How to Build Authority Online Before You Feel Like an Expert

Let’s be honest. Most people don’t wake up one day and magically feel like an expert.

Especially when you’re just starting your business, the thought of “showing up as an authority” can feel a little scary—like, Who am I to talk about this stuff?

If that’s you, take a deep breath. You don’t need to be the #1 expert in your field to be valuable.

You just need to be a few steps ahead of the person you’re helping. That’s more than enough.

So let’s talk about how to build trust and authority online before you feel totally confident—and how to do it in a way that’s simple, honest, and real.

What Does It Even Mean to “Build Authority”?

Building authority means people start to see you as someone they can trust to help them with a specific problem.

It’s not about having a huge following or a bunch of credentials. It’s about:

Showing up consistently
Sharing what you know
Being helpful
Solving small problems
Building real relationships

And yes—you can totally do all of that even if you feel like you’re still learning too.

Step 1: Teach What You Know (Even If It Feels Small)

Start by sharing what you’ve learned from your own experience. People love learning from real people who’ve “been there.”

Think about:

What have you figured out the hard way?
What do people ask you for help with?
What’s something you know how to do that someone else might not?

Example:
If you just built your first website from scratch, share what tools you used and how you did it. That’s super valuable for someone who’s still staring at a blank screen.

Step 2: Share Your Process, Not Just Your Results

You don’t need to act like you have it all figured out. In fact, people connect more with real stories.

Try sharing what you’re working on, what you’re learning, and even what’s not going perfectly.

Example Post Ideas:

“Behind the Scenes: What I’m Working on This Week”
“3 Mistakes I Made When I Tried [something]”
“How I’m Getting More Confident Talking About My Offer”

This helps your audience relate to you—and it builds trust.

Step 3: Show Up Where Your People Hang Out

You can’t build authority if no one can find you. So pick one or two places to show up regularly and start sharing value.

Good beginner options:

Instagram (posts, stories, reels, carousels)
A blog (great for long-term growth + SEO)
An email list (even if it’s small, it’s yours)
Facebook groups (either join relevant ones or start your own)

Don’t try to do everything. Pick the platforms that feel doable for you right now.

Step 4: Create Helpful Content That Solves a Problem

Start by helping your ideal client with one small, specific thing.

Ask yourself:

What questions are they asking?
What are they Googling late at night?
What’s a quick win I can help them get?

Content ideas:

A checklist or cheat sheet (free lead magnet)
A blog post with tips or how-to steps
A story on social media about how you solved a problem
A short video tutorial showing how to do something simple

When people get value from your content, they begin to see you as someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Step 5: Collect and Share Social Proof

Even when you’re just starting out, you can still build credibility with testimonials or feedback.

Ideas:

Ask a friend or past coworker to share what it’s like to work with you
Offer a free session or mini service in exchange for a testimonial
Screenshot kind messages or DMs and (with permission) share them

Social proof is powerful—it shows people that others trust you, and that makes them more likely to trust you too.

Step 6: Keep Learning (and Share What You Learn)

You don’t have to wait until you’re “done” learning to start teaching. In fact, some of the best content comes from sharing what you’re learning as you learn it.

You could say things like: