Writing online is one of the best ways to transform your passion into a career.
And with the right approach, you can do it fast.
Here's how to establish yourself as an authority in your field in 2022 (without pretending to be a pro):
James Clear. Ramit Sethi. Tim Ferris. Ryan Holiday. David Perell.
This model works.
Online, becoming an authority is less about your current position and more about controlling perception.
First:
What would you like to be known for in 5 years?
This is a concept from Jordan Peterson.
‘Future Authoring’.
You begin with the end in mind - define your future to decide your actions.
And with a long-term mindset, success becomes a matter of when, not if.
With a topic in mind, let's look at the two key pillars of online perception:
How you present yourself and the content you create.
With a deliberate approach to both, you can build authority quickly and effectively.
Tidy Up
Society judges first by appearance.
This means a good profile picture and banner. A bio that looks less like Tinder and more like a powerful brand. And writing that's clear and free from mistakes.
Present like a professional and you’ll be seen as one.
When I discuss content with my clients, one issue comes up frequently:
‘I’m not qualified to write about this'
The truth:
Content is the new credential.
If you're helpful, you're worth hearing.
Don’t let the fear of not being an expert stop you from becoming one.
Begin at the Start
A powerful way to build authority is curation.
For 3 reasons:
1. You help your audience 2. You demonstrate knowledge in your field 3. You build authority by association – leveraging those already successful & growing through their audience.
A few ideas for you:
•Best books
•Top threads
•Relevant stories
•Favourite quotes
•Interesting accounts
•Lessons from X (an expert)
•Best free/paid resources online
Curate your curiosity to plant seeds of authority.
Use your most powerful marketing tool:
Your story.
You know where you’re heading - but your audience does not. So you create content that tells like chapters in a book. From start to finish.
As you learn, apply.
As you apply, document.
As you progress, publish.
A note:
Most hide the fact they’re starting.
This is good news for you.
See, content without context is pointless.
Most aren’t looking for gurus. They want guides. Your positioning becomes a powerful differentiator.
Bring your audience along for the entire journey.
Some story-based content:
• Why I became X
• X Mistakes I made as Y
• How I learned to X with Y limitation
• X lessons I’ve learned in <time>
• X Things I wish I knew when I started Y
• How I achieved X (and how you can too)
• What I learned in my first year of X
Content builds authority, but one concept sets you apart:
Value.
See, good writing is interesting, but great writing is inspirational.
Blueprints. Frameworks. Actionable advice.
These position you as a teacher - and we're psychologically wired to see teachers as authorities.
Rise above the Noise
Curating and creating is great, but social media is shallow.
You’re shouting in a crowded room.
Authority comes quickly with immense value, demonstrating deep knowledge and forming relationships.
You do this with email.
But don’t just ask for it…
Build a Digital Asset
An asset is not the result of authority, but a cause of it.
Creating a tangible tells people you’re serious. It takes you from amateur to professional and leaves a lasting impression.
And as you create, it works day and night to gather emails for you.
Not sure what to produce?
Look at what you struggled with most so far and how you overcame it.