Becoming a thought leader is not difficult, and can benefit both those in your industry and customers. It takes a lot of commitment to create unique articles and get the content in the public for others to view. These eight tips should help:
1. Hang out with the Hot Shots
When starting your marketing campaign, it is a good idea to go where the leaders are. Identifying your industry’s lead people and contacting them is an excellent tool for developing your thought leadership. Ask them for an interview, and then advertise those results online on your own blog. You can even ask leaders in your industry whether you can produce a unique guest blog for them. This technique builds interest in your site, and gets your name in the virtual world for others to see and become familiar with.
2. Develop Your Resources
Using written materials or studies related to your industry and sharing them on social media sites, as well as quoting them in your blog posts, can go a long way in establishing your credibility as a thought leader. In fact, you can develop innovative resources such as glossaries or guides.
3. Circulate Your Own Research
When you publish your own research, you are essentially developing unique data. As an example, you can create an assessment of an item that has never been surveyed, then publicize your analysis and results. This is an excellent way to become a thought leader. The results of this type of research can be used in a variety of hard-copy and online items.
4. Use Case Studies
Demonstrate how your business was able to solve a particular client’s problem with case studies. They draw attention to your accomplishments and describe specifically what the challenge was all about and how you solved that problem. They are also excellent for generating new leads, as they convince readers that you know what you are doing.
5. Start Your Own Blog
Blogs are good for all companies, regardless of their size. They allow your customers, both current and potential, to engage with your website. In addition, sharing knowledge on your blog about issues related to your industry, answering questions that customers may have, and sharing updates and news on your company all help to establish your credibility as an industry leader.
6. Consider Whitepapers
Whitepapers are very comprehensive reports that give customers detailed information on an issue or topic, or help them make up their minds about a specific product or service. Whitepapers need to have value to your readers and deal with topics that are of importance to them. When writing for customers in the beginning, you can use more generalized information, but once you get more qualified leads, you should start using information that is more thorough.
7. Explore E-Books
The length of an e-book is about the same as that of a whitepaper. However, e-books are digital. They are easily digested and provide an occasion to represent your particular brand via the use of images and links.
8. Create and Display Infographics
An infographic is an easy-to-understand graphic example of an issue or product. Infographics are used for providing basic information, such as when attorneys show their clients what to expect in a divorce proceeding. With infographics, even customers who require more data can be interested in them as well.
By producing high-quality content, and continuing to use these methods over time, you can slowly become a thought leader. Eventually you will develop a great collection of high-quality content for readers to search for, as well as a committed audience that considers you a thought leader in the industry. It may not happen right away, but if you follow these directions, it increases the odds that it eventually will.
