If you read the Brand Camp U blog, chances are strong that you are looking to build your personal brand around expertise you already possess. Simply calling yourself “an expert” will not do the trick. Instead, prove it by sharing your unique knowledge and talents with others across the web. Here are 5 specific web locations that allow you to directly answer questions – showcasing your expertise in the process.
1. Linkedin Answers
The Linkedin Q&A section is an underutilized portion of the site that is extremely beneficial for both those asking and answering the questions. The premise is simple: One Linkedin user asks a question to the entire site, and any number of users are allowed to offer their responses. You can sort by category or search by keyword, allowing you to locate the specific questions that pertain to your field. Providing a brilliant answer can benefit you in multiple ways:
- The initial questioner will be extremely thankful, and will likely want to connect with or learn from you further.
- Other users will notice the smart response, especially if highlighted as a “Best Answer.”
- A recruiter or potential client might notice your response, and a door could open for you that would not have opened otherwise.
2. Formspring.Me
Formspring is a brilliantly simple website that allows others to ask questions directly to you. As Tech Crunch points out, anyone can ask you anything. Might you get a few off-the-wall questions you don’t know how to answer? Probably. But, the site does offer a unique and direct way for would-be questioners to pick your brain on the subjects you know best. Who knows what connections you might “form” as a result?
3. Yahoo! Answers
Yahoo! Answers is quite similar to Linkedin answers. Questions are asked by one individual, and the entire group can provide brilliant (or sometimes otherwise) responses. The one main difference between the two sites? Yahoo! answers tend to rank extremely high in web searches.
Want to know something like…“Is there a career that combines green/eco-friendly living and non-profits? Chances are, your web search will feature the top responses from Yahoo! Answers. There might not be an easier way to get your name and links on the top of relevant Google Search results.
4. Twitter Chats
Twitter chats are gaining major popularity recently. As Maria Duron describes, “Twitter chats are when you chat on Twitter around a certain subject and mark each tweet with a hashtag (#) denoting that you are associating it with that chat or topic. ..a Twitter chat happens at one specific time and everyone gathers tweeting about that subject.”
Most often, a set of questions is provided by a moderator, and individual Tweeters respond with their answers. If your answers are thought-provoking, you are likely to gain a few Twitter followers that want to connect with and learn more from you.
5. Your Own Blog
Your own blog is certainly a place to showcase expertise via thoughtful blog entries. But, it can also be an excellent place to answer direct questions from readers. Essentially, you can set up an “Ask the Blogger” page to mimic the functionality of a Formspring.Me page. Readers can submit questions via public comments or through a private contact form.
How you answer the questions is up to you. My “Ask Ryan Rancatore Your Personal Branding Questions” page mentions to readers that the best questions just might be answered in a full blog article – with attribution to the source.
Using any of these five sources to answer questions is a simple way to showcase your expertise across the web. Can you think of any others?
Ryan Rancatore discusses how to build an authentic personal brand that stands out at Personal Branding 101. Connect with Ryan on Twitter at @RyanRancatore, or on Linkedin.
Photo credit, Damon Duncan.
