When it comes to media coverage so many people talk about getting attention for being an expert. We see it all the time on TV news or lifestyle programs. People are often referred to as the expert.
Think about it….
THE media expert
THE social media expert
THE fitness expert
THE nutrition expert
THE design expert
Do those titles sound familiar?
We tend to toss the word expert around a lot. We get hung up on the word and then you start to think about whether you are an expert or THE EXPERT (yes, I used capital letters on purpose here!). You know what that is? It’s that little voice of doubt creeping in. You know the one! It’s the little voice that tells you that you are no expert. You think to yourself that experts are all the other people in your niche or industry. They are the ones who know everything about their niche or industry and they have all the answers but that isn’t you. It is that little voice of self-doubt that stops many people from getting visible and it definitely stops them from pitching the media. You think if you pitch the media and the journalist says yes and interviews you people will figure out that you don’t really know everything, or anything really. Your little voice of self-doubt tells you that you are NOT the expert in your industry and you don’t know enough to be that expert on TV or the radio. Let’s face it, what we are really talking about here is that old imposter syndrome thing. I think it is fair to say everyone experiences it at least once in their lives.
So how do you beat it? It’s all about a mindset shift.
Shift Your Mindset
When you start thinking you have to be the expert with all the answers that’s where self-doubt starts to come in. You don’t have to have all the answers. Let’s be real here. NO ONE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS! Shift your mindset and start thinking about it from the perspective of expertise not being the expert. It’s all about a shift in your mindset. So I want you to change your mindset.
I call it your media mindset.
Let’s change how you see yourself so you can better pitch the media to earn mentions, press, and publicity. I want you to see yourself not as an expert but as someone who is sharing your expertise. We all have expertise; in business, in life, in our relationships, and in our families.
When you start to think less about being the expert and more about sharing your expertise you open the door to more media opportunities. You can start sharing your expertise in all areas of your life. Start thinking about all the areas of your life that you have expertise in.
Explore Your Expertise
What I want you to do is to sit down and do a little brainstorming. (Yup, I am giving you some homework!) Get out a pen and paper or open up a new document on your computer and write down all the areas you have knowledge and expertise in. Remember, it isn’t about being THE EXPERT, but sharing your experience in a number of different areas.
Need a little help to get started?
Here are just a few areas you could look toward when it comes to experience and expertise.
- Your specific industry
- Your journey as an entrepreneur
- Your failures
- Your successes
- Balancing business and family
- Online business
- Writing
- Blogging
- Social media
- Building community
- Travel
- Budgeting
- Money Matters
This exercise is really meant to get you thinking about all the areas of your life that are worth sharing with others. Sharing your expertise, especially via media, can be valuable and helpful to others. It can be entertaining and enlightening to others and that is exactly what journalists want to do when they share stories with their audience. The media wants to educate, entertain, and enlighten and you can help them do that when you share your expertise.
Once you finish up your brainstorming exercise to find your areas of expertise you are ready to start looking for ways to share with the media. Remember, think outside the box here. Your media mentions don’t have to be all about your business. Think about all the ways you can share your expertise to get your face, name, and business in front of a bigger media audience.
Everyone has expertise worth sharing!
