How does thought leadership help businesses grow?

By Jon Clark, Managing Partner at Moving Traffic Media , a New York-based digital agency offering SEO, PPC and Amazon marketing services.

Thought leadership helps companies build trust with potential customers they don't even know are considering their brand.

It's about becoming an expert in your field, becoming the brand people turn to when they need answers about the kind of products and services you sell.

But what is a thought leader? And how to become one?

What is a thought leader?

A thought leader is an informed opinion leader and the go-to person in their area of ​​expertise. They become the trusted source in their field, inspiring people with innovative ideas.

Over time, they create a dedicated following, which helps them replicate and scale their ideas to achieve lasting change, not just in their business, but in an entire industry or ecosystem.

Why is thought leadership important?

Becoming a thought leader means having innovative and impactful ideas. It's about looking beyond current processes, looking for ways to improve them, and generating something your customer base really wants.

Influential thought leaders can inspire and motivate others to strive for and believe in the same end goal.

Thought leadership is also key to generating a sense of trust. You create trust and professionalism when you innovate and connect with consumers through high-quality content and speaking engagements. You become the industry authority that others turn to when they need advice on a service or product.

Therefore, it can increase your sales levels as your reputation is enhanced and you establish credibility. Customers know they can turn to your company for trusted advice and expert knowledge.

How do you become a thought leader in your industry?

So how do you become the go-to leader in your niche? Here are some tips to get you started:

• Start blogging.

You need to develop your own blog and start guest blogging for reputable websites. Developing a unique voice that showcases your expertise and your brand is vital. Make sure you're covering topics your audience really wants to know about. Rather than writing about what you want people to know, conduct your research and understand your customers' pain points and the type of information they are looking for. Relevance is key.

Make sure your blog posts are original, engaging, and informative. Don't just dwell on what already exists. Offer a unique perspective.

Consistency is key here. If you post three times a week and you go missing for several weeks, people will lose interest.

• Secure interventions.

One of the most effective ways to gain exposure is to speak at conferences and events in your industry. Being invited as a speaker is also a great way to reinforce your position as a leader in your field.

Studies show that how you communicate is what really matters when delivering a presentation. It's something you might even want to take a course in. Presentations are meant to be:

55% non-verbal communication 38% your voice Only 7% of your content

That doesn't mean you can just talk about a bunch of garbage! However, if your verbal and non-verbal communication is irrelevant, no matter what you're talking about, your audience simply won't be engaged.

• Become a social media champion.

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