Kristen Wessel, President of ExPR and ChicExecs Senior VP of PR and Digital Marketing, shares how a PR strategy can help experts build credibility and influence on Forbes blog. Below is a highlight to enjoy.
Today, every expert worth their salt is online, making the professional landscape more competitive than ever. With countless pros in every field vying for attention, it’s crucial to establish a distinct personal brand that boosts your visibility.
From seasoned professionals looking to elevate their profile to educated newcomers who want to make their mark, being recognized as a trustworthy authority is significant. Posting on X or LinkedIn will get you a few profile views, but you need a more strategic approach to move the needle.
That’s where the importance of a public relations (PR) strategy comes in. PR can support you with deliberate storytelling, targeted placements and strategic communications that shape the public’s perception. It can create a well-respected image that helps catapult an expert from relative obscurity to industry authority.
Content creation involves creating thought leadership articles, blogs or white papers. While social media posts matter, these more formal pieces of content allow you to share your expertise on relevant industry topics and demonstrate your depth of knowledge.
When working with a PR firm, whether internal or outsourced, a key goal is to connect you with journalists, bloggers, influencers and outlets. When establishing these connections, be sure to focus on building authentic relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. This can lead to more opportunities for media exposure, such as interviews and feature articles.
Speaking at industry conferences, webinars and panels is another powerful way to establish credibility. These engagements can provide a platform to share your knowledge and directly engage with your audience.
To build trust with your audience, you need a solid website and social media presence. That means maintaining a professional site that serves as a central hub for information about your expertise and active social media accounts where you can engage with your audience. These platforms should reflect a consistent brand image and message, reinforcing your professional identity and areas of expertise.
Read Kristen’s entire blog here.
