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3 Simple Ways to Be Seen as a Subject Matter Expert

Most of us find it hard to think of ourselves as "thought leaders" or "subject matter experts."

For better or for worse, we need to advocate for ourselves in order to be viewed as a "thought leader" or "subject matter expert." People aren't necessarily going to forget about us, but rarely is someone else going to come along and do this for us - we're going to have to do it for ourselves.

The good news is that this is a lot easier to do than you think. Here are 3 steps to getting started:

Answer Questions for News Outlets: Reporters are always looking for sources across a wide range of topics - why shouldn't they use you as their expert? I'm currently using Featured and Qwoted but have also used Source of Sources and Help a Reporter Out (HARO) Each of these is free for basic usage (which is what I choose to do, but you can choose the paid version if you find value in it). I've used these tools to gain coverage in Fast Company, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, FlexJobs, and more. There is a huge range of topics that are covered, so it's easy to find your place to contribute.

LinkedIn Posts: It can be so intimidating to start posting on LinkedIn. I hesitated to post for years, but it really is rewarding on so many levels. You can help people learn more in your areas of expertise and meet lots of interesting people along the way. If you aren't sure about how to get started, you can reshare articles or post about an event that you recently attended. I also love polls as a way of learning more about how others are thinking about a topic.

Speaking Engagements: As you start sharing your thought leadership, you may be asked to present your knowledge at conferences, webinars, podcasts, and more. If you are new to public speaking, you can volunteer your knowledge with local groups to get started. I've been invited by companies, local university groups (Carnegie Mellon Alumni Association and Point Park University), podcasts, and webinars to discuss topics including LinkedIn, resumes, job search, and ageism.

Speaking of events, I'll be a panelist at the American Marketing Association - AMA Pittsburgh's upcoming "Level Up Your LinkedIn Personal Brand" discussion - we'll be at the National Aviary on Wed, Feb 25, from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.

Learn more here and grab your ticket here.

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This week's LinkedIn posts:

​My client just landed a CIO job after an 11-month search (we started working together halfway through the process).​

​"I haven't updated my resume in 15 years and I don't even know how to get started."​

​What is most important to you in this stage of your career? (1100+ votes)​

​A CEO of a $100M organization recently told me that he felt like he was "aging out" of the workforce.​

​“I’ve applied to 100s of jobs, but it feels like an unseen force is stopping me from being fairly considered. It’s disheartening, and I know I’m not alone in feeling this way."​

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Want more personalized help?

I've been hearing from a lot of folks who feel stuck on LinkedIn: they aren't sure what to post, or whether it’s even worth the time. The truth? It is worth it. And with the right content and strategy, it can open doors you didn’t expect.

I’m currently offering a limited number of LinkedIn support spots - including ghostwriting and a short-form “LinkedIn Growth Sprint” to help you get unstuck and visible.

If you’re interested in building a smarter presence that attracts real opportunities, reply to this email - I'm happy to talk more about how I might be able to help.

My Q1 resume, LinkedIn, executive bio, and 1:1 one-hour strategy call spots are filling fast - learn more about my offerings here and set up a 15-minute pre-engagement discussion here.

As always, thank you for being part of this community.

Best -

Colleen​
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