3 Ways To Build Thought Leadership

Hey Brand Builder,

We are wrapping up the last 4 months of the year and I wanted to send a quick email to share with you 3 ways that you could be positioning yourself as a thought leader in your industry that could lead to unlocking some major opportunities before 2023!

Growing access to online platforms has made it so much easier for individuals like you and me to use our personal brands in order to be positioned as thought leaders, to build online audiences and to ultimately increase revenue-earning opportunities.

A thought leader, or the "go-to expert," is defined as "an individual or firm recognized as an authority in a specific field ... to consistently answer the biggest questions on the minds of the target audience on a particular topic."

Thought leaders get the opportunities to be invited to speak at events, be a guest on TV shows, radio shows and podcasts, are invited to write columns in local and international publications, host and moderate events and so much more. Thought leaders also get paid for their knowledge/expertise and for bringing more of a unique or different perspective to a topic.

Here are 3 ways that you could start building your own thought leadership today:

1. Find Out What You Want To Be Known For - Ask yourself, "What do I want to be known for?" When people hear or see your name, what are the keywords that you want to come to mind? Think about your personal and professional journey — what are you already known for? How are you different? What new value or insight are you bringing to what can sometimes be a pretty full table?
2. Talk About It! - People need to not only know who you are, but what you have to say. It's great if you are knowledgeable about a particular topic or if you are even the best in a specific area of your industry, but it doesn't help you or anyone else if you don't speak about it. We have so many more opportunities to create our own platforms or to reach out directly to others with existing platforms in order for our voices to be heard and to take space. Think about how you could be using your existing platforms to talk more about what you do and how you do it, to share your knowledge, and be an active participant in conversations that impact your industry.
3. Get Online - Being online provides an immediate platform and visibility, as well as the opportunity to grow your reach and your online audience while providing value and creating impact. If you have a smart phone you can get online, create a post, record a video, connect and collaborate. Being online levels the playing field and gives you immediate amplification once you are positioning your content to your ideal audience. There are so many online platforms to choose from. Start with the one that you are comfortable with and start sharing.

I’ll be hosting my 5th BRANDcamp in-person workshop for professionals on Saturday, October 1 that is focused around building thought leadership and establishing credibility through your on and offline platforms. And let me be honest, I was just where you are, I knew I offered something unique to my audience based on my knowledge and expertise, but just didn’t have the confidence to put it out there and then charge accordingly!

By taking the time to really understand my brand, the unique value I offer to my particular audience and then promoting this effectively across my online platforms has led me to countless paid opportunities both on and offline (locally and internationally) including landing a speaking gig that paid US$7,500.00 to share that same knowledge and expertise that I’m going to share with you. I want to show other professionals that by using my tried and tested framework you too can open doors to higher paying opportunities that are aligned with your purpose.

"I had the pleasure of attending Naomi's BRANDcamp and received the valuable workbook PR Chick's Guide to Building Your Online Brand. I completed all the exercises within 24 hours of receiving the workbook, it was so captivating, I could not put it down. I started applying what I learnt immediately. The best part of the workshop was the Journey Mapping exercise. When I saw my professional journey in black and white, I had some AHA moments, some revelations. I connected dots that I never thought of before. Naomi's style of delivering the workshop was engaging, I felt energized all the way to the end. Everyone who is serious about building their personal brand must attend this workshop.” - Joni-Gaye Cawley - HR Expert

If this sounds like you, or someone you know that is ready to actually start making money from what comes naturally to you without all the guesswork - then it's time to join the BRANDcamp!

BRANDcamp is a 4 hr immersive group coaching session for professionals who are ready for more aligned opportunities. BRANDCamp was designed to provide a 1/2 day group coaching experience with like-minded individuals to help you to be positioned as a thought leader in your industry. Our 4 hour session will allow you to walk away with key learnings and a strategy to take immediate action.

• BRANDCamp (October) - Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 pm. - only 6 spaces available
• Venue - The Cays at the AC Marriot Hotel
• Cost: US $200.00

If you are ready to become the go-to person in your industry, then BRANDcamp is for you! And please do not hesitate to send me a message with any questions.

Your PR Chick - Naomi