Before I tackle the “how” to be seen as an expert, I have to first say this very, very important thing: You can not be seen as an expert if you are not already an expert. This is not about lying about your qualifications, tricking people into believing you know what you are doing or stealing from true experts to make it look like your own material.

This is about promoting the amazing gifts, talents and experiences you currently have so potential clients benefit from your knowledge and becomes aware of the services you provide. No trickery, lying or fabricating allowed.

Below are some tips for being seen as an expert in your field.

1. Write for an online magazine, blog or other site where people come to read quality articles filled with solid content. Sites likeEzine Articles, Self Growth and Women on Business are great places to be seen by a wide variety of people looking for information on your industry.

2. Speak to local organizations or civic groups. There are tons of groups, like Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist Clubs, that need speakers for their weekly meetings. You can get a list of social clubs from your local library. Send a quick email and/or postcard with a list of presentation topics on which you can speak for 10-20 minutes.

3. Provide answers to questions on LinkedIn Answers. People ask questions on a special section of LinkedIn and anyone can answer those questions. If your answer is selected as the best solution to the question, then you receive a point. The more points you have, the more you appear to be an expert on that topic.

4. Publish white papers, ebooks, podcasts, ezines and videos full of great content that provides a solution to a problem facing your ideal client.

Incorporating just one of these tips into your marketing plan will greatly increase your visibility and help you be seen as an expert in your field.

How does an already overwhelmed business owner add social media to their normal marketing and networking responsibilities without spending hours on the computer, and away from serving clients?

By being very smart and strategic. Here are nine steps to developing a social media plan that enhances your marketing efforts and creates a buzz for your business, without wasting time and energy.

1. Know who you are trying to reach and go where they are. Chances are your potential clients are on Facebook, but how do they use the site? Do they only play Farmville or catch up with family and friends? Or do they use Facebook as a business networking tool? Knowing which sites they use and how they use it will help you customize your posts and online efforts.

2. Be strategic about your posts and tweets. Nothing get you “unliked” or blocked faster than hard selling. Be mindful of the type of posts you write. You want to offer quality content over self-serving comments. Think about articles or information that will benefit your followers while showing you as an expert or leader in your field.

3. Add variety to your communications. Mix your posts between services, products, testimonials, client spotlights, solutions to a problem, questions or market research, quotes, interesting articles and videos, reposts or retweets, blog posts, personal comments, general company information and fun stuff.

4. Set goals and measure results. This is a tough one and something most businesses are not doing with their social media efforts. It is important to know what you want to accomplish and how you will determine success. Will you track the number of followers and “likes”? How about the number of retweets, mentions, comments, interactions or page suggestions? How will you know if your hard work is paying off?

5. Think about interaction and influence, not followers and fans. Would you rather have 500 fans/likes that never interact with you or 50 very active fans that love what you do and engage in your conversation? It is not all about the numbers, but about the level of interaction and engagement.

6. Allow your personality to show through. People want to work with people they know, like and trust, and social networking sites provide a great avenue to show your personality and core values. Don’t be afraid to get personal with your posts, just decide how much you want people to know, especially if you decide to talk politics or religion.

7. Integrate your key messages into your online presence. Just because you have 140 characters to get your point across does not mean you abandon your key messages and go off script. You must still speak in the same tone and with the same intent as you would in all of your offline marketing.

8. Be consistent and patient. Give yourself a few months before you decide to make changes. You may need to make a few tweaks before you see benefits. If you get frustrated, consider hiring a marketing or public relations expert to help you with your messaging and help integrate your marketing plan into your online presence.

9. Make the commitment to making social media a part of your workday. Create a schedule and stick to it. Ten minutes three times a day (morning, lunch, before leaving work) should be plenty of time to really make a huge impact online. Use third-party sites like Hootsuite and TweetDeck to help plan your posts in advance and keep personal time online to a minimum.

10. Bonus tip: HAVE FUN.

Taking a strategic approach to your social media will keep you from wasting time online while creating brand buzz and building strong relationships.

How does a Twitter chat work? The moderator of the group will post questions for everyone to tweet about during specific time. Everyone who participates in the chat tags their posts with the hashtag name of the group (i.e. #socialmedia). You can search for the group name and read all of the posts associated with the chat. You can even go back and read the transcripts of the chats if you miss it.

Here is a list of some of my favorite chat groups, along with the time they “meet.”

