Thought leaders are often perceived as those who are knowledgeable on a specific topic or industry. However, it runs deeper than that. Being a thought leader also means establishing yourself or your company as an expert within your field. Hence, being knowledgeable is not the only trait of a thought leader. To become a thought leader, you make people come to your when they seek for information they need. Then, thought leaders continue to create conversation and open discussion encouraging others to get involved as well.
How to establish yourself as though leader
When you look at the definition of thought leader, it seems similar to social media influencers who are also regarded as authorities with massive followers on their platforms. Their followers look to them for the upcoming trends, information, advice, etc. To become thought leader, you can also use your way just like how social media influencers do. The goal is the same which is to grab the attention of the audience.
Many people see social media as a hell hole but you can also take advantage of social media from business perspective. It is in fact, considered as one of the biggest marketing tool that can elevate your business to another level. Using the available platforms, you can access and reach out your consumers. Also, there are various platforms to choose from. You can use one platforms or more that fit your objectives and target audience.
You can brand yourself as a thought leader by engaging more with your audience. It needs dedication and commitment. Also, you need to provide quality content to attract audience’s attention. Quality contents should be provided on regular basis to keep the engagement. Make sure that the content is insightful so the audience will recognize that what you share is in higher caliber.
To know what kind of content to provide, you need to know your target audience as well. You need to know who might need your content, who seek the information you have, etc. This also allows you to get better understanding of who your followers are. Content that is too general won’t be as impactful as when it is specifically crafted to cater to specific group. By knowing who your audiences are, you know as well what strategy marketing to implement to keep them hooked.
Do not discourage when you have small followers in the beginning. It is normal to start small. Followers grow slowly sometimes. You have to keep delivering shareable, interesting contents to attract more people to follow you on social media. Do not just stop at sharing quality content. You need to establish the engagement by proactively engage with your audience. Respond to their comments, start a dialogue with someone who show their interest on the topic you shared, etc.
While being consistent in providing quality content, you may need to diversify it as well. You can also provide other than written articles such as short video clip, audio attachment, and many other formats. Do not be afraid to experiment while thinking about your audience.
