Few things can have greater impact on your personal brand and your organization's brand recognition than developing and sharing your expertise with the world. Whether you call it becoming a thought leader or a public expert, or, as marketing guru Steven Yoder's book espouses, Getting Slightly Famous, you should do it. Trust me. I'm living proof that it works.
This is the introduction from an article by Inc Magazine columnist Keith Ferrazzi. I discovered it only after a collegue brought it to my attention. It's obviously exciting when a major publication mentions my business in such a praisworthy, prominent way. It delivers tremendous credibility that adds to my overall reputation in my marketplace.
How did I get such a prominent mention/endorsement by an Inc columnist? Is this a fluke? A stroke of luck? No way!
This happens to me all the time. And it's no accident.
Today, for instance, I was asked to submit a short article for Home Business Magazine about the role of online thought leadership in becoming a more successful salesperson. Last weekend, I was asked to speak at the Institute of Management Consultants about Thought Leadership Marketing, which enabled me to address over 100 potential prospects.
How did this happen? Why do these opportunities come to me without my asking?
Because I make a committment to put my expertise out there consistently, in many forms, and it attracts high-credibility opportunities that put me in front of my buying public. These opportunities come to me -- I don't have to chase them down -- and they can come to you, too.
It starts by regularly and widely promoting your expertise, in the form of media interviews, articles, blog entries, teleseminars and other thought leadership marketing strategies. You, too, can practice online thought leadership, and watch the PR opportunites come in. Ferrazzi sums it up nicely:
This simple formula -- 1) Build expertise, 2) Get people to recognize it -- is one I have used throughout my career.
Read the entire article at Inc.com
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