You may be a visionary with heaps of knowledge and experience. But if you don’t know how to sell your expertise online, it can be difficult to leverage your know-how and get your message across in a way that increases sales and conversions.
You don’t have to have a fancy job title or many letters after your name to be considered an expert. Research shows that only 44% of entrepreneurs have a college degree. Instead, many build up their reputation and business by demonstrating their real-world experience and knowledge in their field.
Wondering how to use your experience to sell your services better? In this guide, I’ll outline nine great ways to sell what you know online to give you and your business the boost it deserves.
What Kind of Expert Are You?
Generally speaking, there are two classifications of expertise:
Functional expertise – Accrued through self-study, experience, and practice, resulting in extensive knowledge and mastery within a particular field.
Accorded expertise – Bestowed when another person, organization, or institution grants you the title of expert. Think of degrees, licenses, certificates, and job titles.
Neither is better than the other, and both types of experts may struggle with how to sell products and services online. For example, it’s common for functional experts to undervalue themselves. Conversely, accorded experts often feel lost, because formal training and education aren’t necessarily predictors of real-world success. In either case, the key factor is getting other people to know that you’re good at what you do. That’s why knowing how to sell your expertise online is so important.
Let’s explore 9 ways you can sell what you know online.
How to Sell What You Know Online
1. Start a Podcast
A podcast is an excellent way to sell your expertise online because storytelling creates a strong bond where people are drawn in on a personal level. Many successful entrepreneurs leverage podcasts to share their message, build their audience, and grow their business.
If you run a membership site or similar enterprise, there’s also some value in having a private podcast. The fact that listeners have to subscribe or be invited adds an air of exclusivity that positively screams ‘expert.’ Plus, you’ll attract and retain more listeners (i.e., potential customers) because people won’t want to lose access to bonus content once they have it.
Simple tools to start a podcast include Anchor (Spotify for podcasters) and Substack.
2. Offer Online Courses
You’ll need to take some time to research and choose the course software that’s right for you, as some can be restrictive and expensive. But once you’re up and running, online courses are a very effective method of selling your expertise online while simultaneously generating income, because they allow you to:
- Establish yourself as an expert in your field
- Boost your profile as an industry leader
- Provide an entry-level point for people interested in your services but not yet ready to commit.
- Build your CRM with leads that fit your ideal customer profile (IDP) for future membership campaigns and service offerings.
P. S. – If you need my expert guidance or would like me to review your course launch plan for free then join the Online Course Launchpad Practical Live Review happening this weekend.
3. Build a Content Library
Content libraries are an efficient and easily monetizable way of using your experience to sell your services online because you can charge for premium access while sharing your knowledge and expertise. Not sure what to include in your content library? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- Social media post templates
- Stock images
- Graphics templates
- Printable training resources
- Workbooks
- Tutorials
- Personalized video resources
- Recordings of coaching calls or mastermind sessions
- Cheat sheets and checklists
Imagine you’re a social media strategist with a proven track record. Your content library could include a variety of pre-designed social media post templates that cater to different platforms and purposes. Subscribers gain exclusive access to these templates, saving them time and effort in crafting engaging posts. With premium access, you not only share your expertise but also offer a practical solution that enhances the online presence of your clients.
4. Publish an e-Book
I know what you’re thinking. Writing a book feels like a lot of time and effort. But, with a PDF book, you can include a whole heap of your existing content to tell your entrepreneurial story while rewarding clients with more resources that provide undeniable proof of your expertise. Plus, you can add value with minimal effort by including:
- Photo-laden how-to guides
- Previous blogs
- Reviews and video testimonials
The best thing about e-books? Because you only have to make the book once, it’s a great source of passive income. And the more copies you sell, the higher the reward.
With ebooks, you can self-publish and promote them using several marketing strategies and even have them on platforms like Amazon KDP, Okada books, etc with millions of existing readers already.
5. Start a Paid Newsletter
If you already have an active email list, paid newsletters are a fantastic way to sell what you know online because they provide extra value beyond your standard marketing blasts. Content ideas include:
- Expanded print or audio content
- Early or discounted access to videos and courses
- Special members-only website access
- Exclusive downloads (like eBooks and guides)
- One-on-one coaching offers
Platforms like Substack are very good at helping you run a free and paid newsletter where you can segment the content you send out exclusively to paid subscribers and generally to everyone on your list.
