You're striving to stand out in Technical Sales. How can you establish yourself as a thought leader?

To establish yourself as a thought leader in Technical Sales, focus on consistently sharing valuable insights and innovative solutions through articles, webinars, and social media posts, demonstrating your deep understanding of industry trends and challenges. Engage with your audience by participating in relevant industry forums and discussions, offering expert advice and thought-provoking perspectives. Additionally, collaborate with other experts and leverage testimonials and case studies to build credibility and showcase your expertise in delivering tangible results.

To cultivate expertise, we must keep learning because we not only sell products but also provide solutions. Solution selling can be complex, meaning we need to know how to use our products as part of a solution package for our clients' problems. Technology is very dynamic, it evolves and grows rapidly. This is why we must stay updated and continuously learn how to use technology to solve problems. We need to understand which products are suitable for solving client issues and how to apply what we have learned through training. This way, we are recognized as competent resources.

1. Deep Product Knowledge: Master your product's technical details and stay updated on industry trends. 2. Effective Communication: Translate complex tech jargon into clear, actionable insights or simple language . Share valuable content through blogs, webinars, and workshops. 3. Proactive Solutions: Address specific client problems with tailored solutions and share best practices from your experiences. 4. Active Networking: Engage in industry discussions on social media, speak at events, and publish relevant articles. 5. Continuous Improvement: Commit to ongoing learning and adapt based on client feedback and market changes.

Learning is a constant but we also need to be honest and genuine with our findings so that we can be trustworthy thought partners

Writing about your experiences and opinions is a fantastic way to build your brand as a thought leader! By sharing your unique insights and lessons learned shows you're invested in your field and gives your audience a glimpse of your perspective. When you consistently put out valuable content, you build credibility and trust. People start seeing you as a go-to resource and your voice really starts to stand out. Plus, it's a great way to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Writing is thinking, and thinking brings you clarity of thought

Building a collaborative user community for your customers is heavily undervalued. When you create a space where users connect, share experiences, and support each other, you’re not just making connections—you’re building brand champions. Happy users become your biggest advocates, spreading the word and bringing in new customers. Plus, a lively community gives you awesome feedback and ideas for product tweaks and improvements.

It's easy to get stuck in our own interests but spending time with the community, from smaller local networking events to larger conferences helps calibrate what the most helpful pieces for people to learn more about are

I've found a lot of success with turning learnings into quick, simple visuals that can help people understand complex processes more simply

Write articles, blog posts, or white papers that address common challenges in Technical Sales and propose innovative solutions. Use social media to distribute your content and engage with your audience. By providing useful information, you establish yourself as a trusted resource.

When we start off in sales it's easy to get caught up in a "be like everyone else" mentality. But making ourselves generic takes away the power of authenticity and connection and ultimately people buy from people.

A technical salesperson can establish a strong presence on platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and other social media channels, which are crucial for personal branding.

Your personal brand should reflect your perspective, background, values, and expertise. Create a professional online presence with a well-designed website and/or active social media profiles. Consistently share content that aligns with your brand, showcasing your knowledge and skills. A strong personal brand makes you memorable and distinguishes you from competitors.

Innovation is essential for staying ahead in Technical Sales and establishing yourself as a thought leader. Continuously seek ways to enhance your products, services, and sales strategies. Embrace new technologies and methodologies to improve your offerings and meet evolving customer needs. By leading with innovation, you position yourself at the forefront of your industry, earning respect and recognition from peers and clients alike.

Technical sales can be a tough niche because there is such a demand to stay on top of all the changes within a market - which can be frequent. Having someone to bounce ideas off, share advice or maybe just have a vent session with helps us all survive and get better.

By sharing your knowledge and experience with less experienced colleagues or industry newcomers, you foster a culture of learning and growth. This not only helps others develop their skills but also reinforces your status as an expert who contributes to the industry's advancement. Mentoring can range from formal training sessions to informal guidance and support.

In technical sales, mentoring your lead generation and pre-sales teams, as well as collaborating with colleagues, is crucial for closing deals efficiently.

Consider collaborating with colleagues and mentoring lead generation and pre-sales teams. Sharing ideas and advice within your organization can lead to more efficient deal closures and foster a collaborative environment. This also helps you stay connected with industry changes and allows you to refine your strategies continually.

For those who don't want to read everything. In summary: -Don't try to sell, share value (read and share studies, reports, articles) -Post regularly 2-3 times a week -Interact with LinkedIn groups -Start your own LinkedIn newsletter or build a podcast in parallel -Engage with relevant posts and share your own opinion & most importantly: be patient, it pays off!