Share your journey. "This journey differentiates him from his competitors and is an integral part of his brand,” Sirsi added of this entrepreneur, Will Post, of Atlanta, who founded Hound & Gaots. In an industry or market niche that relies on a specific skill set or knowledge base, capitalize on your expertise, to establish brand credibility. Instead, he founded and is a principal member of Donich Law, a Toronto law firm that represents clients in criminal defense. When your expertise is in a crowded field, select a specific topic or subset group as your focus to provide value and a unique perspective. As a subject matter expert, you provide depth of information on a needed segment of the broader topic and gain a reputation as the go-to person to address this issue. Once you’ve established yourself in as an expert in the narrow topic you represent, your audience will trust the information you provide and ask for more. As a subject matter expert, you can also market yourself to select print and on-air platforms to become a media darling and extend the reach of your brand. Give the audience value and share unique perspectives to establish yourself as a true expert rather than a waste of their time. Add expertise to this mix to enhance brand credibility, extend its reach and be heard above the noise of your competition.
A simple and effective way to make your voice heard is to brand yourself as an expert.
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Your brand is the face your business presents to the world and is how consumers differentiate you from your competition. In oversaturated industries, many companies blend into the marketing noise, making it difficult to stand out from the crowd.
What to do? A simple and effective way to make your voice heard is to brand yourself as an expert.
Share your journey.
Expertise comes in many forms, and an impactful one is sharing your path to success. “Your journey is unique and should be incorporated into your brand,” branding expert Ajay Sirsi, a marketing professor at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, told me. “For example, a man who couldn’t find a safe and healthy food for his pets decided to start his own pet food company. His products are now sold across North America.”
“This journey differentiates him from his competitors and is an integral part of his brand,” Sirsi added of this entrepreneur, Will Post, of Atlanta, who founded Hound & Gaots.
So do as that pet lover did: Incorporate your inspiration for starting your company into your brand. Describe the obstacles you overcame and the resources you accessed to address specific challenges. This story will engage your target audience and establish your expertise and entrepreneurial credentails.
Develop brand credibility — the authentic kind.
In an industry or market niche that relies on a specific skill set or knowledge base, capitalize on your expertise, to establish brand credibility. Audiences are overwhelmed with meaningless jargon that may carry the glitter of expertise but has no underlying substance — something those audiences soon discover.
When you consistently deliver true expertise, be it in marketing, fashion, app creation, finance or construction, people will notice and respond. Your goal isn’t to be an expert in everything, but to focus on those unique skills and experience you have garnered and applied to your field. This knowledge doesn’t have to be degree-based, but it does…
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