MinHow to become an Authentic Authority in your Industry

Aleric Heck
3 min readOct 18, 2024

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Today I want to share something deeply personal with you… I almost deleted the first video that ended up making me over a million dollars.

Why? Because I was 50 pounds overweight and felt incredibly self-conscious about how I looked on camera.

But here’s the crazy part — that video went on to become my first million dollar YouTube ad for my own business!

So what changed? How did I go from nearly scrapping the video to scaling it into a massive success?

It all comes down to being seen as an Authentic Authority.

Here’s the thing about authenticity — you don’t need to try to be authentic…

You already are Authentic.

The key is allowing yourself to be seen for who you truly are.

I know, I know. Easier said than done, right? Especially when you’re putting yourself out there on video for the whole world to see.

But here’s a mindset shift that changed everything for me:

Your uniqueness is your superpower.

Those quirks, imperfections, and personal traits you might be tempted to hide? They’re exactly what will make you stand out and connect with your ideal clients.

For me, that meant embracing my nerdy side. My love for business, numbers, and yes — even escape rooms (I’ve done over 100+ of them!). When I stopped trying to fit some “professional” mold and let my genuine enthusiasm shine through, that’s when my content really started to take off!

So ask yourself: What makes you, well… you?

What are those authentic traits you can lean into to stand out in your market?

The Authentic Authority Equation: Value + Confidence + Being Yourself

Of course, being authentic isn’t enough on its own. To truly position yourself as an Authentic Authority, you need to combine that authenticity with real, tangible value.

This is where what I call “Golden Nuggets” come into play.

Golden Nuggets are those bite-sized pieces of wisdom, those “aha!” moments that leave your audience thinking, “Wow, I’ve never thought about it like that before.”

The key is to lead with these Golden Nuggets rather than jumping straight to a sales pitch. When you provide genuine value upfront, you magnetically attract your ideal clients and build the trust needed for them to take the next step with you.

So how do you actually implement this Authentic Authority approach in your own content & ads?

Here’s the simple formula I use:

1. Be Yourself: Embrace your unique traits and let your personality shine through.

2. Provide Real Value: Lead with Golden Nuggets that showcase your expertise and provide tangible takeaways.

3. Speak with Confidence: Trust in your knowledge and experience. Remember, you have valuable insights to share!

4. Focus on Your Audience: Frame your content around solving their specific problems and addressing their deepest desires.

5. Be Consistent: The more you show up as your authentic self, the more comfortable and natural it will become.

When you combine these elements, you create content that not only stands out in a crowded market but also deeply resonates with your ideal clients.

Remember, the world needs your unique gifts and insights. By showing up as your authentic self and providing real value, you have the power to make a profound impact & ripple effect!

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Aleric Heck

YouTube Ads & Video Marketing Expert | Founder & CEO of AdOutreach | CEO of KeywordSearch.com - AI Ad Targeting SaaS | Free YouTube Ads PDF AdOutreach.com/Gift