Eva Conner

Writer, Copywriter and Connector
Seattle, Washington

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Am I An Expert?

Clients want to hire "experts" in social media, branding, copywriting and marketing. How do you know whether you qualify? Is being a professional the same as being an expert? How do you get there?

Written Apr 01, 2011, read 2586 times since then.

Expert (n,v): having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.
- Merriam-Webster dictionary

An expert is someone who knows more than you.
- Common saying

These definitions should already have your gears turning: an expert is not someone who knows everything about a particular topic. To be a Twitter expert, you need not have been an early adopter, or spend 80% of your time tweeting and twiddling. A marketing expert doesn't always have experience in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, or working at an agency.

To be an expert, rather, you have to understand the big idea behind something and how to put it into practice. That's it. So how do you get there? By identifying the skill or knowledge you seek and taking the time to learn.

We often become accidental experts throughout our career, gleaning information from our experiences as we go. Sometimes, the need for expertise is more poignant--it will enable us to compete for an exciting new project, say, or stay cutting-edge with new marketing trends. In either case, we can learn from trusted sources of information, then understand by doing.

The information piece: it can be shockingly easy to find what you're looking for. Articles, presentations, webinars and e-books exist on every topic under the sun, and that's just on the web! Of course, it's a resource to use wisely--you have to know your content farms from your conscientious sources. But one good article can give you a solid, working understanding of a particular approach or new medium. I can honestly say that reading one e-book got me up to speed with aggregators, and I learned everything I know about nonprofit annual reports from nonprofitmarketingguide.com and gettingattention.com.

The other obvious source of "special skill or knowledge" is the rich network around you. As I mentioned in my last article on Reciprocity, most entrepreneurs are more than willing to share a piece of their knowledge with you. You can also take advantage of local continuing ed classes, conferences and individual coaching.

After you find the information you seek, the trick, of course, is applying it. Sorry--no shortcuts there. But don't apply an arbitrary timeline to becoming an expert. Some might say it takes a lifetime, others about six months. If it's a simple topic, it might take a weekend. The important part is not to oversell your skills before you are confident about them. Be honest about the body of knowledge you are developing--it will make you sound as enthusiastic and forward-thinking as you are--and go for it.

So are you an expert? Maybe! If you understand a concept well enough to truly help your client, then yes. If you have taken the time to learn and practice something (even if it can still be baffling sometimes) then yes. I will always advocate for experience being the best teacher, and I have the utmost respect for 20-year veterans of any field. However, you can start becoming a functional expert on a topic that matters to you now--don't let fear hold you back.

Learn more about the author, Eva Conner.

Posted by Bob Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Apr 03, 2011

That's a good question, and to be honest, I don't think we determine if we are experts, we let others do that.

Anyone can label themselves, and often they are mis- labled. I know many who have called themselves experts and I know otherwise.

I especially find it interesting the people who call themselves experts and feel the need to capitalize those words. As if they are shouting them out...

Sure we feel we have the experience, the education, but there is that gray area....

Others find it useful to label themselves "experts" for SEO reasons which is rather pathetic.

I guess you know how I feel about this " there's more to someone calling your an expert than labeling yourself".
Posted by Eva Conner, Seattle, Washington | Apr 05, 2011

Bob, this is such a subjective issue! I agree with challenge of mislabeling, and that too many people use the word "expert" opportunistically. I think I am advocating more for the option of empowering yourself with information and skills: "making" yourself as much of an expert as possible and owning it.

Expertise is nothing without authenticity--I agree! Thanks for your comments.
Posted by Bob Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Apr 05, 2011

Eva, yes, I agree with what you are saying in the article. It's great to strive to make yourself an "expert" and empower yourself with those skills.

And you are so right, a very subjective issue. I have had many debates about it in the past.

Will have to admit though...I certainly prefer expert over rockstar or guru : )
Posted by Annastacia Tooke, Gastonia, North Carolina | Apr 06, 2011

anyone can say they are an expert. However it is the fruits of their efforts which prove that they are.
Posted by Eva Conner, Seattle, Washington | Apr 06, 2011

Annastacia, I tend to agree. However, we all know how important positioning and branding are--so I think I'm pulling for a clearer definition of what you have to offer to clients. What do you think?
Posted by Sean Collins, Whitinsville, Massachusetts | Apr 07, 2011

I like this article. It gives me the confidence to look at myself and my work and consider myself an expert in certain areas like Photoshop, web design and all around graphic design.

However, I personally will probably never label myself as an expert (even for SEO reasons). No matter how much I know, there's always more to learn.

Plus the word itself sounds too egotistical. I'm content with simply labeling myself as a professional. But on the inside you've helped me feel more like an expert. Thank you.
Posted by Kimberly Gauthier, Marysville, Washington | Apr 07, 2011

I think I'm an expert, because people are bringng their questions to me instead of Google. I found my niche this year, I blog for amateur photographers who came into photography wanting to learn only to find that it's not as easy.

More and more people are drawn to my blog, because they like my easy and brief explanations. I don't worry about the technical jargon, I just tell it how I understand it, how it works for me, and I suggest great resources.

I want to be an authority in what I'm talking about so I'm going to step it up a notch this month and write my first e-book.
Posted by John Wessells, Newark, Delaware | Apr 08, 2011

I think that you missed one other definition: First you must break the word "Expert" down into it's two root words "EX" and "(S)PERT". "Ex" is a has been and "(S)PERT" is a drip under pressure.

All joking aside, this was very interesting and on point. For most of us it is difficult to "blow our own horn". We tend to under value ourselves. This is a good reason to get references from those we have helped.
Posted by Michael Hartzell, Seattle, Washington | Apr 10, 2011

Today a four year old showed me how a stuffed animal I have owned for a year makes a special noise with the push of a button which was hidden in the leg.

He is obviously an expert on finding the right button to make noise. Even though it was brand new to him, this little four year old knew just what he was looking for.

Yes. I am an expert. Everyone is at something. Whether the expertise has enough value for another to reach deep an pay, that is entirely another question.

thank you for your points.

Guerrilla Marketing Ideas that Rock!
Posted by Eva Conner, Seattle, Washington | Apr 12, 2011

John, you hit on the OTHER essential element of being an expert: not taking yourself too seriously! Brilliant.

Michael, absolutely. You can be a lonely expert flapping in the wind, or you can be yourself, contributing value and being compensated!

Thanks again to everyone for engaging so meaningfully!