In a world full of cluttered marketing messages ranging from social media feeds, internet ads, email marketing, and the conventional media of TV, radio, and print, how do you stand out in your industry?

Competition is no longer limited to giant corporations with mind-staggering marketing budgets. You're also competing with other professionals in your field, small businesses, and medium enterprises in your industry. I bet you've been advised to position yourself as the authority in your industry and work on your personal branding so that you can attract more clients, raise your rates, and have a consistent supply of opportunities coming your way.

When you earn the right to become an authority, you stop chasing clients, you stop chasing deals, you stop giving discounts, and you stop chasing stages or platforms that will allow you to share your message with your niche market because opportunities will knock on your door when you're the authority in your field.

"There is always room at the top." - Daniel Webster

When you position yourself as your industry's authority, you will compete on value, not price. When potential clients need advice, you will be the trusted advisor to help them solve their problems. With no competition in your niche, you no longer have to make discounts to get those deals because your clients will be willing to pay a premium price to the one and only person who can deliver value at the highest level.

I have always looked for industry authorities to help me solve my business problems and coach me to develop my skills. The results I have obtained from their help were always much bigger than the investment I've made in paying for their fees. In the process, I was able to crack the authority code, and it worked like magic in every niche I've been in, ranging from real estate, book publishing, book marketing, and sales funnels. It entails investing in yourself long-term using the strategies shared in this article.

1. Publish Your Book 

One of the most strategic ways to grow proper authority is to publish a book. Your industry experience has probably made you discover innovative solutions to achieve faster, bigger, and more effective results with the least investment of resources. These insights and experiences, if shared with other people in your industry through a book, will help them optimize their ways of doing business and get similar results.

You've probably shared your approach with friends, family members, and colleagues who have all experienced improvement in their own businesses due to your advice. This is valuable intellectual property that could be published in a book and shared with a wider audience to help them achieve better results in their businesses or gigs.

With the evolution of Amazon and other online book retailers, publishing a book has never been easier. You no longer need to wait for a publisher to help you publish your book or audiobook. Amazon, the largest online retailer, has made it possible to self-publish your book (in paperback, ebook, hardcover, and even audiobook formats) and reach its largest client base.

Free Resource: Need help self-publishing your book and becoming a bestselling author? Schedule a strategy call.

2. Create Your Online Presence 

If you consider your published book as the launchpad for your personal branding as the authority in your industry, your online presence is the rocket. The ideas you've shared in your book are always evolving, so why not keep on sharing this evolution with your audience through your blog, newsletter, website, LinkedIn, or any other combination of relevant social media platforms?

Don't get overwhelmed! You don't need all those platforms for your niche or industry. Brainstorm which platforms work best for your audience and research where your competitors are active. Start with the most important one or two platforms, then move to the next only when you feel you've mastered being active on those platforms. Remember, you will be building a community and a following, and your audience is what validates that you are someone worth listening to. Proper authorities have an audience of raving fans who follow them.

Check whether the content on your website, newsletter, blog, and/or LinkedIn posts is generating solutions for your industry and helping others solve their problems. Being an authority is not about you but about whom you are serving.

Your book is key leverage to build your audience, fan base, and email list. You could entice your book readers to subscribe to your newsletter and follow you on your social media. It's one of the most strategic tools to build one of your most valuable assets - your email list. Imagine what you could achieve when you communicate an event, a new book, an article, or a new product/service launch to a list of loyal email subscribers!

Related: How to turn your gig into a money-making machine

3. Become Visible

At the beginning of your journey to becoming a thought leader, you will be investing your resources in getting your name out there and sharing how your work can improve the world. Over time, you will become known for that thing that you excel to the extent that the media will be asking to interview you and share your thoughts (as a credible authority) with their audience. In that case, you will leverage the media authority branding to share your perspective with their audience. This is by far the best form of validation that you've become the authority in your field.

There are many ways to get the media's attention. The choices vary from being a contributing writer in a major publication to a regular guest on podcast, radio, or TV programs relevant to your industry. The idea here is to keep on sharing value on each media appearance. Being quoted regularly in media is essential to establish yourself as an authority. Your name has to be out there continually. You have to share your knowledge frequently as a thought leader to be trustworthy and to be considered an actual authority instead of just some here-and-there media hits. 

When your next potential client googles your name and sees that you are quoted and referenced in major media publications, they see you as a credible authority. It's important always to give your best and be present in every media opportunity until the media contacts you for your ideas, opinions, and perspectives.

Having an active website, a newsletter packed with articles, a strong LinkedIn (and other relevant social media) presence, and a published book are all keys to having more people and media wanting to interview you and get your thoughts on certain topics that will help others in your industry.

Free Resource: Schedule a strategy call to kick off your media presence

Final Words of Caution!

As you become more visible, you need always to be an authentic thought leader. Don't feed into gimmicks or scams!

You will see your competitors having some wins here and there just because they are communicating quick-fix gimmicks, which are probably scams. You will never become an authority if you are planning to communicate similar quick-fix methods. The media will not align their brand with someone who has a bad reputation or who uses gimmicks in their marketing and branding.

Follow the 3 strategies outlined in this article and avoid shortcuts. I know it can be seductive to buy into the quick fixes, but it will destroy your chances of commanding the authority position in your industry. Playing the long game is hard. It takes years of dedication, resilience, and deep inner strength. This is why trustworthy authorities are rare. Most people can't remain on course with their integrity.