#4change: monthly discussion of using social media for social change (second Thursday of each month from 5-7 p.m. EST)

#blogchat: bettering your blog (every Sunday from 9-10 p.m. EST)

#brandchat: discussion between experts, strategists and those interested in learning more about personal branding and managing their personal brand (every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EST)

#engage365: open to association and meeting industry members- focused on social media for events (every Friday from 1-2 p.m. EST)

#journchat: conversation between journalists, bloggers and public relations folks (every Monday from 8-11 p.m. EST)

#pr20chat: discussion of where public relations is heading (every Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. EST)

#sbbuzz: weekly chat about small business for small business owners, techies, social media mavens and folks who love them (every Tuesday from 8-10 p.m. EST)

#smallbizchat: helpful tips and advice geared toward small business startups and those who have been in business for less than five years (every Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. EST)

#socialmedia: advancing the business of social media (every Tuesday from 12-1 p.m. EST)

Find a list of chats and search for transcripts of previous chats at what the hashtag.

Sure, the goal of every business is to make money- we have bills to pay after all, but what if our goal was to make a difference in the lives of every person we meet, no matter if they are clients or not? What if we made such strong connections with those we “talk” to that they would miss us if we were gone?

Shouldn’t that be our ultimate goal?

Here are some tips to create a business of value and appreciation.

1. Be generous with your knowledge. Sharing real solutions to the problems facing your niche market is more than just a great marketing tool, it shows you care enough about your clients’ success that you are willing to help them for free. While some people may take advantage of your generosity, many will be impressed at your efforts and will remember your kindness when they are ready to hire someone.

2. Give more than expected. Someone may have hired you to design a website, but why do just the basics? Showing them how to create content that improves search engine rankings or giving them ideas on how to keep the site fresh provides your client valuable tools to succeed in their business without feeling nickel-and-dimed by someone more interested in making a profit than providing great service. What additional treats can you provide your clients that exceeds their expectations?

3. Be authentic. This should be a given. Doing anything to gain a client or saying anything to be seen as an expert does not benefit your business or your legacy. People want to work with honest, caring, genuine and authentic leaders, not someone willing to ignore their values for the sake of money.

4. Invest in the success of others. If you really care about the success of your clients, not just so they will keep you on the payroll, but because you believe in what they are doing and truly enjoy watching them grow and thrive, then become devoted to their business.

5. Share your mistakes. Let people learn from your failures so they do not have to go through it themselves. It does not make you look weak or stupid to admit you made a mistake, it makes you human. It is how you handle those mistakes that expose your true character.

6. Show your fun side. All work and no play make you easy to forget. Add personality and character to your business efforts to make it easier for clients to connect with you and enjoy the relationship.

Incorporate a few (or all) of these tips into your business and see how your clients react. I bet they will appreciate your efforts and tell others about your great work. Best of all, your business will mean more to them than just another invoice.

Every page on your website, every sales letter, every elevator speech, even every tweet you send – all of these communications tell the world about your values, attitudes and personality. It is up to you to put forth consistent, accurate and positive messages that reinforce your business story.

So, how do you take control of your story and make it one that you can consistently utilize to brand your business and galvanize your message?

First, pull out all of your marketing tools- anything that a client or potential client sees. Print off your website and any other online tools you use to reach your audience. Take a look at what you are saying and answer the following questions.

1. Is your story being told loud and clear?
2. Is your message consistent across the board?
3. Are you relaying the image your want for your business?
4. Do your core values show up in your materials?
5. Does your personality shine through?
6. Does everything make sense? Are you contradicting yourself or being vague in any area?
7. Are you being seen as an expert in your field?
8. How do things look? Professional or amateur? Corporate or creative (or both)?
9. What is missing? Is there something you know you need or an item that you are constantly asked for but don’t yet have a template?

Once you have looked over everything, ask a client or close friend (someone with strong business sense that will provide an honest assessment) to also review your materials. This may be a little scary, and possibly painful, but absolutely necessary.

Take the time to rewrite your materials so your story shines and redesign your tools to best showcase the special skills you offer to attract your ideal clients. Hire someone to redo your website to project your image, especially if you are moving into a new phase of your business. The website you created when you first started your business may not represent your current state. Do not be afraid to upgrade your image as you move along in your career. Having a site that reflects your story is essential to getting your message heard.

You will be amazed how much your business will soar once you are the one sharing your business story with the world.

While the seminar was amazing, it was the three-hour car ride that still resonates with me. We each took turns talking about “stuff” we are facing. It helps so much to have a strong support system, especially if you work from home in isolation.

The concept of a mastermind group is still pretty new to me. I managed to read about a fifth of “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill last fall. I never really put much stock into it, but the more I keep running into the same challenges, the more I realize I can’t do it alone.

