what they do.
The answer is two-fold. First, even if two people work with the same types of clients and in the same niche, which is unlikely and statistically impossible given the myriad of factors at play, each person would be delivering their service in their own unique fashion. Why? Because you’re unique. You have your own thoughts, motivations, inspirations and energy. You are the sum total of your thoughts, experiences and beliefs. Thus, what you do is truly unique.
Bottom line: No one is doing exactly what you do and in exactly the way you do it. So no worries there!
Second, different people are attracted to different people based upon their values, energy, outlook and even “how” they look! Whew! Nothing to worry about there either! Again, you are unique.
So, what do you do? How do you increase your credibility, visibility, and ultimately your profitability by standing out from the rest? Answer: You engage in activities that will uplevel you from where you are today to where you want to be as the “go to” expert in your niche.
If you want to earn more and work with higher quality clients, focus your energies in these five areas:
#1 Create content continuously. Creating a body of work is foundational and fundamental to being an expert in your niche. Content is an all-encompassing word for anything from blog posts, to infographics, from podcasts to training programs, and everything in between. The key points to keep in mind are that your content should be focused on the subject matter for which you wish to become known, it should be produced and published on a consistent basis and through a variety of channels.
#2 Create video. Visual content is important for many reasons. People love to watch videos. You can create an immediate connection with someone if they see and hear you. Even if you don’t do a “talking head” video, just hearing you can create a very deep and lasting impact on someone who wants to get to know you better. Video, and to a lesser extent, podcasting, allow you to connect with you audience in a multi-sensory way that the written word never will. If you want to make a strong and lasting impression, consider adding video to your content repertoire.
#3 Write a book. It seems like a daunting task, however, even a short Kindle book qualifies as a book. Once the bastion of only those who could afford it, nowadays, virtually anyone can publish a book — and even in just a few hours or days. A printed book will garner much respectability, visibility and credibility and this is still
the case even today. Don’t discount this opportunity to take the content you’ve been creating all along and compile it into a different format to increase your influence with your target audience.
#4 Speak your way to success. Speaking allows you wonderful opportunities to share your content with larger groups who can also benefit from the shared experience. From your local chamber of commerce, to colleges and universities, to local businesses, organizations are always looking for interesting talent to inform and entertain their own audiences. And, don’t limit yourself to the stage. You can easily share your expertise through teleseminars and webinars, too.
#5 Host your own event. Nothing says “I’m an expert” more than hosting your own event. With you as the center of influence, and possibly flanked with fellow colleagues and experts, a live event is one way to create a memorable and lasting impression with your target audience. Whether it’s a half day workshop at your local library, or something more elaborate at a nearby hotel or favorite vacation destination, you can create a fun event by keeping it simple and accessible. Not everyone will host their own event so if you do, you’ll be certain to stand head and shoulders above everyone else!
These are just five ways to increase your visibility and credibility, not to mention build and strengthen your own personal brand. Creating an action plan to take you to the next step is key to making any of this happen, along with a solid media plan to get the word out. Find a coach who can work with you so that you can accelerate your business to the next level. Ready to work with one? If you’ve been in business for at least 2 years and are ready to move forward with your next ideas, let’s connect.
To Your Success!
Tara Kachaturoff
