In this class we talk about building authority and how to position yourself as an expert or an authority in your market. Many of you may be new to the freelance world and don’t feel like an expert. And some of you may have been doing this for a while and still struggle with imposter syndrome. Join me as I walk you through 7 practical ways to overcome these feelings and position yourself as a trusted authority to your clients and an expert in your service offerings!

Podcast Outline:

[0:42] Craig introduces the topic of building authority and positioning yourself as an expert or an authority in your market, even if you don’t feel like one. He talks about the importance of owning this role.

[1:42] Craig shares a humorous story that illustrates the importance of being an expert. You’ll have a chuckle and an “aha” moment when you hear it!

7 Ways to Become a Trusted Expert in Your Market

[4:18] #1 Be a Specialist - How to niche down and offer services to a specific market. Craig provides examples of students at Freelance University who are offering specialized services.

[7:15] #2 Be a Content Publisher - How sharing valuable, actionable content raises your status as an authority.

[8:52] #3 Participate in Relevant Community - How you can be of service and value to your clients when you join the groups where they hang out. Craig shares practical examples of how you can offer value both online and locally.

[10:13] #4 Establish Social Proof - How to establish both indirect and direct social proof. Craig admits this can be a difficult topic for people starting out and provides some helpful suggestions.

[13:21] #5 Build a Credible Web Presence - How to establish authority by looking good. Craig lists the elements to include in your website and branding to make the best impression.

[15:23] #6 Be a Lifelong Learner - How to commit to ongoing professional development that will make you the best you can be in your niche. Craig explains how Freelance University students showcase their certifications on their website and social media to show they’ve developed their skill sets.

[17:04] #7 Build a Great Onboarding System for New Clients - How to establish an incredible first impression by having a seamless onboarding system. Craig shares examples of tools and tells a story about how he was impressed by a freelancer who used this type of system.

[18:54] Recap of the 7 Ways to Become a Trusted Expert

[20:42] How to enroll in Freelance University to help you become a lifelong learner and remain committed to having the best skills to produce the best results for your clients!

Resources and tools discussed in this episode:

MailChimp https://mailchimp.com/ 

ConvertKit https://convertkit.com/ 

ActiveCampaign https://www.activecampaign.com/ 

Keap (formerly Infusionsoft) https://keap.com/ 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/ 

Medium https://medium.com/ 

Facebook Groups https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en 

Twitter https://twitter.com/?lang=en 

WordPress https://wordpress.org/ 

Squarespace https://www.squarespace.com/ 

Wix https://www.wix.com/ 

17hats https://www.17hats.com/ 

Dubsado https://www.dubsado.com/