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One of the most important questions you must answer to persuade prospects to register for your events is "Why should I trust you?"

You see, prospects have more choices than ever when it comes to training. To win their trust and their business, you must prove that you are not only qualified to teach, but that you're the best subject matter expert for the job.

Here are 13 types of proof you can offer to establish your credibility as an expert:

1. Your current position. What is your job title? What's the name of your company? What type of clients do you serve?
2. Your training and education. What degrees and certifications do you hold? Where did you get your training -- did you attend any prestigious schools? Have you been mentored by or studied with any masters in your field?
3. Your area of expertise. What type of expertise do you have? How long have you been practicing your skills? Are there any positions you've held in the past that would be pertinent to establishing your credibility as an expert now?
4. Past and current clients. Who have you worked with? What industries have you worked in? Feel free to list companies and individuals, both past and current.
5. The results you've achieved. Look back over your career and take note of any significant results you've achieved. It could also be a typical result you help clients get ("help sales professionals increase closing rates by 27% or more"). Or it might include a cumulative total for your results, as marketing legend Alex Mandossian does, stating that since 1991, he has "generated over $300 million in sales and profits for his clients and partners via 'electronic marketing' media."
6. Awards and recognition. Have you won any awards or honors? Have other people or organizations recognized your expertise?
7. Testimonials and client feedback. What testimonials have clients and students shared about you and your events? Remember, the more specific your testimonials are, the more impact they'll have.
8. Mentions in the media. This section may include specific comments that media outlets have made, such as in book reviews. It could also simply be a list of of media outlets that have covered your work. For example, the online bio used by my client, Jack Canfield, reads, "Jack has also been a featured guest on more than 1,000 radio and television programs in nearly every major market worldwide - many of them on a repeat basis. A sample of these shows include Oprah, Montel, Larry King Live, 20/20, Inside Edition, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, The CBS Evening News, The NBC Nightly News, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live!, PBS, QVC and many others."
9. Books you've written. Being a published author is one of the most powerful sources of instant credibility. Don't forget to mention if your book achieved bestseller status or won any awards.
10. Other products you've created or contributed to. Have you appeared in any movies, created any other products and/or developed any other training programs? Mention them, as well.
11. Speaking engagements. What conferences and seminars have you spoken at? If needed, describe the event so that readers understand the prestige of speaking at the audience. For example, you might describe an annual conference as "the largest conference for the medical records profession."
12. Volunteer experience. Have you volunteered with any associations, groups or committees? Of particular importance are those groups that pertain to the area in which you are trying to establish your expertise, such as industry associations.
13. Affiliations and partnerships. Mentioning other groups or individuals with whom you have partnered can help you appear to be more influential, particularly if the other party has a good reputation.

Establishing your credibility as an expert is typically done by including your bio in your promotional materials. For greatest impact, make sure that your bio is concise and includes only information that is relevant to the seminar you're promoting.

As you use the checklist above to gather information to include in your bio, you'll probably discover that not all of it will need to be included in your promotions. You can include only the information that's relevant to your seminar in your promotional materials. Another option is to include a concise bio when promoting your seminar, but to post an expanded version of your bio on your website.

What credibility boosters have been most effective for you? Share your thoughts below! ~ Jenny