Building a successful creative business requires you to be confident in sharing your expertise.

One of the ways in which we sabotage ourselves is by not having confidence in what we know or do. It’s the number one reason that we don’t put ourselves out there and promote our own products and services as easily as we promote for others. If this sounds like you (and I know for sure it sounds like me), there are ways you can build your confidence while you’re building up your expertise in your niche.

Here are 3 ways you can become more confident in your expertise:

Keep a Journal of Your Accomplishments

You don’t have to share this with anyone but take some time right now to write down your business accomplishments over the past year, five years, and even ten years so that you can remind yourself of how far you’ve come. Making this a daily habit can do wonders for your confidence and give you ideas that you can share with your audience. If you need a journal to use for yourself (and that you can also sell to others), Alice has a whole journaling pack* available that you can use.

Never Stop Learning

Lifelong learning is an important aspect of maintaining your expertise. No matter what we do, technology changes things. Not only does technology change but audiences do, too. Even if the demographics stay the same, over time culture changes – which changes the values of the audience you’re working with. Continuing to learn and staying ahead of your industry as much as possible will not only ensure you are ready for change but will turn you into the expert you want to be.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

When you do feel fear about something, especially something like putting yourself and your products out there for the world to see, don’t let the fear stop you. Take a step outside your comfort zone and learn do the things you’re afraid of correctly. There’s nothing wrong with taking baby steps to reach your goal.  As you gain experience doing the things you’re afraid of doing, and nothing bad happens, and only good things happen (more conversions!), you’ll become more confident in your expertise and willing to share it with others.

So what happens if you’re not confident in your own expertise and you don’t put yourself out there? I can tell you from experience that every time you let fear stop you from promoting yourself and your products, that fear grows.  And eventually you’ll be left behind your competitors because they’re willing to do the things it takes to promote their own products and services while you’re not. Working a little every day to become more confident in your expertise and being willing to share it with others will go a long way to building up your success, whether you’re after a bigger email list or more sales, and it will start to come naturally after awhile.

Do I still get scared when I have to talk to someone new? You bet! But it’s become a lot easier over the years, and most of the time I don’t hesitate to share knowledge and promote my own stuff. I want that for you too.

*Note: This post includes affiliate links, for which I will receive a small commission should you make a purchase.