Ep. 156 - 5 ways to build authority on LinkedIn

When someone is looking for a coach or consultant to help them with a particular issue, they tend to go with someone they trust.  In online business, you will hear people talk about ‘know, like and trust’ factor.  How do you become known?  And more importantly, how can you build up the trust that leads to someone investing in your products or services? In today's podcast, I talk about five steps to help you build your authority online.   1.  Specialise What is your area of expertise? When someone needs a tax accountant, they look for a specialist who focuses on taxes.   When someone is building a physiotherapy business, they will follow a coach who works only with physio businesses.   By choosing your niche – by job type, customer base, age group or location, you will attract your ideal clients more quickly. Choosing your niche allows you to focus on creating content for that niche.   How can you choose what to specialise in? Talk to your customers and listen to their main concerns. Choosing a niche can involve a lot of factors – is there a need for your service?  Will people pay for it? Are you interested in focusing on that area?   2.  Listen to your audience What do your network want to know about?  Consider the questions you get asked time and time again.    What can you help your audience with?  What are their main pain points? One way to become known as an expert online, is by creating regular content that answers the questions your audience have.   Create content that not only leads your ideal client to reach out to you, but consider how you can put out messaging that lets people know who is NOT the right fit to work with you.  For example: Your ideal client may be someone who is in the business start up phase – so your content should help them with the first stages of business.   3. Create content to help your audience.  Start sharing content with your network that showcases your knowledge and expertise. Keep it simple – you want to be able to attract your ideal clients and customers so don’t overwhelm them.   4. Become known as a guest expert Consider creating content for other larger organisations.  Become known as a guest expert – choose the publications or shows you know your ideal client is already reading or engaging with.    Podcast Guesting Start with pitching hosts who take guests – try connecting with podcast hosts who serve your ideal client.    Online Summits Submit yourself as a speaker for an online summit.  Once you start to appear as a guest expert on summits and podcasts, other hosts will notice and start to reach out!    5.  Talk to your network Connecting with your audience online is not a one-way street. Rather than broadcasting out to your audience, try to engage with them.  For Example –  In your daily or weekly activity on LinkedIn, take time to comment on posts from others in your network. Try to leave constructive comments – think about how you would behave if you were responding to someone speaking in person. Even if you outsource the content creation for your own posts, we recommend you take the time to interact with others in your newsfeed.   Your LinkedIn Checklist Download your free ten page guide to daily and weekly activity for LinkedIn Click Here   If your audience are on LinkedIn, then you need to create some visibility on this platform that attracts your ideal client to you.  Creating consistent content on LinkedIn that demonstrates your knowledge and expertise will lead to customers and clients reaching out to you to find out more about your services.