Thought leader influencers

There's a prediction in 2024 that leveraging industry experts and thought leaders as influencers will become much more prevalent as businesses try to establish their authority and brand.

A thought leader is someone who has become an expert in their field and is very knowledgeable. This means they are thought highly of and have credibility in their industry.

An influencer is someone who gives (hopefully) honest and open reviews and tells a story of a product or brand through social media or digital marketing platforms. Influencers are more commonly used for B2C sales and can be paid a lot of money to push a product or service, regardless of whether they use it or not.

Combining the two means you have someone who has a deep understanding of their field whilst also being someone you can trust to recommend products or services and work with.

Becoming a thought leader influencer

Thought leader influencers are people who inspire you and help you gain knowledge rather than promoting brand partnerships. If your business targets a specific group of people and offers expertise in a specialised area, then you need to become an expert in that field. Remember, everyone is always learning and growing their knowledge.

With this comes the responsibility of being active online, which means sharing your thoughts and experiences on professional platforms such as LinkedIn.

LinkedIn has changed over the years; it was very much a corporate platform for finding your next job, whereas now it’s all about the business community. Sharing tips and skills is at the forefront of the platform and sharing events you are attending. Businesses are sharing their success and networking. It is a lot more personalised which has connected thousands of professionals and created that brand community.

Succeeding

Using your insider knowledge and being a thought leader influencer means you are a trusted source and succeed in your results. You are seen as someone who can elevate their brand or company by performing at the highest level.

Focusing on results is important, but it is also just as important to create that connection with your following. This way they can see a part of themselves in you and be inspired to bring themselves up to your level and become successful.

Making sure you are blogging, writing articles for newsletters online and in magazines, attending events where you can share your knowledge, and making time to speak to potential clients and connections is crucial. From this, you also create client loyalty, guiding your company and the team around you. The more connections you create, the more established you become as a person or company in your field.

Being successful means not having any fear, pursuing collaborations, listening to others, and being seen as approachable. Showing the human face of a corporate identity is crucial as people buy from people. They can see you as an individual who has invested in yourself and your expertise.

Remember there are never mistakes, only lessons. It also means you need to be open to listening to others. Try new things and work openly to elevate your brand.

If you need help with your personal branding or social media channels, get in touch.