A LinkedIn profile isn’t just another online resume; it’s your personal brand, and it’s often the first interaction that potential employers or clients have with you. LinkedIn is considered the most credible source of content. So how do you use this platform to showcase your thought leadership? How do you take your knowledge and experience and turn it into something that’s relevant to your target audience? This article will teach you how to market yourself and build credibility through thought leadership marketing on LinkedIn.
Thought leadership marketing, or creating content that earns you visibility and credibility in your industry, can seem like an intimidating process — but it doesn’t have to be!
Think of your LinkedIn profile as an open and ongoing invitation to prospective customers to get to know you better and understand the value you provide.
Use these tips on thought leadership marketing on LinkedIn to build your personal brand into an established authority in your industry.
It’s all about fostering trust and credibility.
Thought leadership is not just about getting people to read your blog or visit your website.
It is about connecting with people on a deeper level so that they feel like you are truly interested in what they have to say and want to be further involved.
To achieve this, you need to position yourself as an expert in your field, but not just any expert.
You need to be an expert who has something unique to offer and who can help others solve problems or overcome obstacles they might face in their careers.
Adding some strategy and planning to the mix
1. Think about what your audience wants to hear.
If you want to be a thought leader on LinkedIn, you need to think about what your audience wants to hear.
Sometimes this means that you have to listen. And sometimes it means that you have to speak.
For example, if you’re in the technology or business space, what do your followers want to hear?
They likely want to hear about the latest trends and how they can use them in their businesses.
They want to hear about how they can improve their productivity by using new technology and tools.
They want to hear about how other professionals in the industry are doing things differently than they are.
And so on.
What you don’t want is for your followers to tune out because they feel like you’re talking too much about generic topics instead of sharing useful information that will help them do and be better.
2. Write quality posts that are helpful to others.
That’s the key.
If your content can help others become more successful, then it has value, and people will want to share it with their own networks.
This means that you must create relevant content for your industry and audience.
If people don’t find your content valuable or interesting enough for them to share, then there’s little chance of them coming back for more!
And DON’T be afraid of being opinionated — but don’t go too far with it either!
Be willing to answer questions from your readers or talk about topics that aren’t directly related to your industry.
You might even have some interesting insights from personal experience that could help others who are in similar situations.
3. Always be authentic.
If you want to be a thought leader on LinkedIn, you need to always be authentic. You need to display a level of vulnerability.
You can’t fake it.
I know that sounds like an obvious thing to say.
But I have seen so many people try to game LinkedIn by pretending they are something they are not.
And as a result, they fail.
I like to describe it as peeling back some of the layers. Be natural. Be the fullest expression of yourself.
LinkedIn is a great place for businesses and professionals to network with others in the industry.
But it’s also a place for people who want to make connections with people who can help them achieve their goals.
One way to do that is by sharing your thoughts on topics that are important to you.
But there is one thing you should never do: share your opinions or advice as if they’re facts.
You can’t be perfect all the time, and you shouldn’t try either – no matter how much of an expert you are.
Prove you are the real deal.
The internet is the place where most people spend their time now, so it’s smart for you to use that same space to promote your thought leadership.
But in order to make an impact, you need more than just a great profile picture. You need to show that you are the real deal.
Let’s help get yourself SEEN by helping you play to your strengths. Book a discovery call with me today to increase your confidence as a thought leader in any industry.