During my college years I learned a style of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu named My Jung Law Horn or Lost Track of Buddha's Disciples (I was a little lost myself back then).

In hopes that I would learn to defend myself or come to the rescue of a maiden in distress. I never met a maiden in distress, but I did learn how to protect myself from unwelcome drunk college goers looking to make me their night. Sadly mistaken were they, when I opened a can of whip…. sorry never mind, back to the subject at hand.

As part of my training I was required to visit our Grand Master, Mr. Lee in Dallas TX, to train and learn about Tai Chi Chuan for a week.

Tai Chi is a kind of combined yoga and meditation in movement, if you can picture it. The first thing Master Lee did when we got there was to ask us to read a small book he authored named The 7 Golden Postures Of Tai Chi Chuan, 10 pages long. After we finished the book, came 6 days of nothing but techniques, and lots of practice. Till this day I remember all the 7 postures.

But what does this have to do with my business, you say?

Simple, Master Lee was an expert at his business. Much like yourself, whether you admit it or not, you are an expert at what you do.

The difference between Master Lee and you is what makes him an established expert. You already have two of the three basic components of expertise, you have knowledge and experience, you’re only missing the third…. publishing your work.

This article is about letting the world know you are an expert. You see establish experts publish their work…

Why do you think universities pressure college professors to publish their basic or applied research? Why do you think hospitals and pharmaceutical firms release articles on the new advances their doctors have accomplished? Why do some religions publish free magazines?

The answer for $500… What is expert status? Correct!

A person writes a bestseller and all of a sudden he or she is the foremost authority in that field, rightfully so, they published.

But you ask, Marcos I’m not a writer, I don’t even finish the crossword puzzle, much less a book. (Do you think I’m a writer???)

To become an expert you don’t need a full blown book all you need is articles, small pieces, a pamphlet or a even a 10- page mini-book to place yourself as an expert in front of all your readers. Ask me about Tai Chi and I’ll immediately think Mater Lee he’s an expert; he’s got that great little book on it.

Here are some quick ways of getting your words out there:

Quick Publishing Tool

	A Pamphlet or booklet on “The 5 Techniques on how to “your expertise here”. Mail or email it out to your prospects and clients. They’ll appreciate the insight and your expert opinion.
	Blog them, a blog web page on your site can allow you to publish quick thoughts or anything else, instantly. Let your webs site visitors know what’s on your mind, as it is on your mind. Let them know how to better use your services or the latest uses of your product, after all you’re the expert. A perfect example of a Blog page here.
	eNewsletters are an extremely fast publishing and distribution tool. A simple article of interest every month and you are on your way. If you need help with this part you know who to call (us, Loop Consulting Group, just in case…).
	Article. Write articles for magazines or trade journals in your industry. Publishing in a trade magazine will surely add credibility and expert status to your company. It’s not as hard as you think. Get in contact with the magazine editors and send them a sample. They are always looking for writers and new articles, especially if it’s for free.

Bottom line: what gets published by you or by publisher becomes knowledge. In general we accept what is written to be the truth and the writer to be the expert source.

Did you enjoy this article? Go on forward it to a friend, don’t be shy.

See next month.

Marcos, the newsletter (expert) guy.

P.S. Don't forget to vote for next moths article, In Emi's "Its Your Call" section.

According to Opt-in News, and their just released research on permission-based email open rates ("Email Open Rates: Are Email Messages Read?"), "business-to-business email newsletters is the only permission-based format that has increased its open rates in 2003, while it's direct email counterparts continue to decline."

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