5 Ways to Stand Out in your Industry
Being viewed as a stand out leader in your industry is important because it immediately sets you apart from your competitors.
So how can you benefit from the respect and attention you get by becoming a heart centered leader in your space, even if you’re just starting out?
You may choose to get your message into the world by blogging, speaking, creating courses, podcasting or creating video’s.
Here are 5 proven strategies that will shorten your path to being recognized as a leader in your niche. These actionable steps will help you to start building your reputation as a leading influencer in your market.
Niche down
I get it, you started your business and are afraid to niche down too much. You know you can help a lot of different types of customers but your worried you might lose out on clients if your niche is too small. When I started my business, I wanted to help everyone, but it wasn’t until I niched down that I started to attract the right clients.
Having a niche will give you more access, open more doors, and allow you to make a greater transformation than when you are a generalist. Think about it – if you were having heart surgery would you rather go to a general surgeon or to a heart surgeon? You narrow to the degree that it serves both you and you clients.
Own your Story
Stories make your brand stronger and will create stronger relationships with your clients. Think about it, stories create and draw emotions from us, help us to open up conversation, builds relationships, and inspire us to be and do more in life and business.
Storytelling makes you memorable. As humans we remember story, it helps us connect.
When you’re able to share with your audience how you went from point A to point B and share the transformations you have had in your life, they will begin to feel like they know you and in turn begin to like and trust you.
Think about your audience and create stories that will take them on a journey and start sharing from your heart.
Be a Connector
Have you ever reached out for help from someone? Of course, you have. When you have a question, need support, or a referral it’s nice to know you have someone to turn to.
If you want to build your range of influence it’s important that you become a go-to leader in your industry. Here are a few ways to start:
· Share tips, tools, solutions on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, or other social media sites.
· Join or start a group on Facebook or Linked In that is relevant to your niche where you can share your expertise.
· Connect your contacts. If you know that someone would be a great referral source or customer, send an email introducing them to each other or better yet take them for coffee and introduce them.
Remember it’s all about adding massive value, sharing ideas, contacts and resources. Your influence will grow as well as your reputation. Allowing you to stand out and be an industry influencer and leader.
Relationships Matter
Who are the most important people in your life? Are they strangers, people you know nothing about? Of course not, the people that matter the most to you are those that you have spent time with and in turn have developed a strong relationship.Because of the way you feel for them, these people have a very strong influence over your actions.
Becoming an important industry influencer requires building quality relationships, just like you do in your personal life.
Build positive relationships with your customers, prospects, and anyone else in your field. Get out there, make yourself visible. Once you make an initial connection, do more listening than talking and provide more “give” than “take.”
Be a Life Long Learner
True leaders never stop learning. They have a constant thirst for knowledge and information. They want to be in alignment with the innovation, ideas and every other aspect of their niche. Thought leaders spend a lot of time talking to other leaders, attending seminars and conferences, listening to podcasts, watching related videos, reading, and devouring any industry-related info they can get their hands on.
Which of these five areas do you need to focus on? Take a few minutes today and think about what you can do to make yourself get known in your community and stand out in your industry.
Click here to get my free e-workbook on “Building a Brand that Attracts and Stands Out.” Uncover what your niche is and how you become unforgettable to your audience.
Darlene Hawley is a Business Clarity Coach who teaches women entrepreneurs how to find their unique voice and be powerfully clear on their niche and marketing strategy so they can lead the life they have craved and courageously share their unique stories to build a brand that attracts and stands out.
Darlene was trained by the largest business coaching franchise in the world and has been committed to helping entrepreneurs launch and grow their business since 2007.
Before starting her own business, she worked her way up in big box retail in Operations and HR management. As a loan officer, and as a financial coach. She lives in Murrieta, CA with her husband and children.
Originally published at www.darlenehawley.com