Building a personal brand as an industry expert is undoubtedly one of the best ways to draw attention to your business. But it’s not just about having new ideas – when you’re trying to build your reputation as an opinion leader and expert in your field, connecting with others should be high on your list of priorities. After all, sharing your thoughts and experiences is nothing without an engaged audience to listen to. So how do you balance connection and create interesting content at the same time?
The members of Council for Young Entrepreneurs have some ideas. As business leaders, they themselves have experience building their personal brands as thought leaders and industry experts, and below they share seven ways you can authentically connect with others while making the positive impression needed to build a loyal and engaged audiences.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Start podcasting
Do podcasts or live interviews. I’ve only recently started doing it and I must say it’s a great way to build a personal relationship with the interviewee. It’s a great cross promotion for both of you as both sides of the interview will be sharing it with their followers and audience. – Andy Karuza, NachoNacho
2. Attend and speak at industry events
I’d say get out there as much as you can, whether it’s social media, podcasts, magazines, and more. One thing I find incredibly helpful and works well is attending and speaking at startup and industry events when possible. The networking opportunities, the contacts made and the visibility gained by attending such events are truly valuable. – Robin Saluks, eAgronomist
3. Build a strong online presence
Building an online presence through social media, LinkedIn and other professional platforms can help business owners authentically connect with people and establish themselves as thought leaders. By sharing content, starting conversations and building a personal brand, entrepreneurs can reach a wider audience and build their reputation as opinion leaders. – Kelly Richardson, Infobrandz
4. Share your knowledge through written content
One way to authentically connect with people and build your reputation as an opinion leader and expert in your field is to share your knowledge and expertise by writing and publishing content such as articles, blog posts or forum posts. It’s effective because it allows you to provide knowledge in a way that’s easily shareable, which can help increase your visibility and reach. – Kazi Mamun, CANSOFT
5. Serve and support others
Serving others is a way to develop real connections with others and establish yourself as a thought leader. This means actively looking for ways to help and support others in your field and prioritize their needs. Mentoring, sharing knowledge and resources, and collaborating on initiatives or projects helps both your community and your reputation. – John Hall, Calendar
6. Create a community
One of the best ways to build a reputation as an opinion leader and expert in your field is to build an online community. By creating a community around your field, you can share your ideas with your audience and interact with other like-minded people. That’s what makes this method so effective, as you build your reputation and learn to improve at the same time. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable shapes
7. Give meaningful, recognizable advice
The key to being a thought leader is to give meaningful advice. This is best done by delivering content that offers unique insights and perspectives, rather than just conveying the same ideas as everyone else. Also talk about your personal experiences. This helps people relate to you, making you come across as authentic, relatable and making a positive impression. – Syed Balky, WPB Beginner
