What is Thought Leadership?

On occasion I will ignore my usual Bennysian cheapness and actually spend a few extra dollars on a magazine or newspaper. I don't know why - most of the articles are available online for free anyway. Guess I just like to once in a while remember what it was like before e-readers, the internet, and computers.

This time it was an issue of Forbes, and one article in particular really caught my attention: "What is Thought Leadership? 5 Steps to Get It Right" by Michael Brenner. It is a great article, I recommend reading it! Here is my summary, if you haven't got the time:

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What is Thought Leadership? 5 Steps to Get It Right by Michael Brenner

• Thought Leadership: Becoming an authority on relevant topics by delivering the answers to the biggest questions on the minds of your target audience.
• It allows your audience to get to know you, and can be used for branding by determining the category of your solutions.
• It can include your unique perspective, but its agenda must be set by your audience.

How to Create Thought Leadership:

1. Identify, then prioritize all your audience's questions.
2. Answer those question across multiple formats and channels.
3. Give to get - Don't put up hurdles to your content.
4. Make it interesting, educational, and entertaining.
5. Invite your audience to participate.