Are you looking to advance your standing in your industry and boost your competitive edge?
Become a thought leader.
Being outstanding in your profession is no longer sufficient in today's world. To stand out, become a thought leader: develop ways to share your knowledge, market your brand, and draw attention to your ideas.
Strengthen your position as a thought leader by reaching your audience on the platforms they visit and wholeheartedly sharing your views. Thought leaders who share their knowledge on social media or through content marketing increase their credibility and impact as subject matter experts (SMEs). However, a Thought Leader doesn't stop at knowledge, they push innovation and new ways of thinking about their specialty.
CEOs are perfectly positioned to share their unique perspectives on solving customer problems. By being recognized as a thought leader, a CEO can attract customers and organizations searching for that knowledge.
Today's companies and customers demand more from a product or service than just a reasonable price. They want to support the same causes and work with providers with similar values.
Credibility + authority = trust
Another reason thought leadership is important is the credibility and authenticity that comes from honestly interacting with people in your target audience. The outcome is a level of trust that money cannot buy.
Because it allows for discussing learning curves, best practices, and triumphs and mistakes, thought leadership is crucial. Fostering open communication–another vital aspect of continuing to do business–assists firms in being aware of the needs of their customers.
When a CEO develops a reputation as a thought leader, they elevate their profile in prestige.
Through authority, thought leadership builds credibility: They become the go-to expert in their field, and prospects/customers look to them for answers.
However, it may not happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and effort to become a Thought Leader.
Being human is important
Your audience wants to engage with you when you are approachable. Share stories that captivate your reader's attention with real-world scenarios that demonstrate "you are only human after all," just like them.
4 ways a CEO can be relatable:
Express your values. What are you passionate about? What keeps you up at night? Being sincere about your position on a subject automatically adds credibility. Customers may accept or reject your stance, but they will be aware of who you are and the values you uphold.
Play to your advantage. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses and be truthful about them. And back up all your claims with real-world examples. You can win hearts and minds when you speak from your knowledge and experience.
Be grateful for others. Influential thinking leaders tend to value the ideas of others and recognize the worth of other viewpoints. Being relatable entails respecting each person for their unique perspectives.
Assist others. You can add value by being friendly, generous, and motivating to others. Influential leaders engage listeners and show sincere interest; otherwise, audiences may not take their comments seriously.
Where is your audience?
Company executives who want to offer their knowledge, viewpoint, and expertise require the ideal setting to reach the right audience at the right moment. CEOs must determine their target markets before evaluating which platform will produce the best results.
Opinion pieces with bylines, newsletters, social media, and blogs are all strategies for developing thought leadership. However, establishing credibility in a particular field requires time, perseverance, and a deliberate attempt to secure media attention.
Establish yourself as a thought leader by becoming the go-to source for the media on a specific topic; this is a challenging feat to pull off.
Express your unique perspectives
The characteristics of a thought leader include relatable individuals who are knowledgeable in their fields and have a unique point of view that distinguishes them from others.
While knowledge is crucial, a thought leader wouldn't be someone with just a passing interest in, for example, artificial intelligence trends. While an AI enthusiast would know about the high-level advantages of artificial intelligence, a thought leader would know which AI trends are most efficient for a business based on past research, trends, and hands-on trial and error.
A thought leader can also anticipate "gotchas" to be aware of due to their deep immersion in the subject. If someone wanted to know the best path, they would immediately go to the thought leader rather than anyone else.
While we all have specialties and core knowledge, thought leadership takes this to an expert level, influencing choices and habits based on their knowledge. And it isn't just about opinions, but rather, complete and continuing understanding to the point of high regard.
Having something unique and thought-provoking to say will help you become known as a trailblazer and attract attention to your company.
6 advantages of thought leadership:
Enhances your brand
Demonstrates credibility
Makes you a trustworthy source
Permits you to influence other people
Establishes you as a knowledgeable advisor
Portrays you as a dynamic leader
Business executives who evolve to thought leadership can significantly impact people by offering distinctive and reliable viewpoints to persuade others and bring about change.
But where would you ever find the time...?
Marketeery has you covered. Our professional marketers and writers will collaborate with you to distill your knowledge, voice, and brand personality into content that delivers meaningful value to your audience – and drives engagement.
Perhaps it's time we met.
About the Author
Your High-Tech Business Deserves a High-Tech Marketing Team
Marketeery is a marketing agency that fills the gap for B2B mid-size technology companies. We understand how to brand, promote, and sell technology business products and services.
Our professionals at Marketeery examine your business goals and how they align with your online content. We work with you to create content relevant to your audience that drives increased customer engagement.