11 Brand-Building Strategies to Become a Thought Leader - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

11 Brand-Building Strategies to Become a Thought Leader - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career How can a young founder signal or demonstrate their position as a thought leader and build their  personal  brand, despite their newcomer status? Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)  is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs.  YEC  members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at  yec.co. 1. Create a Website Creating a website is the first step to creating your  personal  brand. Find out who your target audience is and design the website in a way that will be relatable to them. Then, the work starts. Youll want to create a  blog  and write posts that will attract that audience to your site. Speak directly to them, and help them with new information.  Chris Christoff,  MonsterInsights 2. Share Your Point of View If youre a young founder or entrepreneur, the best way to demonstrate your position as a thought leader is to have a point of view and share it. The more clear you are on who you are, your ideas and what you feel is your expertise, the quicker you can start making a name for yourself. Write articles, join  panels, do workshops, etc. Do as much as you can to get that point of view into the market.  Sunny Bonnell,  Motto 3. Get Face Time in Your Industry As a young founder new to the industry, you should do everything in your power to get face time. Whether that means attending industry events, writing a  blog, doing a podcast or applying for any and all speaking opportunities, getting yourself out there and visible to your audience is a great way to position yourself and build your brand. The experience alone will help you grow.  Dave Nevogt,  Hubstaff.com 4. Showcase Your Skills The first step in demonstrating your position as a thought leader is to build confidence, which, in turn, builds trust. Start by creating content that showcases your skills. Consider writing for as many industry-related publications as you can. As you progress, you get to expand your audience while refining your skills at the same time. The idea is to get your name out there as much as possible.  Derek Robinson,  Top Notch Dezigns 5. Answer Questions If you want to demonstrate your knowledge and thought-leading abilities, whats a better way than answering questions? Spending some time answering questions on question-and-answer forums will quickly establish you as an authority on any given subject.  Bryce Welker,  Accounting Institute for Success 6.  Write a Book Authoring a book is a great way to position yourself as an expert. As a young first-time author, self-publishing can be a great option. There are several companies that can help you get your book ready. After that, its easier than you think to get your work on Amazon and Barnes Nobles website. There are few things stronger than your own book to elevate your  personal  brand.  Brian Greenberg,  True Blue Life Insurance 7. Dispel Misinformation Write often, and put the full work in to truly explore a topic. Long-form writing that is insightful and teaches something valuable is useful and helps you develop an audience. Look for gaps in knowledge or for common misconceptions about your industry, and work to dispel bad information.  Jacob Samuel Alexander,  Kono Store 8. Be Consistent Post consistent and well-thought-out content on websites like LinkedIn and your own  blog  as well. Research should be involved since youre a young founder, but you can also share  personal  anecdotes to bolster your points. Encourage discussion and feedback by responding to each and every comment.    Andrew Schrage,  Money Crashers 9. Leverage Your Passion One way to gain a foothold as a thought leader when youre just starting out is to  find something you’re truly passionate about. Focus on finding angles of your interests that really excite you, and your genuine enthusiasm will separate you from the cacophony  of other voices out there. A fresh perspective is often just what people are looking for, especially when its combined with real passion.  Ryan D. Matzner,  Fueled 10. Know Your Value Theres a reason for the saying Out with the old, in with the new. When we refer to fresh ideas and perspectives, this is something a young founder can bring to the table.  Our world is constantly changing, so anyone can be a thought leader as long as they stay up to date with current affairs and can educate others within their field by exchanging information because information is valuable.  Stephanie Vermaas,  This Is A Love Song LLC 11. Keep Learning and Sharing Your Knowledge If you have the drive to learn and simplify what youve learned in a clear way, your  personal  brand will grow. The trick is to keep learning. Sign up for industry newsletters, follow thought leaders on social media and constantly be reading books and articles.  Syed Balkhi,  WPBeginner