One of the keys to online success is authority. And what’s the key to authoritative writing?
Understanding what the hecky-deck you’re talking about!
If you’re already a trained dental professional then, of course, that shouldn’t be a problem.
But what if you’re not?
How can you know enough to be a subject matter expert when you’re starting out as a dental content writer?
That’s what we’re going to cover here.
In this article, I’ll uncover four unexpected ways to become a dental content writing expert fast.
So here goes…
#1 – Change your mindset
“In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is master”
There will always be people who have greater dental knowledge than you. That’s a fact! But don’t let that get you down.
After all, you don’t have to be the leading expert on periodontology to teach the everyday man on the street about how to prevent gum disease.
Likewise, you don’t need to be a board-certified orthodontist to educate young teens about the benefits of braces.
Instead, you simply need to channel your writing towards people who know less about the subject than you.
If you’re pitching your content directly to that audience and it’s informative or helpful, then you’re probably an authority to them.
And what about all those people who are wiser about the topic than you?
Let them become your teachers and mentors.
Accept that your current standing in the pecking order of knowledge won’t diminish your authority.
And, if you read what they write, study their work and learn from what they say, it will enhance it.
So, it’s a win/win situation all around.
#2 Get good at unravelling complex topics
Dentistry is full of terminology and that’s okay if you move in those circles but to the everyday Jane or Joe, it can be as baffling as a puzzle with missing pieces.
While you may not be the world’s greatest authority on dentistry yet, you can position yourself as the most accessible authority.
All you need to do is to know your target audience and pitch your dental content writing at their level.
In other words, make life easier by taking a complex subject and explaining it in easy-to-understand terms.
Do this and you’ll find that the simple stuff begins to take on a new depth and richness of its own. Before you know it, your writing skills and subject knowledge will expand and…
Hey presto – you’re a subject matter authority without even realising it!
#3 – Write a lot!
Okay, so maybe this one’s a little cliche but if dental content writing is your chosen passion and you want to become a subject authority fast, you need to write a lot!
Even if you don’t yet have paying clients it pays to be writing content pieces every day for your portfolio, blog, website or social media.
And while your first couple of articles may be a little basic, I guarantee that by the tenth or twentieth article on dental implants, orthodontics or cosmetic teeth whitening, you’ll have far better-researched content, but more importantly, you’ll have greater knowledge.
Put those two together and boom! You’ve just become a subject matter expert.
As an example, I’ve been writing dental content for 13+ years and until today, I didn’t know that the body produces around one wine bottle full of saliva every day or about 20,000 litres during the average lifetime – enough to fill around 53 bathtubs. Gross I know, but it’s something I wasn’t aware of, so go me!
The point I’m making here is that as writers, it doesn’t matter what level we’re at, we’re always learning. And knowledge builds authority, right?
#4 Have a real desire to help
Finally, it’s easy when we have some knowledge to come across as an all-encompassing smartass. When we do that we’re open to being portrayed as ‘holier than thou’ or worse still, downright condescending.
Alternatively, when we approach dental content writing with a degree of modesty, curiosity and a sincere desire to educate or help, people will start to engage more positively.
When they do, fans will follow and as they do, they’ll see you as a subject matter authority.
The bottom line – As long as you keep one eye on your target audience and their needs, you won’t go far wrong.
So there you have it, 4 unexpected ways to become a dental content writing authority, even when you’re just starting out.
If you need any help kickstarting your content writing career, I have you covered. You can always drop me a line at [email protected] and I’ll try my best to answer any questions or concerns you have.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of the wealth of information in my blogs where I try to cover every aspect of running a dental content writing business. So, feel free to check those out too.
Here’s to your success!