Do you want to know one of the biggest challenges women face when trying to grow their businesses based on ideas, knowledge or services?

It’s how to quickly build a reputation as an expert and start having a name that people in your target market know, search for, remember and recommend. Because if you don’t, you’ll get lost in the marketing clutter and have a hard time getting enough leads and customers.

To capture the attention of information-saturated people, you need to provide them with a message or opportunity that is not only compelling, but also touches them emotionally, or offers suggestions on how to solve a pressing problem they are currently having. Here are four tips to build your reputation fast.

1) Become a nickelologist

Hey? What does that mean? I was recently looking for sofas in French country style. My online searches kept turning up pages and pages of sofas, but not in the style I wanted. I finally gave up. If I had found a wonderful website with exactly what I was looking for, I would have been thrilled and might even have become a customer.

In the same way you need to find your niche, your sweet spot, the one that makes you stand out in front of a specific group of people. Niches that are too broad are too competitive and too vague. More and more people want to hire someone who is an expert in solving their specific problem. Better yet, if you see a problem showing up over and over again in your market and you know people would pay for a solution, you’ve found a niche out of the box. This makes it much easier to STAND OUT and get noticed.

2) Connect and partner with top experts who are already well known in your market

Building relationships with top experts in your field will help you partner with that level of expertise. There are many ways to relate to these people. Promote a product to them and they may be interested in promoting yours. Consider interviewing top experts, record these interviews and use them to host a telesummit or bundle them as a product for sale. Promote these interviews on social media. Follow and interact with these people on Facebook and Twitter.

You will also be inspired to quickly move to the next level and be inspired by your success.

3) Create an experience that engages your prospects on an emotional level

How can you create a real experience for your market? You can do this through a video, teleclass or webinar, or by speaking at events and meetings. Just throwing information won’t do it. You must connect with your prospects at the level of their deepest problem, their deepest dream, and the results they need and want. You must become a change agent, someone who truly changes the lives of your clients in a positive way.

Once you do, people will start talking about your business and recommending it. They will suggest that their friends follow you on social media.

4) Boldly show proof that you get results

I am often surprised when I talk to a business owner and they tell me that they only have a few weak testimonials hidden on one page of their website. Every successful interaction with a client is an opportunity for you to earn a glowing testimonial. Ask your clients where they were when they started working with you and where they were after. Record them on video. Ask to use your name and website. Then boldly place those testimonials on every web page and in all of your marketing materials.

You absolutely must stand out in today’s market if you want to generate six figures. Ask yourself, am I holding back or do I have the determination and courage to stand out?