While speaking at a conference recently, I was approached by a fellow email consultant who I consider an up-and-coming “expert” in our field. I was a bit taken aback when he asked me the following question: “What can I do to become more visible in my business? You seem to be EVERYWHERE.” I thought for a moment and my answer popped right out. “YOU have to be EVERYWHERE.”
It seems a simple enough concept. To be recognized as an expert in your field, you have to be recognizable. There are many different ways to gain recognition in the technology field. They all boil down to one simple thing – be visible. So, let's look at ways to become visible in the technology industry.
* Join technology user groups for your expertise. If your business is primarily a “local” enterprise, there is no single better place to meet people who represent possible business opportunities than at groups dedicated to your area of expertise. Of course, joining is not enough! You need to attend, participate, and make your expertise known. BE VISIBLE.
* Volunteer to speak at user groups. Not all experts are good speakers, and unfortunately not all good speakers are experts, but stepping up to the podium is a very effective way to become “visible”. If you are not brave enough to prepare presentations for groups, find other ways to become visible. Be willing to introduce speakers, make announcements, open discussions. Even if you are not yet comfortable with presenting technical content, BE VISIBLE. Once you have gained the confidence to speak in front of your local user group members, be willing to branch out and volunteer to speak at other chapters of the same group in nearby cities.
* Participate in online support venues. I have been “volunteering” on-line technical support for over eighteen years! Becoming an “expert” on-line can be a “fast track” to making a name for yourself. It should not be surprising that writing down helpful answers to the questions posed by others will hone your knowledge, increase your confidence, and make you VISIBLE. While every on-line support venue has their own set of rules and code of etiquette, most will allow a “modest” tagline that can help define you. Include a URL for your website or blog in your signature. If you are contributing useful information to the group, participants will start to check you out.
* Attend conferences in your area of expertise. Even if you think you know more than the speakers, make it a point to attend every conference relating to your field that you can possibly afford to attend. Get to know the speakers, the conference coordinators (especially those in charge of looking for speakers), the vendors in the vendor hall. BE VISIBLE.
* Write articles for industry publications. Many industry publications (on-line and print) welcome unsolicited ideas for articles, and indeed even unsolicited articles themselves. If you have a topic in mind in your area of expertise that you believe deserves to be shared with your colleagues, write it! Remember that many publications will be willing to print unsolicited articles for “free”. Some will offer you money out of the box, others will offer you money down the road when you have proven yourself to be a useful contributor. However, regardless of the compensation (or lack of it) when getting started, you are getting your name (and maybe even face) out in the public to build your reputation.
* Start a blog. If you have a lot of good ideas about your area of expertise, start a blog. Put the URL of your blog in your signature for your email, online newsgroups and forums, etc. But remember, that blogs are a dime a dozen on the Internet. Make yours worth reading!
* Write a book. The technology industry is one that is perfect for the “self-published” technology author. There are often very narrow, specific topics that need covering that is deeper than a simple magazine article, and writing a book is a good way to get your name known. Give away some pamphlet type of books as you grow your audience to the point where you can sell your works on-line.
* Offer to speak at conferences. If you feel comfortable in front of crowds, speaking is one of the quickest ways to make a name for yourself. Many conferences openly solicit session topics from the “speaker community”. Find out who is responsible for enlisting new speakers, and keep in contact. If the conference has “open” calls for topics, be sure to submit ideas. Submit an idea every year and for every conference that you are interested in, until someone gives you the nod.
* Cross-promote all of your activities. If you are speaking at conferences, writing articles, writing books, keeping a blog, etc. make sure that you cross-promote all of these whenever you can. Use your presence on-line to promote your speaking engagements. Mention your articles and books at your conferences. Mention your favorite on-line support venues in your blog. BE VISIBLE.
Of course, the above will not make you an overnight sensation! However, if you truly do want to be recognized as an expert in your field, you need to make a start. Get out there now, and leave your mark! And remember, with each activity above that you participate in, not only are you increasing your presence as an “expert”, but you gaining more and more confidence in your own abilities.
To learn more about this author, visit Danita Zanrè's Website.
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Danita Zanrè
(Visit Danita's Website)
Danita Zanrè is a recognized expert in the
email field. She has grown Caledonia
Network Consulting, a small local
network consulting company into a niche
Internet company serving the world-wide
email community. While diversifying into
writing, speaking and mentoring, Danita
still spends a good part of her day
consulting and providing advice and
support to the email community at large.
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