When people go looking for a product or service, they're often confronted with lists of people or companies that may or may not provide the solutions they're looking for. They're then faced with somehow deciding which of these providers is the correct choice. What do many people do? They ask their friends and family for recommendations. Most of the time, the mere recommendation is the only research we do to find a solution provider.
So how does a business person get to be the solution provider being recommended? By having the qualifications – the experience, certifications and testimonials – that set them apart from the competition. They can publicly prove their expertise in a number of ways. People see these proof materials, and recognize them for the experts that they are. They are granted Recognized Expert Status by the public.