Why You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Build a Loyal Audience

Your unique perspective is more than enough to connect

You don’t have to be the smartest writer on a platform to connect with readers.

Most people think they need decades of experience or groundbreaking ideas to build a loyal audience.

However, the truth is, you don’t need to be miles ahead?of?your?audience. You just need to be one step ahead.

What Readers Are Really Looking For

Readers don’t come to you for a lecture. They come to you for a conversation.

They’re not looking for perfection; they’re looking for someone who gets it — someone who can help them solve a problem, share a relatable story, or offer a fresh perspective.

I do a lot of hiking every weekend and we have a community of hikers. But before we converge by the weekend, one person goes ahead to identify a spot we would use. And come Saturday, he leads us there.

Think of building a loyal audience like hiking a trail. If you’ve been down that path before, you can guide others without being a professional mountaineer.

You don’t have to know every rock or twist — just enough to point them in the right direction.

The Myth of Expertise

A lot of writers hold themselves back because they feel they’re not qualified. They tell themselves, “Who am I to give advice?”

Here’s a better question: “Who am I not to?”

You don’t need a Ph.D. or 10 years of experience to make an impact. You just need to share what you know and how it helped you.

Your audience isn’t expecting you to have all the answers?—?they’re just looking for?certain?answers. If you’ve got it, feel free to share.

How to Build Credibility Without Credentials

If you’re worried about not being “expert enough,” here’s what you can do:

1. Be Honest About Your Journey: If you’re learning as you go, share that. People connect with authenticity more than authority.
2. Focus on Practical Solutions: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Share simple, actionable advice that people can use right away.
3. Engage with Your Audience: Listen to their questions, struggles, and feedback. The more you understand their needs, the more valuable you’ll become.

I shared some other useful tips in this article:

"3 Ways to Become an Influencer Even With Zero Followers”

Wrapping Up

The beauty of writing is that your perspective is your superpower or as one of my friends puts it, “You are the niche.”

No one else sees the world exactly like you do.

When you share your thoughts, struggles, and lessons, you’re giving your audience something they can’t get anywhere else. And that’s what keeps them coming back — not your credentials, but your connection.

So, don’t wait until you feel “ready.”

Start now. Share what you know, even if it’s just a little. Because sometimes, the most helpful person isn’t the expert at the top of the mountain?—?it’s the one walking beside you.

Registration for Cohort 2 of my LinkedIn Content Marketing Challenge closes tonight. Want to elevate how you show up on LinkedIn, and be part of a supportive community that pushes and helps you hit your LinkedIn goals for 2025? Send a DM

I hope this helps you. If it did, like this newsletter, leave me a comment (it will encourage me a lot), click the follow button and subscribe to get email notifications when next I write. Talk next week at 2 pm