A thought leader is someone who is recognized as an authority in a given area of specialization, therefore becoming a go-to person for niche expertise. But thought leadership also implies exponential rewards — the ability to capitalize on the brand equity attained by being a thought leader through building respect, relationships and trust. As the go-to expert, a thought leader will more effectively garner new clients and do more business with existing clients. There are a lot of advantages to building and implementing an authentic thought leadership plan, let’s have a look at them:
Credibility and Trust: By producing first-person content and offering guidance to your audience in each of your content pieces, you can build trust in you and your brand. Regularly publish thought leadership content and show people that you are an expert in your field.
You get to share your story: If you are a founder or a CEO then take this opportunity to share your story. Talk about your struggles and success. Remember, thought leadership is about marketing by sharing your professional life journey and experiences. It is easy and highly effective and will further allow you to cement your relationship with your target audience.
You are established as an expert: With thought leadership, you can advertise your expertise. Becoming a thought leader is about being known as an expert in your industry and is achieved by sharing views on current trends, advice to first-jobbers, etc. If you consistently follow this, then your peers will start to see you as an authoritative figure in the industry.
Self-Sustaining publicity: Thought leadership content lasts. If you regularly publish two articles per month, you can expect to attract more visibility. Keep in mind that unlike ads, thought leadership content is out there for as long as you want it. People will invite you on podcasts, speaking forums and events because of your contribution to your industry.
Establishing and cementing one’s thought leadership position is a beneficial and valuable goal. It can help you boost credibility and make your brand more noticeable on various platforms, ultimately contributing to your bottom-line. However, becoming a thought leader takes time and requires a lot of work and thoughtful planning. Here are a few key tips you can use to become a thought leader:
Boost Your Online Visibility: To become a thought leader you need to be more visible amongst your industry and target audience. It not only increases your credibility but also makes it easier for everyone to find you. Get published online as often as you can, even if it is on your own blog. Develop a stream of regular content, collaborate with industry-related blogs and seek features on influential platforms. To boost your visibility, keep yourself updated with search engine and social media algorithms so you can maximize your exposure.
Make Yourself Accessible: Once you become a known name in your industry, media and bloggers will want to ask you questions on ongoing trends. Pitch yourself by emailing people, tweet at them and offer your story. Make sure you are always available for any questions they have as it will allow you to further develop your relationships with them. Additionally, you can also inform them that you are always open for a quote. The key is to increase your visibility and share your expertise in as many places as possible.
Collaborate with influencers: Once you are regularly publishing whitepapers and thought leadership articles you can start reaching and engaging out to topic relevant influencers. This will not only benefit you but also the influencers as you will be using each other’s brand and audience to boost exposure. The more people who are in your network, the more potential you have to become an authority or influencer.
Start the conversation: Being a thought leader is about driving the conversation. Your peers look at you as an expert and will want to know your views on the industry’s current issues. Don’t be afraid to seek out speaking opportunities, start a dialogue and express your opinion. If you express your views strongly, it will result in a stronger reaction from the audience especially if what you say results in high engagement then you will be able to learn more about the needs of your target audience.
It can take a good amount of time to effectively create and distribute thought leadership content. Midas PR consultants can help you start your journey towards becoming a thought leader. At Midas PR, we can help you spread your thought leadership content through multiple channels. Visit our website https://www.midas-pr.com today for more information or get in touch with us by email.
Expert details:
Karin Lohitnavy, Midas-PR founder. Karin’s title of ‘Master Connector’ is a result of her vastly influential contact base and is certainly no overstatement. Karin boasts more than 15 years of experience in the lifestyle, travel, real estate and luxury brand Public Relations industries.