Why you need to be an expert in something

"If you want to be found online, or want to become valuable in the workplace, then you have to focus on one area of expertise," writes Dan Schawbill on Copyblogger.

You must become the most knowledgeable person on a certain topic—an authority—so that people are eventually compelled to come to you for that expertise. Whatever you do, don't be a "jack of all trades". It's completely ineffective because you will end up blending in instead of standing out, says Dan: "If you try to be everything to everyone, you will be nothing to anyone."

In a new study from American Express, 65% of managers said that being a subject matter expert is important to career advancement.

Source: Copyblogger, 9/3/13.