How to Use Thought Leadership To Build your Company's Brand?
While you thought it over many times, you still feel like your business may be lacking something. Maybe understanding your target audience. Check. Maybe having a cool company name. Also check. So what’s that missing ingredient to achieving your business goals? You guessed it: Thought Leadership.
What is that?
Oxford’s Dictionary defines thought leadership as “The practice of developing important new ways of thinking that influence others.” Now you may think “why would I care about that? How can I see numbers going up, and the line chart ascending vertically north after every month?”
In the digital age, everyone is more connected to each other faster than ever. In seconds, we can understand what’s happening with a friend from across the world, while simultaneously looking at the weather this week, and checking up on your employees. Which means that your presence online has a much greater value than you expected. Some companies tend to forget the “social” in social media in which they can use to their advantage.
1. Key Messages
Now what content should you be putting out there? The answer depends on your industry. And news on your industry is being updated minute by minute. Your customers know this and you should too. Identifying your key messages through any platform media is crucial to becoming a thought leader.
2. Content
You wrote a piece of content that you feel will turn viral if turned into a video script and later shot into a vlog. And maybe an image post can be as powerful as a newsletter. A training text can be delivered easier if shifted into an animated infographic presentation. Whatever the case, you need to utilize your content at the right time, and for the right people in order to maintain your status as a thought leader. You would want people to identify your brand as the top-listed and go-to pieces.
3. Engagement
Being in the conversation has never been easier in the digital age. If you're posting a piece of content on one of your social media platforms, it’s good to remember that reading the comments can help you understand your audience and connect with them. We like to call this activity: engagement. They may comment on a post, article, or blog to which you would need to reply back or react. Participating in social media engagement can solidify yourself as a thought leader when done correctly and consistently.
It’s your turn
No one said being a thought leader can happen over-night, as it takes months to see results. But very soon you’ll be periodically putting this framework into practice and seeing “the line chart ascending vertically north” by the end of every month.
To understand the Thought Leadership framework even better, watch this video. For personal brand marketing services, visit this page.
Good luck!
Roy Abdo. Chief Executive Officer. Digital Revamp Marketing