How I Became the “Go-To” Expert in My Niche in Less Than 3 Years

When I started to write online in 2018, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t have professional experience or education in writing. All I had was curiosity and the willingness to try.

And I tried hard.

For almost two years, I published articles without a substantial return on my investment.

And when I finally saw the results I desired, I was thrilled to share my insights with new writers.

I created a community and revealed my numbers, learnings, and struggles.

I knew having access to these insights would’ve made my own journey easier, and I was excited about sharing what I had learned.

So when a Business Insider journalist asked if I wanted to talk about my experiences, I was thrilled to say yes because it’s what I’ve been doing for the past three years anyway.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Even though I never anticipated it, I had the pleasure of sharing my story with thousands of people on and off the web:

When I started to talk about my insights and progress, I didn’t expect any of these opportunities.

Yet, here I am, having turned my expertise into:

• The top education program to help writers grow their income and audience on Medium.
• One of the largest and most engaged communities for Medium writers with over 10,000 members.
• Two newsletters with more than 35,000 subscribers who receive my emails.
• A digital business generating six-figure profits per year, allowing me to live life on my own terms.

If you’re looking for advice on how to grow your audience by writing on Medium, you can barely overlook my resources or community.

One way or the other, you’ll likely end up on my articles, videos, events, or Facebook group.

Even though I didn’t make my journey public with any of these goals in mind, you can.

You can make strategic moves and smart decisions to help you cut through the noise and become visible, so the right people find, like, and trust you.

Find your sweet spot between results and imposter syndrome.

If you want to be known for being an expert, you first need to create results for yourself.

I often meet new entrepreneurs and creators who want to help others solve a problem they’ve never faced themselves.

That’s not only inauthentic but also frustrating.

It’s unlikely you’ll ever understand your audience and potential customers if you’ve never been in their shoes.

I’ve been in the trenches for two years before I started to share my learnings with others.

By the time I started to monetize my knowledge, I had made a significant income by using my own strategies for months.

But more importantly, I’m deeply passionate about my area of expertise.

Writing online has changed my life, and I’m thrilled to help more people benefit from the opportunity to share their words with the world.

Bottom line

You can’t decide you want to be an expert if you don’t have real-life experience or have at least created results for someone else.

My business and credibility grew quickly because I was open and honest about my success and struggles.

So many beginners pick a niche because they think it’s the next big thing.

I’ve seen at least a hundred different people creating offers in my niche because they thought the topic would magically lead to $$$.

Most of them gave up within weeks because they realized they couldn’t keep up with creators who have years of experience, credibility, and proven marketing strategies in place.

Learn to ignore shiny objects.

If you pick a niche because you think it’s the next big thing, you’ll likely end up feeling unfulfilled and disappointed.

Building expertise, credibility, and a sustainable business take time — lots of it.

You can be lucky and create a viral piece of content that leads to exposure and audience growth, but those aren’t synonymous with credibility or long-term success.

Sometimes, becoming known for your topic will require you to say no more often than you say yes.

Here are some decisions I’ve made for my own business:

I didn’t spend a ridiculous amount of time or money building a website nobody would ever visit.

Instead, I focused on understanding how to create high-converting funnels and profitable online launches.

Instead of studying SEO, I learned how to attract millions of views to my content on Medium.

I ignore most social platforms and new opportunities. I write on Medium, run my community as a Facebook group, and occasionally create videos for YouTube.

That’s it.

I’m not using Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok, or other channels to grow my audience.

And I don’t freak out about missing out because I know why I became a writer, creator, and entrepreneur in the first place.

I did it because I sought freedom.

I wanted to enjoy my work, make more money than I needed, work far less than 40 hours per week, invest my resources wisely, and have more choices in life.

I didn’t want to hire dozens of people, work my ass off, or become world-famous.

Your ambitions might be different, and that’s fine.

There are a gazillion ways to build an audience, credibility, expertise, and a thriving digital (writing) business. What matters is that you know what you want and why.

The key is choosing options that make sense for your individual circumstances and lifestyle.

Bottom line

Building credibility and staying relevant in your niche require thick skin.

I’ve seen so many people come and go trying to establish themselves in my niche, yet, giving up because they got scared when things changed.

Or they got too excited about the “next big thing.”

Think of it that way: The internet is crowded and noisy. A lot of information is plain wrong, and most people are afraid of being scammed.

If you want to get paid for sharing your knowledge online, you need to be willing to stick to your message for at least 1–3 years without getting bored or scared.

Don’t pick your niche based on trends. Pick it because you’re genuinely excited about helping others solve a specific problem you’ve solved for yourself (or someone else).

I collaborate my way to the top.

When new writers seek advice on how to grow their audiences on Medium, they will likely discover my content.

Luckily, that’s not because I’m omnipresent or publish insane amounts of content.

It’s because I formed smart, strategic, and mutually beneficial partnerships with creators who have access to a relevant audience.

My friend Zulie Rane, for instance, runs the largest Youtube channel for Medium writers.

We record interviews, promote each other’s work, and collaborate since 2020.

When I run promotions for my events or paid programs, Zulie and many other brilliant creators help me spread the word.

Bottom line

Instead of fearing competition, I collaborate with the most brilliant creators in my niche.

You can’t pick a niche based on how little competition you might face.

You pick it despite the competition because the urge to share your message is stronger than your fear.

Many of my colleagues have been writing on Medium for much longer than myself. Yet, that didn’t hold me back from going all-in and sharing my side of the story and my individual experiences.

And if you think you can dominate your niche without ever talking to others, you’ll likely end up working long hours.

Collaboration and mutual support aren’t only more fun, but they can also be a lot more profitable.

Final thoughts

I’m not invited to speak about my experiences and insights as a Medium writer because I have the largest following, have been writing for the longest time, or am publishing the most.

I get asked because I stick to my message and stay true to my own mission without getting distracted.

And ultimately, I’ve been able to become an authority in my area of expertise because I:

• Was open about my struggles and results.
• Don’t promote new platforms, opportunities, and shiny objects every few weeks.
• Consistently improve my offers instead of trying to sell new stuff.
• Don’t promote unrealistic standards.
• Take (long) breaks and still do well as a writer.
• Show up and make an effort to understand my audience.
• Know I’m not all-knowing and shamelessly ask for support.

Sustainable success in the digital world is barely about luck or viral content.

Instead, it’s mostly about saying no to dozens of exciting opportunities, so you can put your butt in the chair and work on the few things that truly matter: Sharing your message, growing a genuinely engaged audience, and building profitable monetization channels, so you can actually make money doing what you love.

✏ ️If this got you excited about growing your audience and income by writing online, start here.