Be the Leader of the Pack

 

Three ways to position yourself as a thought leader in your industry

You’ve made it to part three of our September Strategies series. We’ve given you insight into creating a brand identity that matches your business goals and advice on how to create a communications plan that will achieve those goals. In this blog post, we are going to help you strengthen your reputation and credibility, increase your reach to potential clients, and be recognized as an expert in your industry.

Write, write, and write some more

You and your staff possess significant knowledge that will interest a variety of publications. One way to establish yourself as an expert in your industry is by writing bylined articles. As discussed in our previous blog post, bylined articles are a way for you to provide useful advice and valuable content geared toward potential clients.

There are other ways that you can showcase your knowledge. Writing a blog post is a great way to build awareness about your company, projects, and staff. More importantly, blogging on a consistent basis gives you a platform to express your ideas, solutions, and positions on trending topics.

Last but not least, consider writing an e-book or a white paper containing valuable content to increase your reach to potential clients. Not only that, you can gather valuable contact information from prospects when they download your e-book or white paper.

Speak with the press

Brush up on your interview skills. Interviews with editors and writers are a great way for you to showcase your firm and your portfolio, in addition to increasing your credibility. Wondering how to get in touch with the editor of your favorite magazine? Public relations firms foster relationships with the press and they are able to provide introductions with key editors and writers at top-tier publications. These desk-side meetings will allow you to talk about your experience and expertise. In addition, it will also strengthen your relationship with writers and editors who will be more inclined to go to you in the future for quotes or source new article topics.

Desk-side meetings are not the only way to get interviews. Social media platforms create dialogue that can help you get your thoughts and opinions “heard”. Participate in Q&A forums, like those hosted by LinkedIn or Twitter. You will reach an expanded audience and engage with other professionals in these digital forums.

Seek out speaking engagements

It is valuable for you to seek out speaking engagements at local and national venues. Every time you put yourself in the role of presenter or panel speaker, you are building your authority on best practices, new methods or technologies. By participating in conferences, you will open the doors to other outreach opportunities.

Positioning yourself as a thought leader will not happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and consistency to establish and grow your reputation. Every written piece, interview, or speaking engagement strengthens your authority. So the time to start is now!