3 Ways You Can Become a Thought Leader
Our digital world is saturated with lots of white noise; brands and individuals jumping on viral trends and talking about issues they think their audiences want to hear about. By the time an individual clicks on an article or product they’ve been groomed, herded, and dissected so that the end result has all but been decided for them. Right?
If you’re anything like me headed into 2022, you may be starting to feel a little burned out. Tired of reading the same articles and seeing the same headlines in your inbox (for me, the latter earns an instant delete). Headed into December, and in January, I’m less concerned with predicting trends and writing the perfect subject line, but in becoming a thought leader in my industry. I’m interested in writing and working on projects of interest and talking about subjects on which I have authority.
I was recently scrolling through Tik Tok and came across a creator talking about how to build a successful small business. She said, “Consumers are smart and know when they’re being sold something. And they don’t want to follow a company, they want to follow an individual.”
Her advice really stuck with me. Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, individual consumer or a combination of the three, I think we can all agree that we need a little more…inspiration in our digital lives. So here’s my advice for becoming a thought leader and converting your passion into a successful brand. On researching and writing topics that captivate you, as well as your reader.
Cultivate your voice.
One of my first blog posts discussed my experience as a POC-presenting mountain biker in Hood River, Oregon. At the time, I couldn’t say why I was inspired to write about the topic, only that it was something that had been on my mind for some time and I was looking for a way to process my feelings.
I remember how easily the words flowed and how quickly the ideas came to me. Looking back, I realize why the inspiration struck so suddenly and how, nearly two years later, the ideas continue to reflect my personal brand.
I started cultivating my own voice as a writer years ago, and it continues to be the voice with which I write all of my personal anecdotes and non-client related content. And, it can be hard to write authentically when you don’t have a practice of nurturing your own creativity and interests. Pick a few subjects, whatever comes to mind first, and let the ideas flow – you might be surprised at what bubbles to the surface.
Unpack your lived experience.
Everyone has a life story; the story of how you came to be where you are today, as you read these words. Connecting with that story takes time, but the challenge can be well worth the reward. Lived experience can mean a couple of things; commonly referred to as a trauma an individual may carry with them, it can also refer to your personal identity and how it shows up in various settings, including in your professional life.
Try asking yourself the following questions to help spark an ember of an idea. What events in my upbringing contributed to the person, the professional, I am today? What unique set of experiences do I have that can translate into thought-provoking content? What unique or alternative perspective can I bring to an issue or topic that I already follow closely?
Thought leadership comes naturally to already established entrepreneurs and business owners. Through trial and error these individuals have landed on content that they can speak to quickly, effectively, and compellingly. Pull together that list of subjects or design a content calendar that builds creativity into the process as a whole. You’ll be amazed at how quickly things start to come together.
Get out the megaphone.
Combining your voice, interests and lived experience makes for compelling content, but once that’s selected you’ll find yourself ready to start diffusing your messages! And where to start can be an entirely different challenge to tackle. Below are my recommendations on getting out there and building your brand!
Identify your channels. Where do you feel most comfortable publishing your content? It could be an already established social page, like LinkedIn, where you get to speak directly to all of your peers, or you could try your hand at a new and exciting (and maybe scary!) channels like Tik Tok. We’ve all gotta start somewhere! Identify your niche and type away.
Keep it fun. By now, you may have identified a couple subjects or ideas that you could get started on right away. The best advice I ever got on writing came from my high school English teacher who famously said “If it’s not fun, it’ll never get done”. Although this advice isn’t universally applicable (I’m thinking about that sink full of dirty dishes will eventually work itself out, right?), it definitely holds weight with regards to your own brand. Why write something for yourself that isn’t, well… fun?
Keep it up. The last piece of advice for all of you aspiring content creators out there is probably the most obvious, but often the most tedious. Keep. On. Writing. Create a calendar or writing schedule and make sure that it’s one that you can actually hold yourself to. Schedule coffee breaks, walking breaks, or just time outside between bouts of typing so you don’t feel chained to your desk. Try out the Pomodoro Method or download a nice app like Harvest to keep track of the passing time. You’ll be an authority before you know it!
Whether you’re a new content creator, an established marketer, or an individual looking to add another dash of inspiration to your life, make sure you start with the fun stuff and work your way back from there. I promise the rest will come easy!