How Can You Make Your Brand More of a ‘Thought Leader’ In The 2020s?

Though ‘thought leadership’ can truly transform your brand, it has developed a reputation for being just another buzzword and is commonly used in the wrong context which confuses the term itself.

As for a correct definition, the term ‘thought leader’ can have a variety of different interpretations, with some taking a very expansive view of the term. Thus, before we proceed, we must first ask ‘What is a ‘thought leader’?’

What is a ‘thought leader’?

According to an article by Forbes, the definition of a thought leader can be split into two parts. Firstly, a though leader is an individual or a business which is recognized as an authoritative figure within an area of specialization.

This means that this individual or company becomes the go-to source for prospects, clients, intermediaries, referral sources, and even competitors to get their expertise. The second part of this, is simply that a thought leader profits from being recognized as such.

This is especially true for firms who make a living out of being an expert. One study found that, when selecting a firm for consulting in the UK, as high as 23% of respondents stated that thought leadership was of a high importance when making their decision.

Now that you are more familiar with what a though leader means, and what its implications are, here are some ways in which you might make your brand more of a thought leader in the 2020s.

1. Work out what you specialize in

It is okay not to realize straight away where your unique expertise might lie, and you do not need to know absolutely everything. Understand your niche and your target audience and connect the two together in a way that makes people perceive your brand as the thought leader.

2. Hold webinars with actionable advice

Once you know what your expertise is, host an industry webinar ON24 which people from other companies can pay to attend. The purpose of this webinar is not necessarily to show off your brand, but rather its knowledge – to teach something to your participants that they would not get anywhere else.

3. Don’t be shy – throw in some self-promotion

However, to establish your brand as a thought leader, you of course have to mention your brand at least once! Don’t be shy to throw in some self-promotion now and again, so that everyone links the expertise to the brand, but be careful to not come across as if you are giving a sales pitch.

4. Be consistent

If you want your brand to be known for its expertise, they have to remember who you are. This can be achieved successfully by staying consistent with your branding and how you build up brand awareness. Raising brand awareness through branded product packaging and marketing campaigns can help immensely. Many leaders have shot to fame because of wildly successful marketing campaigns (backed by a great product, of course). Investing in excellent marketing campaigns, especially on social media, can put your brand on many people’s radars in the shortest possible time

5. And finally, don’t do it alone

Even though the term might be leader – singular – this doesn’t mean that you have to go at it alone. Instead, make sure to surround yourself with a specialized and knowledgeable team. With this, and the other tips mentioned above, you will be able to improve your brand towards being more of a thought leader in the 2020s.