Many professionals are trying to increase their social media influence in the current marketing landscape. According to statistics, there were 4.72 billion social media users registered in January 2023, and their average daily usage is more than two hours. Social media offers a great way to connect with clients, peers, and other influencers. A powerful social media presence, however, requires a strategy and a lot of hard work so that you can set yourself apart from the millions of other experts in your respective fields. One of the ways to achieve this is to establish yourself as a thought leader.
Thought leadership is a buzzword that’s often used to describe the ability to think strategically and innovatively about a particular topic or industry. It is the act of providing insights, ideas, and solutions that are ahead of the curve or outside of the norm.
Thought leadership on social media can help professionals establish themselves as experts in their field and create a platform to share ideas, engage with customers, and attract new business opportunities. With the right strategy, it’s possible to create content that resonates with your target audience and drives engagement. Below we share how you can build your thought leadership on social media and gain more traction.
Choose the Right Social Media Network
It takes time and effort to build thought leadership on social media. You should therefore choose social media networks that are appropriate for long-term usage.
Choose social media platforms that are appropriate for your niche and target audience. Let’s say that your target audience is a younger generation. Most of these users prefer to use Twitter or Instagram, so you should do your best to optimize your content on those platforms.
However, the content that works for Instagram will not work for Twitter. If you feel that you’ve been posting irrelevant content to your Twitter account, you can learn how to do bulk tweet deletes to start over and gain the greater attention of your target audience.
Enhance Your Social Media Profiles
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Your social media profile should include information about what you do, how much expertise you have, who your audience is, your mission, and core values. A picture can be worth a thousand words, so your profile photo should also reflect that. A high-quality photo will let people know that they are interacting with the right person. Here are some other ways to make your profile stand out:
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Include a headline describing what you do, and what content, tips, and solutions people can expect to see on your profile.
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Include contact information such as your website URL or email address.
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Select a username that reflects the nature of your business or thought leadership.
Build your Network
Thought leaders are experts in their field and want to share that knowledge with others. But to reach a large audience, it is important to have a following on social media. If you don’t have enough followers, it will be difficult to become a thought leader, no matter how good your content may be.
It’s unique and shareable content that will get people to come to you. Providing interesting, quality and insightful content can be a great way to increase the number of your followers. Not only can quality content attract new followers and keep them engaged, but it can also help you build trust and loyalty with your existing followers, and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.
You’ll most likely start slowly in building up your network but keep pushing forward. Once your audience begins to recognize your content, they’ll come to you first for tips and answers in your niche. This will give you a chance to have a positive impact in your field.
Engage with Others
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In addition to regularly sharing your content, it’s crucial to engage with others. Make sure to respond to all comments and questions left on your posts. A great way to expand your network is to start a conversation with someone who seems interested in what you are saying.
It’s important to engage with other professionals in your field on social media. Join in discussions, leave comments on their posts, and if possible, add additional information to show your commitment and knowledge of the topic. This will help to put you on other people’s radar.
Be forthcoming in sharing smart, informative content created by others with your network to take engagement one step further. It shows you are not only able to recognize quality material but that you also don’t mind sharing the spotlight.
Go Be Social
If you’re interested in building thought leadership on social media, you have to put the effort in. Give yourself the time you need to discover your niche and audience, enhance your social media profile, build your network, and boost engagement. If you’re able to consistently deliver value, you’ll have a better chance of gaining your audience’s trust and getting them to seek out your advice for services, products, and more.
