How to Become an Expert on Any Subject
I ran across this post and it’s right on - you want to become an expert in a topic? Find out who the best thinkers are in the niche and see if they’ve written books. Then read them.
Many times the people I coach can’t figure out what to write about when it comes to creating information for their web site or to write an article on a topic. First, they need to get informed about their products and industry. How?
- Call your supplier and manufacturer and interview them - ask questions like (perhaps to customer service or sales): what are the top sellers and why? What is your main demographic? How do most customers find your products?
- Set up Google Alerts for different topics and skim them daily for news and information online. This is free and very helpful. Set up an alert on your main products, industry terms, etc. It will help you find forums, blogs, and news.
- Get to know your favorite writers in your space (Kevin J. Delaney of the Wall Street Journal is one of my favs. I just checked and he has written a few books but they aren’t on internet marketing topics).
- Search sites like Ezinearticles.com for articles that others have written on the subject.
- Of course, turn to Google and search for information - look at online reviews of similar products - what is important to customers, what do they value? One of my favorite places to do research is on Amazon.com. It’s a great way to get ideas for crafting marketing messages.
- Do some competitive research and see how others are marketing an item like yours. It’s always remarkable to me the different ways similar products are marketed to different audiences. For example - a page protector. To scrapbookers its one product and has a specific value to protect their creations, to business people it’s a way to keep important documents, and for sports enthusiasts it might be a way to store memorabilia. Same product, lots of uses and markets.
I always say that the internet is like an open book test. Books are also a great way to go in-depth to learn about a topic or industry. If you have any other tips, please share your thoughts below.
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2 Responses to “How to Become an Expert on Any Subject”
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October 26th, 2007 at 7:56 am
One of the best tools I’ve found in helping me get my arms around a subject is Del.icio.us. I use this in more than google. ~Paul
October 28th, 2007 at 12:24 am
To me the problem comes in when you are trying to be an expert (authority) on numerous subjects. As an affiliate marketer - it is difficult at times to focus on one subject when you are marketing different items or products.
If you were focused totally on one niche - then it would obviously be a lot easier.
Andrew