4 Ways to Establish Your Business as an Industry Leader

Thanks to the internet and smartphones, everything you could ever want to know is right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. That means consumers are more discerning than ever. With the tap of a screen, your potential customers can research all of your competitors and make a judgment as to whether they should hire you or your biggest rival.

If you hope to snag a bigger piece of the pie, you need to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. Here’s how:

1. Get Involved

Get more involved in your industry. Be everywhere your potential customers may be. If they’re constantly seeing your name everywhere, you’ll start building trust.

Join leading organizations and associations to build credibility. Speak and volunteer at industry-related events. Share your knowledge and expertise with others in the industry, and learn all that you can from other leaders.

2. Show Off Your Credentials and Results

The proof is in the pudding, so they say. Show off your credentials and your results on your website.

Maybe you have been mentioned on major media outlets, or maybe you have a long list of glowing testimonials from customers. Highlight these credibility-boosters on your website so that visitors know you’re the real deal.

The website for nursing home abuse attorney Matthew Sharp is a great example of using credentials and results to boost credibility. The firm lists its verdict results so potential clients can see their track record of success. The firm also lists its awards and associations to further boost its credibility.

3. Get Active on Social Media

Social media platforms provide another avenue for you to share your expertise and expand your audience.

While Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great places to promote your business, they shouldn’t be used primarily for this purpose. Treat your social accounts as resources; places to share your knowledge.

• Answer questions
• Share relevant content
• Join other conversations

Focus on providing helpful solutions instead of purely promoting your company on your social accounts. If you use these accounts to build relationships with your audience, you’ll build trust and authority. When people need your products or services, you will be the first person that comes to mind because you’ve already built a relationship.

4. Educate Your Audience

Education is a great way to demonstrate your expertise while providing valuable information to your potential customers. There are many ways to educate your audience.

• Posts on your blog
• Guest posting on other sites that your customers visit
• Helpful videos on YouTube
• Speaking at local events
• Volunteering your time
• Hosting workshops

Participating in local events is a great way to establish credibility and authority in your local industry, which is particularly helpful for brick and mortar businesses.

Establishing yourself as a leader in your industry will take some time – don’t expect things to change overnight. But laying the groundwork and building up your reputation over time will help you succeed in the long run. When you become the go-to business in your industry, growth and further success are sure to follow.