If you become a thought leader it can make a huge difference to your bottom line. The first thing you need to do is get really clear about your brand and the value you offer your audience. Know how you want your brand to be perceived by your audience and do everything to portray that.
Know your topic, know your audience, and know what you stand for because when you become a thought leader people will want to know what works for you and how it can work for them. That’s why it’s so important to know who you are and what you stand for within your industry. Here are some steps to becoming a thought leader.
FREE Checklist: How To Achieve A Mindset For Success
How To Become A Thought Leader
Read and Share Industry News
An industry leader needs to be on the cusp of all new discoveries, including making the discoveries. This requires that you stay up-to-date on all industry news. As an expert, you need to make time to read the news so that you can pick and choose what you believe is important for your audience to know.
Write Industry News for Publications
A real expert will also be published in industry publications. You can find out how to get published by them simply by looking through the publication. And if it’s online and you can’t find it, write to them and ask them by pitching your idea to them.
Blog about Your Industry
You can write about your industry without permission by posting it on your blog. If you have something to say, blog about it. Even if you want to call into question some industry practices or movers and shakers, as long as you have the facts on your side you should do it. As time passes, your visitors will begin to view your blog as the “go to” source for content that is current and informative.
Guest Blog for Movers and Shakers
Collect a list of blogs for movers and shakers in your industry. Read them and find gaps in their content that you can cover. Send them a proposal for you to write a blog post a month about certain topics (give them a list of titles). Offer to write them in exchange for a bio link so you can promote yourself too.
 Host Webinars and/or PodcastsÂ
When you have the knowledge, you can host webinars or podcasts about your industry. A webinar is simply a web based seminar where you can share information with your target audience. Since the audience has to register to attend a webinar, they’re already interested in the topics that will be discussed. A podcast, on the other hand, is a digital audio recording available for download from the internet. It’s similar to a traditional radio show and enables your audience to listen to it at any time they choose.
For webinar and podcast content you can use old blog posts or even industry news to base your show on. Interview experts, state your opinions and give your audience value and you will become known.
Speak at Industry EventsÂ
Locate industry events that will appeal to your target audience. Go to some of them and find the ones that would be perfect for you to speak at. Approach industry event organizers and offer your speaking services to them. Give them an example video and a short background on you. If you have a book, include a signed copy.
Build a CommunityÂ
The key to how to become a thought leader on social media is to build a community. You can build the community right online using Facebook Groups, or you can even build your own website with a forum to create a group.
Write and Publish a BookÂ
If you know enough, you should be able to find a topic to write a book about. You can write a book about your success journey too. Sometimes this is the easiest way to break in the door. This is true whether you write an ebook or a physical book. Remember you’re writing for your target audience. Nobody can write a book or an ebook that will be loved and read by everybody. It’s not possible. Your target audience will determine the style, tone, diction, and even length of your book. The more you narrow down your target audience, the greater the chance it will have of success.
Free Checklist: Develop The Mindset To Become a Thought Leader
You need the right mindset to become an industry thought leader. This means that when you’re presented with an opportunity you’re able to set fears aside and take advantage of the opportunity. A mindset for success means a more powerful, and more enjoyable, business. Download my free checklist, Cultivating A Success Mindset and start taking steps today to embrace a success mindset and watch how your business, and your life, change.