Do your customers or clients see you as an authority in relation to the product, service or idea you are trying to persuade them to accept? Here are some simple ideas ton increase your AQ (Authority Quotient) and win more business.

Cast your mind back to many of the adverts you see on TV or in the press. You’ve probably noticed that many of them feature an “expert” endorsing the product or service. The reason for this is simple. We have been programmed since birth to accept the advice of “professionals” or “experts”.

So how can we utilise this principle to help us increase our sales and influence? Here are some thoughts to get you started.

  • Find a niche for yourself and become known as the expert in that area by writing articles, E-books, posts on forums and blogs specifically about your niche. It’s much easier to become an expert in a small area. If you are a financial planner, perhaps you could focus on financial planning for entrepreneurs or working mums. If you are a personal fitness trainer, perhaps you could become an expert in training for marathons or in post accident recovery programmes.
  • Establish your credibility up front in your website and written marketing materials using qualifications & testimonials, or by outlining why you became an expert in this field. You don’t have to know everything before you become an expert. Look at Mohamed Ali the boxer, he started telling everyone he was “The Greatest” long before he actually won the world championship.
  • Offer relevant and useful free materials and reports to help establish your credibility and expertise.
  • Collaborate with other, more well known experts and you’ll find that the authority and credibility rubs off on you.

I’m sure you can think of many more ways to establish yourself as an expert. Please post a comment here to help others learn.

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