How To Make Yourself Look Like An Expert In Your Niche

When you write a blog, your main goal should be to please your readers. This is something that most prominent writers will agree on, and something that all readers can come to a consensus on. Posts should always be unique and should always provide some type of value for a reader. While I don’t think that these posts always need to be “teaching” a reader, oftentimes the most popular posts among visitors are those that are giving tips or tutorials. And why do readers look to you to teach them about a topic? Because they think you know what you’re talking about.

I don’t want to be mean, but you may know what you are doing, but you might not. I’m not really sure, since I don’t know you. As a reader, the only judge I have of how knowledgeable you are on a subject is whatever you put on your blog for readers to see. While you should know a good deal about the topic you are blogging on, if you are still learning, these are some great tips to make yourself look like an expert in your niche. Keep in mind that these are helpful even for experts – just like readers don’t know that you’re not an expert, they also won’t know that you are an expert unless you give them reason to believe that you are.

Write An eBook

Despite the fact that most bloggers realize that an eBook is little more than a large PDF re-created from old blog posts, readers automatically up your credibility when you boast one on your front page. (Not only that – you could also bring in some nice revenue if you put some work into it). An eBook puts the concept of “published author” into the heads of your readers, and for whatever reason, you suddenly become more than just another guy who started a WordPress blog.

The eBook concept, however, can be a double-edged sword. Don’t write an eBook just for the sake of doing so, especially if you’re going to charge a price. While your credibility will go up if readers see your eBook, it will plummet when they buy it and decide that it is a heap of trash that you quickly threw together. As with everything on your site, take your time and do a quality job. Don’t rush it.

Proofread Your Articles

Though you may be one of the smartest minds around when it comes to your niche, silly grammar mistakes can really detract from that credibility. When you’re teaching readers how to blog, but you yourself cannot properly use a comma and spell longer words, visitors automatically label you as another poser and move on to a different site. Let the quality of your writing reflect your knowledge in your niche – proofread your articles. It will only take you a second, and you will be seen as more of an expert in your blogging field.

Include Relevant Experience

If you are teaching readers quantum physics on your blog, you had better include some kind of experience that shows visitors you know what you’re talking about. Even for topics less obvious than this one, you can still put relevant experience in your bio that will make you seem like more of an expert. For example, on my blog about geek culture, I talk about my “geek cred.” Why should readers listen to me and read my posts about all things geeky? Because I have experience in the area of being a nerd. It’s as simple as that. Put in some good examples, and you’re done! Furthermore, by referencing my blog in this post, which focuses on how to blog, I have increased my credibility. *Fist pump*

Guest Write and Participate In Your Community

If readers who have never visited your blog recognize your name from around the niche, they will automatically see you as an expert who really knows what they’re talking about. An example of this type of person is Conner Flynn, who is in the technology/geek culture niche. He writes for most of the prominent blogs that focus on the topic, and most people interested in geekery will recognize his name. By taking time to write for others and participate in his community, he has built a reputation for himself!