Credibility is the key to a successful business. But it’s often difficult to prove credibility when there are so many non-credible folks sucking away the trust from your industry.
So how you do get credibility and – even more importantly – how do you better spotlight your credibility so your audience knows you’re the “real deal?”
Media Coverage
Having your expertise or business/product/service featured in a magazine, newspaper, popular blog, TV show, or radio show is the ultimate endorsement. Getting media coverage lends 3rd party credibility – what’s better than an editor or talk show host showering kudos on your business or being hand-selected to deliver advice on a specific topic as an expert? Nothing delivers credibility and impact like media coverage.
Once you get that coveted piece of press, your work is not done. Highlight your media coverage on your website and other marketing materials. Share it with your audience via newsletters, blogs, and social media channels.
Testimonials
Juicy testimonials filled with praise for your business are key. Don’t be afraid to ask current and past customers for feedback on their experience. To make it easier for them, send a list of 3 specific questions they can answer about your business and then ask for permission to use the answers as a testimonial. Make sure to also check your social media accounts like Twitter and Facebook for testimonials.
Once you collect these amazing testimonials, feature them prominently in your marketing.
Walk the Talk
Let’s say you own a shampoo line but you use a different brand to wash your hair every day. If you were a customer, would you feel confident purchasing a product from someone who doesn’t even use it?
“Walking the talk” is typically what separates the credible from the non-credible. Because there are so many folks in your industry that don’t practice what they preach, you have to make sure your audience knows that you do.
Share your practice with other people. You never want to be known as the yoga teacher that can’t do a downward dog, or the social media expert that only has 100 Twitter followers.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great advice! Thanks for the reminder
Lauren Clark
Yes! Thank you!
Fantastic, clear advice as always Melissa! With the Internet so "open-source" it's becoming more and more important to distinguish the experts from the wannabes and I think you have hit some key points right on the head
Such simple but helpful reminders. I realize I don't have my media coverage properly featured on my website or in my promo kit. Great reminder. Thanks, Victoria (North America's Bipolar Princess)
Very cool and helpful in updating something I was thinking about for a while in our testimonials area. Nicely done!
Another simple thing to do, when you ask people to connect with you on LinkedIn — Change the standard wording and after reading the profile of the person say something in profile you noticed.