The last question our personal branding panel got at Affiliate Summit West was, to me, curious, “What would you do if someone hijacked your brand?” Being an overly trusting person, I never thought about the possibility of someone intentionally hijacking your brand – or your work. Yet, it’s happened to me before. Recently I discovered that it’s happened again. Can people really be that clueless? After dashing off a quick email with links to the sites to a few peers and getting their advice, I’m coming out with a warning: take it down or I’m coming after you. And, I’m also telling you how we can work together. Here’s why . . .
Posts tagged: Subject Matter Expert
Hijacker Awareness Alert for Brands and Creative Work
Know it All Expert PR Strategy
People have questions. You have answers. That makes you, to them, an expert. What do you want to be known for? Here’s some help on figuring out how to be the “know it all” go-to resource in your area of expertise.
Today it doesn’t take a website or a blog to connect with a community online, but it does take some strategic planning and effort. Before you begin answering questions on a site, take some time to think about who you want to be known by and for what do you want to be known.
Who Do You Want to Reach?
Answering questions on a site like LinkedIn puts you in front of millions –if they’re searching for your topic. But, maybe smaller is better, especially if having local connections will help you meet your business goals. If you don’t need international influence, then look for smaller centers of influence in forums and LinkedIn groups. Keep in mind that you’ll need a broad reach on a wide platform if writing a book is one of your goals.
Professional Industry or Client-Centered Comments?
Joining in with a professional industry group will keep you up-to-date and allow you to get feedback. Because you are all providing the same professional service, joining a group where your customers are will bring you more business. Look for groups where you can easily rank as one of the five top experts or better yet, own the category. Watch out for forums where you’ll be saying the same thing as dozens of other people. Even in these situations, adding a personal touch such as a reference to website of the person who asked the question or a story from your experience will set you apart.
How Should You Keep Track of Your Answers?
Compose your answers in Word and save a copy to use in your newsletter, blog or file. Drop in the URL or topic so you can go back and track the follow-up conversation. Be on the lookout for partnerships and connect with people you’d like to know better.
How Much Time Should You Spend?
Budget a specific amount of time and don’t go over. It’s easy to get carried away with comments. Resist the urge to become an annoying know-it-all. Even though you may know the answer to every question, give others a turn. Start out by setting aside an hour at the beginning or end of the day to answer comments. Scanning questions takes less time. On some days, you may not have any questions to answer at all.
Question Resources: Places to Find Questions to Answer
HARO – Help A Reporter Out
AllExperts
LinkedIn Answers
LinkedIn Groups
Twitter
Yahoo Groups
So, what are you an expert at?
Image credit Shutterstock . Thanks to shutterstock for the complimentary usage in exchange for a mention.
What matters more: Becoming an Expert or an Authority? | PR Strategies
What’s your single biggest question about how to become a subject matter expert? – my 1700th update on twitter.com
Thanks to everyone who sent in a question, I came up with this post with strategies on how to become known as the go-to person in your niche.
In doing some research I found this subject matter expert definition on the iSixSigma site: The Subject Matter Expert is that individual who exhibits the highest level of expertise in performing a specialized job, task, or skill within the organization.
I’m wondering if SME or subject matter expert is a term that’s most often recognized in the corporate world. Are people looking for experts, authorities, professionals?
Expert Definition – having a high degree of a specialized skill
Authority Definition – having a degree of power
Professional Definition – pursuing a profession at a high level
Let’s strip out the title search for now and focus on how to clarify your niche, build your expertise and gain authority using guidance from other leading thinkers online.
1. First, Clarify Your Niche
Ask yourself these questions . . .
Who do you like to work with?
What are you good at?
When do people, organizations or companies need your expertise?
Where do you want to work?
How do you want to make a difference?
2. Then, Build Your Expertise
Stuck getting started? Why beginners have an edge on experienced experts from Willie Crawford
It’s not about how much you practice, it’s about how you practice from Kathy Sierra on Creating Passionate Users: How to Be an Expert
Develop expertise through deliberate practice from Philip Brewer on Wisebread
Why become an expert? experts can charge more from Matthew Moran on IT Toolbox
3. Gain Authority with Attention
Authority comes from attention by Monica O’Brien on Twenty Set
Become a subject matter expert with social media by Bryan for The Monster Blog
How to become an authority in your niche: content strategies by Dosh Dosh
Tips for finding your authority: check your thoughts, speak with authority, study other authorities by Ryan Imel for Copyblogger
102 tips on how to publish an authority site from insidecrm
20 ways to quickly become a subject matter expert on LinkedIn by Barbara Rozgonyi [me!] for Wired PR Works
Your Turn
What do you – or your community call you? Are you an expert, an authority? Which term do you prefer? Why?
