We'd all like to think that we're experts in our fields. Being €the best€ in your industry helps you make more money, provides you with more options, and, is, undoubtedly, a great conversation piece for those awkward holiday family reunions.

While you may be able to convince your Uncle Dave that you're the crme de la crme of tattoo artists this side of the Rockies, convincing the media of your self-proclaimed accolades might be a little more difficult.

When starting a business of any kind, it's important to get the media involved. Why? Because people listen to what the media has to say. For some reason, if the drifter who hangs out behind your local Piggly Wiggly says that your company rocks at all things advertising, it just doesn't hold the same weight as a review from your local news station would.

In order to make your presence known, you have to do something so difficult that it might as well be a full-time job within itself: you have to grab the media's attention. Okay, it's not that difficult, but it can feel a little weird talking about yourself as if you're a godsend. Here are five tips, courtesy of Mashable, on how to pitch yourself (and your company) as an expert to the media without succumbing to an anxiety attack:

1) Be Professional
This is common sense. Reporters and journalists aren't your friends. They aren't going to go bowling with you on Fridays and they aren't going to be there to help you finish that pint of post-breakup Ben & Jerry's. There's a time and a place to be casual and contacting the media doesn't fall into that particular category. Be professional. Avoid slang, profanity, self-promotion, and arrogance. Remember, you're pitching yourself, not a product. You're trying to get people to believe that you are an expert in your field. In order to do that, first, people have to like you.

2) Back it Up
If you have no accomplishments or stories to back up your claims, chances are you aren't an expert yet. The media doesn't just want to know that you're an expert; they want to know why you're an expert. A good story goes a long way. List why your story is compelling and what sets you apart from others in your industry.

3) Be Confident
While you shouldn't be arrogant, you should definitely be confident. Don't list your weaknesses. If you're a stellar black and white tattoo artist, but have trouble with self-portraits, highlight the former and omit the latter. No one needs to know your weaknesses€¦not yet, anyway.

4) But Don't Oversell
It's a slippery slope, we know. Be nice, but don't be casual. Be confident, but don't be arrogant. Be proud of yourself, but don't oversell yourself. You've heard the expression, €everything in moderation€ and that's exactly what pitching yourself to the media is all about. Don't oversell yourself while you're selling yourself. If you oversell, you run the risk of digging yourself into a hole that you cannot climb out of. You're an expert in your industry, but you're not a know-it-all; don't try to come across as one.

5) Be Prepared
Don't send out a pitch until you're prepared to always be prepared. Know your facts and make sure they're legitimate facts. Be comfortable with yourself and with your craft. You want to offer those potentially interviewing you something that others in your industry can't. That's the hook that reporters will be looking for and that's the hook that they will use to broadcast your story to the community.

Promoting yourself before promoting your brand can be intimidating. It's easy to hide behind a company. Once you put your face to your company's name, there's a lot more on the line, but there's also a lot to gain. By following these tips, you will be able to get your foot in the door without forcibly breaking the door down.