Having a strong support system is an invaluable tool for any business. Just as every new venture needs a plan, every entrepreneur needs a group of honest, caring, bold colleagues to hold your hand while simultaneously kicking your butt.

We are not meant to be solitary creatures. And that goes for your business, as well. To be successful in any industry, you can’t do it alone.

She is one of those people I could just listen to for hours. So wise, authentic and passionate.

She said one thing that has really stuck with me and is making me rethink how I run my business.

“Life is too magical and mystical to do something you don’t love.”

Wow. Imagine only taking on clients that you love. Imagine only working on projects that you love. How would that transform how your run your business?

If you made every decision based on what you love and what your soul is telling you is right, how would your business look?

Several times throughout our conversation, she said her heart was telling her to go in a certain direction. She just felt it was the right move. She runs her business with her heart and soul, allowing her intuition to guide her.

I’ve heard a lot of business coaches preach this idea, but I’ve never met anyone that actually runs their business with soul.

So, the real question is, how can I  listen to my gut and have a successful business? Maybe the real point is, how can I not?

Hmmm.

Values in business often relate to the business strategy of a large company and usually describe its commitment to shareholders, customers and employees.

For example, Zappos lists their core values on their website as:

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships with Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, business values are personal values. Your personal core values define who you are and what you believe in, align your business with your true self, make it easier to identify your ideal clients, establish a powerful voice and provide a clear path for the tough decisions every entrepreneur faces.

Zappo’s core values are a perfect example of appealing to your ideal clients. Not many people appreciate the idea of a company proudly announcing they are weird, creative, adventurous and humble. But for some, those values ring true with what they believe. There is an instant connection and bond with the customer. More importantly, this new fan is likely to rave about the company to like-minded friends. They become an ambassador for the company, all because of common core values.

It is easy to spot businesses that either don’t follow their core values or haven’t incorporated those values into their business. Realizing you and your business are not living the values you treasure deeply is often the turning point in business, and life.

Your first step is to identify your core beliefs. Choose 10 values from the list below. Don’t think about it too much. Just circle the values that call to you, not the values you think you should have:

*Abundance *Acceptance *Accessibility *Achievement *Adventure *Ambition *Authenticity *Beauty *Challenge *Charity *Competitiveness *Connection *Contribution *Courage *Creativity *Efficiency *Enjoyment *Excellence *Fairness *Faith *Family *Fame *Freedom *Friendship *Gratitude *Happiness *Honesty *Honor *Humility *Independence *Inner *Harmony *Innovation *Integrity *Justice *Kindness *Leadership *Love *Loyalty *Luxury *Magnificence *Passion *Peace*Power *Prosperity *Recognition *Relationships *Reliability *Resilience *Respect *Safety *Security *Service *Simplicity *Spirituality *Stewardship *Strength *Success *Trust *Wealth *Wholeness

Next, narrow your 10 values down to five. If you are really struggling between two values, then think which value you treasure the most in others. Listen to your gut.

Once you have determined your top five core values, examine your business and life and ask yourself the following questions for each value.

1. How is this value showing up in my business?
2. In which parts of my business is this value missing or weak?
3. How is this value showing up in my life?
4. In which parts of my life is this value missing or weak?

You may find one or two values that are not showing up as strongly as you like in your business or life. This may explain why you are struggling with certain issues or unable to move beyond a particular challenge. You may even see a need to revamp your website, message points or image, or you may realize the need to target another market or offer different services.

Aligning your business is a strong statement of who you are and what your business can do for your clients. Don’t be scared to express your core beliefs; it’s not sign of vulnerability. Never underestimate the power of being you.

After marking off just a few of the items from the list, I felt freer and lighter. Business seemed to take off. Out of the blue I received an invitation to speak at a business meeting and had a friend of a friend provide me with the best testimonial. Wow, all that for just a couple of checkmarks.

So, what did I do next? I stopped working on the list and went on with everyday life. Guess what? I feel stuck, stuck, stuck again. And it feels bad.

What I failed to learn was integrity is adhering to a code of values. My values. I have been leaving my values out of my business and my life. That is what is causing the big disconnect. A-ha.

Staying true to my core values of freedom, authenticity, creativity, abundance, love and fun should be my main focus in everything I do. I can’t remember the last time I had silly fun or flexed my creative muscle. No wonder I am so out of whack.

I know this is my first post on Women on Business, but I am going to put you to work and issue a challenge. What are your core values and where are they NOT showing up in your life or business? How can you make aligning with your values your number one priority this weekend?

For me, it is time to head to the mountains with my camera and capture some amazing photos. Maybe then I’ll be ready to tackle the rest of that to-do list.