Event PR – Speaker Press Release | News Announcing Speaking Engagement
Speaking to a group is a great way to get out in front of new audiences. Most organizations have a communications person who will publicize your appearance to their members and maybe the media. You can help them promote their event – along with your appearance – by sending out an additional news release of your own. Here’s one that recently went out to our local media contact list to let them know about my upcoming speaking engagement in Chicago.
Although many of the reporters who received the announcement cover an area outside of Cook County, they are interested in promoting local business owners’ successes. Usually a release like this runs in the business or calendar section. Going beyond the media, you can also distribute a release like this to your own event planner clients or new speaking engagement prospects to let them know how they can position you and your topic. In this case, I’m one of many speakers. If you’re planning an event, ask your speakers to send out their own news release to their media list to help you spread the word.
Email Subject Line: Business News: 10-25 Barbara Rozgonyi to Teach Writers About Social Media
Barbara Rozgonyi to Speak on Social Media for Writers At Conference Sponsored by the Independent Writers of Chicago
Organization Media Contact: George Becht, 847.973.2556
CoryWest Media: 630.942.9542
Glen Ellyn, IL – Barbara Rozgonyi, founder of Glen Ellyn-based CoryWest Media and publisher of Wired PR Works, will transport writers to the world of social media at the 2008 Independent Writers of Chicago’s [IWOC] Writing conference. Rozgonyi will cover how anyone can use social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to quickly build influential networks and become recognized as a subject matter expert. An IWOC member for many years, Rozgonyi’s IWOC profile is at: http://tinyurl.com/rozgonyi-iwoc.
The conference, called “Take Your Writing Business to the Next Level,” will give independent writers of all specialties and levels of experience the opportunity to brush up on their skills, learn new techniques, and reposition themselves in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Speakers include Chicago area professional writers, editors and marketing professionals who will offer tips on building and improving a profitable career as an independent professional writer.
Held at National Louis University’s Michigan Avenue campus, the conference takes place on Saturday, October 25. Registration is $99 for IWOC members; $109 for members of other writers’ associations; $129 for non-members; and $40 for students.
Register online at http://www.iwoc.org. For questions regarding the conference, contact Cathy Dusberger, Seminar Chair at 312.382.1808, or cdusberger@sbcglobal.net.
About Independent Writers of Chicago
IWOC is a nonprofit professional association of independent writers from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. IWOC members serve large corporations, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations; together they represent a broad range of writing talents and specialties. To learn more about IWOC, call 847.855.6670 or visit www.iwoc.org
About Barbara Rozgonyi
Edgy, grounded and prophetic, Barbara Rozgonyi is on a mission to spread the news about the power of creating communities. A speaker, educator and consultant, Rozgonyi founded CoryWest Media in 1990 and publishes Wired PR Works, a top 50 PR blog with over 450 free marketing and PR articles. For additional background information or to schedule an interview, visit http://www.wiredPRworks.com or call 630.942.9542.
Your Turn
How do you publicize your speaking engagements?
Image: Barbara Rozgonyi, presenting Blogging for Business
Twitter Profile PR | Conveying Subject Matter Expertise in Four Lines
How can you promote your expertise in four lines? When you open a Twitter account and complete your profile, Twitter challenges you to do just that.
Wondering how Twitter works? Take two minutes to find out. Watch this Twitter in plain English video from Common Craft.
Twitter Profile Content: What Do You Want to Be Known For?
Name: Will it be your real name, your organization or a brand name?
You can follow me at @barbararozgonyi where I don’t update, yet anyway, or @wiredprworks, which is my main twitter page.
Location: Where are you?
Some people leave this blank. Others drop in a zip code or their exact location.
Web: What site should you link to?
How about a twitter landing page where you welcome people who found you on twitter? A link to a product sales page is too much too soon while a hard drop into a company site may be too cold and not personal enough.
Bio: Who are you?
With 160 characters to work with, you have enough room to mention some personal details as well as at least one site.
Share your twitter profile with us . . .
