Establishing yourself as an industry leader helps you build trust and confidence among your target audience.
Thus, it increases their chances of opting for your business offering over competitors. It also makes you an expert in your field, which boosts collaboration opportunities.
However, you can’t become an industry leader just by holding immense knowledge. You must follow certain methods and work hard to prove your credibility. So, let’s take a look at the best methods here.
1. Create and maintain a business blog
A cool way to establish yourself as an industry leader is to launch your very own blog. In fact, businesses with blogs generate around 67% more leads monthly than those without.
Write about the topics most relevant to your industry and business.
Before posting blogs, thoroughly proofread them for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and technical accuracy. This way, you can be 100% sure that your content is professional and error-free. It improves your brand credibility and prevents putting off readers.
Well-written content will make existing and potential customers trust your expertise and choose your products/services over others.
The regularly managed active blog also ensures you have a credible industry presence and enhanced lead generation.
2. Leverage a PR firm
PR professionals can help you get media coverage in industry-specific leading publications, the most popular media outlets, and online platforms.
This offers you plenty of exposure and boosts the business’ visibility and credibility. Thus making you stand out as an industry thought leader.
However, make sure you only connect with reliable PR agencies in Dubai with years of experience and connections with several partners within the region and internationally. If necessary, they must be open to editing your press release or writing it from scratch.
3. Post long-form content
Long-form content, including ebooks, webinars, and whitepapers, is perfect for your existing and prospective customers.
They will understand that your knowledge is not bound to just 800-word-long blog posts. Or that you didn’t just gather a bunch of ideas from competitors and put them up together.
You can also create educational ebooks and other form of downloadable content. This proves your capability as a thought leader.
4. Start a podcast
If you’re more comfortable speaking than writing blog posts, go for audio/video podcasts to prove your thought leadership.
For this, you can start the podcast with only a few close industry experts. As you grow, invite hotshot guests and boost credibility.
5. Apply as a conference speaker
Look up whether any conferences, events, or seminars specific to your industry are held around you. If yes, apply as a speaker for these kinds of events.
While you convey your knowledge online, people may assume that you might be using ghostwriters or doubt your intelligence.
You can completely eliminate such doubts by sharing your wisdom, live and in-person in these events. Additionally, your presence at these events is great for your business.
Make sure you apply to small events first, where you introduce yourself and get used to the limelight. In this case, if you even mess up, people won’t remember much. Once you gain confidence and respect, join a larger conference and make your mark in the industry.
Note: Always make educational, and not promotional, presentations to go along with your speech to boost credibility.
6. Answer industry-specific questions online
A lot of people use social media to look up answers to their questions or learn more. Browse through the most common platforms for industry-specific questions. These are perfect opportunities for you to share your knowledge and expertise and evolve as a thought leader.
For instance, LinkedIn Answers lets you search questions based on your industry and topic. Twitter Search and Quora also help you find questions.
Once you find the right questions, respond elaborately without any promotion to sincerely help them out. If you already have a blog post to clarify the matter, add a link to that as well.
7. Build an online presence
Create accounts on the most relevant social media platforms for your industry and target audience. Share links to the latest industry updates. Build a follower base by sharing the correct information as soon as possible.
Additionally, craft an opt-in newsletter to promote your latest blogs, books, articles, interviews, and more to establish yourself as a thought leader.
Conclusion
With these tried-and-tested strategies, you can show the world your field authority and worth. Lastly, be patient, as you need time to get recognized by the masses!
