Learn The Art of Impactful Self-Promotion

​If you’re paying any attention to today’s trends, you’ll know that talk of social influence and branding is everywhere. This is because simply doing quality work and providing value is not enough to be chosen for opportunities. What matters most is the reputation you’ve built for your expertise.

To get the breakthrough opportunities you need in your career will require a new strategy that involves selling yourself as an influential expert. When you become known as an expert and a thought-leader in your industry you will be more likely to get the career and business opportunities you want, have increased job security, and get paid much more than average.

So what’s the key to developing your reputation as an expert in your field?

Step 1 – Up your presence
Those who look the part get the opportunity to audition for the role. People choose to hire those who fulfill their vision for what their expert should look like. If you met a guy in a tuxedo who says he’s a plumber would you believe him right away? Not likely.

Your goal is to create the immediate impression to others that you are a competent expert at what you do, so they will be more likely to trust you.

Experts are also extremely confident and they are great at connecting with others. By mastering personal body language that sends the signal that you’re competent at what you do and that you absolutely want to help the person you’re trying to work with you’ll be more likely to be chosen for the role.

Step 2 – Become an authority
Just looking the part is never enough to solidify your expert reputation. It’s important to develop a resume for success that will validate the claim that you’re good at what you do.

How do you accomplish this?

Check in with people who are already known as credible experts in the field and talk to them about what they’ve done to reach the top. Take note of anything they share that they believe was a true catalyst for propelling them forward and identify the easiest items to start adding to your list to speed up your rise to the top.

If you’re new to an industry it’s helpful to find high level leaders with a large following and offer to help them for free. To get the full benefit, you’ll need to be straight-forward with them and ask for a trade up front – free work in exchange for social proof in the form of testimonials and recommendations.

Step 3 – Get in front of the right people, a lot
Who needs to see you in order for you to get noticed as an expert and obtain the opportunities you want in your life?

If you’re in a corporate job and want to get a promotion, you’ll want to find opportunities to showcase your capabilities in front of key decision makers. Make a list of those people and write down ideas for how you can get in front of them on a consistent basis. Visibility creates familiarity and consistency builds trust. You’ll need both in order to succeed.

If you’re a business owner you’ll want to consider places where your ideal customers hang out. Are they at hobby clubs? Are they in sports bars? Do they like social media? Find opportunities to get consistent visibility in those places to gain the familiarity you need to build with your potential customers.

Most importantly
Never go without a written strategic plan. It doesn’t need to be long – a simple one page plan will do. Research shows that those who write their plan down are more likely to achieve their goals, and you want to be one of the ones who succeed!

For a more in depth explanation of this topic and lots of workbook pages to build your strategy pick up a copy of The 4 Keys to Influence.

And if you’re in the Denver area check out this upcoming live 3 hour weekend strategy session.

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