Thought leadership is among the marketing solutions that we get asked about most frequently here at Axonn Media. And while it’s great that our clients are keen to make use of this dynamic element of content marketing strategy, there remain a lot of myths surrounding the subject.
Most clients are interested in thought leadership as they have heard it is an effective way to become known as an authority within their industry. Other benefits include creating brand awareness and additional trust.
At Axonn Media, our editorial team has a vast amount of experience when it comes to thought leadership and has delivered it for many clients across multiple industries. This means we are abreast of the current developments and are continually trained in this evolving area.
Now, we’re pleased to share our expertise with you and bust some of the myths surrounding thought leadership content. Once you’ve got to grips with the principles, you can follow our advice to ensure your content is hitting the mark every time.
People often think that thought leadership is all based around one big idea, but to use a popular analogy, it’s more of a marathon than a sprint. Thought leaders are seen as experts in their fields and therefore need to have a broad knowledge of a number of subjects.
You may get noticed with an original, attention-grabbing idea, but this needs to be followed up with the next stand-out thought. If it’s a one-off, then it will not sustain your reputation as a thought leader in the long term.
Thought leadership works best when it’s reacting to big industry issues that are dominating conversation at the time. In a fast-moving space like marketing, for example, subjects you’re talking about right now might not be so relevant in a year’s time.
It’s important to capitalise on moments when people in your industry have urgent questions and you can give them expert, reliable answers.
When you’re an expert on a topic it’s very easy to see yourself as a teacher standing in front of a lecture hall full of people, imparting your knowledge. But like all good learning experiences, this is just the beginning of the process, and many of the most pertinent points are developed as the students contribute their own thoughts and understanding of the matter.
Being part of a multi-person conversation in no way diminishes your expertise, but instead builds a community around your ideas, strengthening your concept and increasing its reach.
You could, for example, express your thoughts on an issue, and then after other experts have had their say or the issue has evolved further, respond to what has been said, or update your stance based on recent developments.
Nothing in this world exists in a vacuum; what has gone before and what will come next are always relevant to contemporary events. Knowing your stuff means learning from the past and predicting future trends to put current happenings into context.
Thought leaders know their industries inside out, which is why this type of content is so effective. But it’s not a quick-fix solution to get conversions on your site. It’s a way of building trust with your audience and setting yourself apart from competitors due to the genuine additional value you bring to the table.
Considering the state of the industry is a large part of being a thought leader, but you need to offer truly expert insights to impress people who are already knowledgeable. Strive to speak to professionals on their level, while also offering viewpoints they might not have considered before.
Combining the history of the industry with what’s happening now can help thought leaders make informed predictions for the future, which can prove an effective and headline-grabbing approach.
As alluded to above, thought leadership content is not a quick fix and takes a lot of work. You can be a thought leader if you are genuinely interested in a subject and are prepared to put the hours in to gain the knowledge, understanding and experience of an industry and its many angles.
Content creators who have access to a thought leader can show off that individual’s expertise without them having to do the writing. This is usually done via an interview and allows the thought leader’s arguments to be put across in a comprehensive fashion without taking a lot of time out of their working day.
Various attributes must come together to create a genuine thought leader, including a strong background in the industry, in-depth research on the subject and engagement with peers to gather other opinions. It always helps for thought leaders to have qualifications to back up their authority, too.
A lot of brands aiming to become thought leaders fall at the first hurdle, as they think that topics covered by their competitors cannot also be theirs. This is totally untrue, as if an area is relevant to your industry then it is more than likely that other people are already talking about it.
Add your voice to the argument and make sure it’s distinctive. Your competitors may have done you a favour by starting the conversation, but you can show your expertise by moving it along further and developing their ideas. Just because you weren’t there first doesn’t mean you can’t join the party.
Need some more information on content marketing? Check out our content marketing page for everything you need to know.
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