7 Key Factors to becoming a thought leader
The ‘what’ of thought leadership
The concept of ‘thought leadership’ is one of those buzzwords used as part of the vocab of online aficionados. However, used effectively, the concept elevates the positioning of your brand as an authority in its field and can act as the compass for a successful innovative online marketing strategy.
The ‘why’ of thought leadership
Not only does thought leadership reflect your brand as a key player, enabling it to shine as an expert in its particular field, it sets your brand apart from the crowd while establishing a relationship of trust between your target audience and your company.
And remember, when it comes to online, it’s all about relationships, making them count and making them as genuine and solid as possible.
The ‘how’ of thought leadership
So how exactly do you go about establishing your authority? You may well ask. And in answer to that, here are our 7 top tips to do just that:
- Time to get famous
Get published on the internet, using various platforms such as blogs. Get started with free easy-to-use blogging tools such as WordPress and Blogger.
- Strut your stuff
Provide quality information about your particular industry. This can be done through eBooks, blogs or creating a presence on relevant social media platforms.
- 2 Minutes of fame
Record information videos (2 – 3 minutes max) and upload them to Facebook and the like.
- Make an appearance
Be active on social media sites relevant to your target market and contribute to conversations.
- Network, network, network
Write a book – this serves to attract media attention and generates speaking engagements, which in turn further underpins your expertise and has the added benefit of increasing your networking opportunities.
- Birds of a feather
Create a group on LinkedIn for people in your industry. This also increases networking possibilities and opportunities to grow your business
- Yes, it’s still who you know
Developing a reciprocal relationship with members in your field with a large audience means they can introduce you to their networks which serves to endorse you in the process. In turn you can assist them though your expertise, introducing them to your target audience via emails or through social media platforms.
There’s no time like now to begin
These points make a good place to start. The emphasis is on differentiating yourself and your brand, providing interesting and valuable information which can assist your target market and position you as the go-to person for cutting edge information in your particular industry.
