You must have heard companies and individuals saying they want to establish themselves as thought leaders in the industry. It is a common buzzword that has been in use for the past couple of years.
But what is this ‘thought leadership,’ and why is everyone on social media trying to become a thought leader? Here is a little blog to help you understand why thought leadership is important on social media and how you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche.
Who is a Thought Leader?
A ‘thought leader’ is someone who has a lot of knowledge about a particular topic in their field or niche. In terms of social media, a thought leader is a person who regularly puts out content about that particular topic, giving the audience valuable insights and information that can be useful to them in the future.
But being a thought leader is more than just having extensive knowledge about something. It is about establishing yourself as the first person people would reach out to if they want to know about something. As a thought leader, you become the authentic voice in the cacophony of social media, who actually has something genuine and valuable to share.
So, what is thought leadership?
Thought leadership then becomes a content marketing tool to enhance your credibility, establish authority, and build trust among your audience. By sharing your unique perspective, you not only establish yourself as a trusted expert but also have a great chance to use that engagement to grow your brand.
Social media is one of the biggest marketing tools in history. It gives you direct access to your consumers and multiple platforms to market your brand. All you need to do is find the right platform that aligns with your target audience and use it to spark conversations and provide quality content. In just a few months, you will gradually notice a rise in clicks to your brand or website as social media becomes the primary traffic source.
Steps to Build Thought Leadership Through Social Media
Building a sustainable relationship with your audience and establishing yourself as a thought leader will take some work. 6 steps in particular. Implement these 6 steps to your social media strategy, and you should see your website traffic increase consistently.
1.Who is your target audience?
The first thing to remember is that thought leadership is about your audience, not you.
Knowing your target audience is key to creating targeted content. Spend time researching their interests, pain points, social media platforms, and preferred content formats. This will help you create relevant, in-depth, specific content that stands out and attracts followers.
2. Is your social media profile professional enough?
On social media, your profile is your first impression. A strong social media profile has a power-packed bio, a professional profile picture and a brief yet highly engaging summary. Showcase your expertise and radiate credibility to pique people’s interest in your contributions.
3. Good content does half the work.
The main foundation of your profile is relevant, quality content that is engaging, insightful and shareable. Another main pillar is consistency. Aim for posting quality content regularly, not once a month, and remember to engage with comments. You can also use a content calendar to plan and schedule your posts for a stronger online presence.
4. Regular engagement is crucial.
Connecting with like-minded individuals online is important. One way to do this is by joining LinkedIn and Facebook groups related to your industry. Try to focus on those frequented by your audience. Since it might be hard to be active on all of them, aim to be active on a few instead.
The main goal of joining such groups is to participate in discussions and share insightful articles (preferably yours when appropriate) to get noticed. A good habit is setting aside 10-15 minutes daily to engage with your groups.
5. Network with industry leaders.
As a thought leader, you need to always be on top of trends and increase your knowledge about your niche. A great way to do so is by networking with fellow industry leaders.
Interacting with industry experts can help you expand your knowledge base, strengthen community relations, and boost your visibility. You can also collaborate with influencers to reach their audience and amplify your voice.
Interact with them on social media, comment on their posts, and share their content to show recognition of good material.
6. Diversity to reach new audiences.
A website that people go to look for answers is Quora. It is the perfect platform where you can answer queries and establish your expertise in your niche. Ensure that your answers are detailed and insightful to raise awareness and attract leads for your business.
Your goal is to find the best ways to reach your audience. If they engage more with short videos, try to diversify from written content to visuals. Determine if they enjoy it more and if it helps you explain your topic better. You can start experimenting after gaining a sizeable following. It will also help you open yourself up to new followers.
Conclusion
With consistency, quality and a little research, you can very well establish yourself as a thought leader. Once you have done so, your focus should be on retaining your audience by continuing to post relevant, good-quality content. Remember – content is king, and everything else is just support. So ensure your content is top-notch, and the rest will fall into place.
