Building expertise is important for any business owner or person who wants to promote their business, products or services. When the public views you as an expert, they are likely to trust you more and want to hear more about what you are saying about a variety of topics. They will buy from you more readily because they trust you as an expert.

Here are eight ways to build your expertise in your niche.

1. Become an Author – Publishing a book as an author can open many doors, especially if the book is well received. Today it’s easier than ever to add “author” to your list of accomplishments due to Kindle Direct Publishing. Don’t allow anyone to tell you that it won’t work and it’s not a good way to become an expert. It does, and it is.

2. Become a Speaker – If you have a lot of knowledge about a particular topic, consider adding public speaking to your resume. Speaking to groups of people has long been established to advance expertise, and nothing has changed. After all, the audience members will automatically assume you know what you are talking about or you would not be talking.

3. Create an ECourse – Teaching what you know to others is a clear sign that you’ve mastered something enough to demonstrate and teach it to others. You can put courses on your own website, deliver them through email, or put them on a third party site like Udemy.com.

4. Promote Using YouTube – You’ve been given this awesome opportunity to spread awareness and get buzz for your niche in the form of the video sharing site YouTube. It has a built-in audience, and if you publish well-designed videos that target your audience, you’ll become sought after and popular.

5. Blog Regularly – Don’t stop using your blog as a method to get your words out to your audience just because you move up in the world. Keep blogging at least weekly, but perhaps create longer content that is more authoritative in nature, providing a lot of in-depth information to your viewers.

6. Become a Regular Guest – You can be interviewed on radio, in print, and online by making yourself available. Contact your local press and let them know that if they do stories on your niche, you are available to speak to them. They are good people but busy, so they’ll be more likely to use someone who’s offered than to chase down those who haven’t.

7. Start a Mastermind Group – A private mastermind group is a great way to establish and build your expertise. You’ll end up with a good solid fan base that knows your secrets and understands how you tick. They’ll become promoters of your work, and in the process you’ll earn some extra income.

8. Study Your Niche – Never stop studying. Time goes forward and things change. What was true just a month ago might not be true today. Don’t be afraid to change your opinions and ideas based on the information you learn. To stay relevant in a niche you have to stay connected enough to understand what’s new.

Becoming an expert in your niche is an important way to boost your value and increase your income. Plus, if you know a lot about a topic, you should be proud to become a noted expert in your field after all the study and effort you’ve put into it.