6. Publish a Digital Magazine
While they involve more work than some of the other methods I’ve listed, digital magazines are an incredibly effective way of selling your expertise online if you already have a sizable audience of blog readers, social media followers, or email subscribers. Readers have the flexibility to access your exclusive, pay-walled content on any device or print out articles of particular interest, but without you having to worry about logistics, printing, and mailing.
This route isn’t for everyone though, and digital magazines are generally better suited to entrepreneurs who:
- Are comfortable writing
- Have experience using basic digital publishing and design programs
- Can commit to a regular publishing schedule
- Have a network of associates who may be interested in cross-promoting your magazine
There are several tools and platforms available to help you get started. Here are some recommendations:
Design and Layout
- Adobe InDesign: This professional design software is widely used for creating digital publications. It offers a range of features for layout, typography, and graphics.
- Canva: A user-friendly design tool that is suitable for beginners. Canva provides templates and drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to create visually appealing magazine layouts.
Digital Publishing Platforms:
- Issuu: A digital publishing platform that allows you to create, share, and embed online magazines. It provides a realistic page-turning experience for readers.
- Joomag: Offers a digital publishing platform with various interactive elements such as videos, links, and slideshows to enhance your digital magazine.
Monetization:
- Patreon: If you want to offer your magazine on a subscription or pay-per-issue basis, Patreon is a popular platform for creators to monetize their content and build a community.
- Zinio: A digital newsstand that allows you to sell individual issues or subscriptions to your magazine. Zinio also provides distribution to a wide audience.
7. Launch a Paid Community
By creating your own paid community, you can use your experience to sell your services while simultaneously attracting a community of engaged and excited people who are interested in what you have to offer. Although, you don’t even have to have created a product yet to build your first community.
You can start simply by creating discussions between people with similar interests. As your audience grows, they’ll want to interact with you more, allowing you to:
- Pair with other offerings like your content library or paid newsletter
- Grow your brand.
- Develop better relationships than you can use social media alone.
8. Set Up Paid Zoom Calls
If you’re not already using video to communicate with your target market, it’s time to start! Zoom is well known as the world’s most popular online video meeting platform, generating over 3.3 trillion meeting minutes annually.
By moving your in-person events like seminars, workshops, training sessions, and masterminds onto Zoom, you can reach a wider audience, develop a new revenue stream, and build your reputation as an expert. Plus, video screen recording allows you to reuse Zoom sessions – and edited clips from them – in your other marketing and training materials.
You can think of this in the form of virtual masterclasses, webinars, workshops, etc using Zoom as a software to hold these events.
Other software you can use include Google Meet, Streamyard, YouTube Live, etc depending on the size of the audience you’re looking to host.
9. 1:1 or Group Coaching
1:1 and group coaching have emerged as powerful methods for selling expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a subject matter expert, or an entrepreneur, offering personalized guidance or group sessions can be a lucrative avenue. Here’s a closer look at the benefits and strategies for implementing 1:1 or group coaching to sell what you know online:
Benefits
- Personalization: One-on-one coaching allows for tailored guidance, addressing individual clients’ unique needs and challenges. Group coaching, on the other hand, offers a sense of community and shared learning experiences.
- Flexibility: Coaching sessions can be conducted remotely, breaking geographical barriers. This flexibility appeals to a global audience, expanding your potential market.
- Interactive Learning: Both formats foster interactive discussions, Q&A sessions, and real-time feedback, creating a more engaging learning environment compared to traditional online courses.
- Customized Solutions: Personalized attention in 1:1 coaching enables you to provide highly customized solutions, accelerating the learning process for your clients.
Start Selling What You Know Online Today!
Becoming familiar with all possible ways to sell your expertise online doesn’t just allow you to monetise your knowledge and skills. It helps you educate and enlighten people who might be in the same situation as you were earlier on in your entrepreneurial journey. Your content can help people gain from your experience, making their lives easier, and give you a hefty dose of the feel-good factor at the same time!
You can CLICK HERE to book a 1:1 call with me if you’d like me to help you explore various options available to monetize your expertise and brand online.
P.S. Rumour has it that I’m the best in the game.
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