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5 Steps To Becoming A Digital Thought Leader

Individuals and business owners look toward well-known and respected industry thought leaders for guidance in their current endeavors. The information thought leaders share can help continually shape the industry and even lead to new advancements. The ability to be a thought leader goes beyond simply coming up with great ideas. You must share your ideas with the public through a number of unique avenues. Furthermore, you must do so creatively and eloquently using influential channels. Here are the five main steps to becoming a highly lauded industry thought leader.

Practice Thinking Creatively

You must actively push your idea generation process outside of the box to become a thought leader. You will initially find that most of your thoughts are not useful in any way in their raw form. That is okay and expected. You can either discard those ideas or rework them until the concept starts to take shape. You can also take a single idea and put it in a mind map to see where it takes you. Always jot down your best ideas in a secure notebook to use them later on in your career.

Openly Collaborate

Sharing your knowledge with colleagues and competitors puts you on the map as a valuable asset to the industry. There is enough room for all participants in the online world, especially when individuals and businesses focus on their targeted niche. Share your ideas freely in a way that enables others to propel their careers to new heights. During these collaborations, make sure to take notes that can be used for idea generation for your own endeavors.

Produce Valuable Content

Produce Valuable Content

Your website acts as your soapbox for your individual and professional pursuits. Make sure to fill the space with content that identifies you as an online industry thought leader. The information should highlight your expertise while linking your experience back to each idea. Sharing your experiences alongside the technical content richens the pot and makes your presence even more memorable.

Keep Social Media Current

Social media posts keep your presence relevant to your followers. You do not want to post too much, however, or some people could jump ship. Aim for posting quality content around two times a day. Of course, link back to your website content or upcoming appearance list as needed too. Include pictures with your posts whenever relevant to keep your audience engaged and interested. Beyond posting on your own timeline, participate in conversations all over the site to show interest in every facet of the industry.

Offer Supportive Presentations

Even the most influential online presences need to take a step away from the internet and spread knowledge through a direct forum. You can participate in a variety of real life engagements from thought leader panels to solo presentations. Make sure you introduce new material at each engagement run to give your appearances true value. Consider taking audience questions at the end of each show to help people understand difficult concepts or apply your teachings to their specific situation.

When you employ all of the steps above, you will find yourself regarded as an online industry thought leader. At that point, you can just maintain your status by keeping your online presence updated by continuing to share your knowledge with the world.

Chris Vendilli
About the Author
Chris is the founder and CEO of Vendilli Digital Group. In his free time, you’ll find him camping, fishing, or playing beer league ice hockey with a bunch of guys who refuse to admit they’re already over the hill.
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