Business owners - we know you all have something to say… so it’s time to use your expertise and voice to get you seen.

No matter whether you’re selling a product or offering a service, being featured in the right type of articles and media outlets can position you as a credible and authoritative voice in your field. If you're not convinced, take a look at Rochelle’s PR coverage on LinkedIn to see firsthand the impact of strategic thought leadership PR.

Building customer trust is challenging, but only if you don’t know where to begin. The key is to identify the topics you’re knowledgeable about and to understand these and capitalise on them.

It involves finding stories, trends and topics where you can shine as a subject matter expert. In a world full of noise, thought leadership allows you to make a statement and resonate with your audience.

What is Thought Leadership PR?

Thought leadership is about establishing yourself or your business as a trusted source of knowledge and insight within your industry.

Building a personal brand and a signature approach for company leaders fosters personal connections, trust and credibility. The essence of thought leadership is providing valuable information without expecting anything in return. Over time, this approach builds a reputation for you as a reliable source of quality information—without the spammy sales pitch. The result? Increased consumer trust, industry respect, enhanced media coverage and a stronger brand image, all of which positively impact your bottom line.

How to build yourself as a Thought Leader

So, how do you become a thought leader in your industry?

Here are some things you can do to get you started:

Tell Your Brand Story Through Interviews

From traditional television to online media outlets, interview-based PR allows you to share a deeper, more vulnerable and comprehensive story about you and your brand. It gives you the opportunity to touch on aspects of your business that go beyond what’s immediately apparent in your products or services. Interviews provide a platform to share your journey, challenges, motivations and vision, allowing your audience to connect with you on a more personal level.

Contributed or Bylined content

For industry publications - this is a great way to contribute and to showcase your expertise and authority. While video content is increasingly popular for community building, written content is still a powerful tool for promoting thought leadership. By contributing articles to well-regarded publications, you demonstrate your knowledge and insight in your field.

Additionally, platforms like TikTok are emerging as popular outlets for sharing news, trends, and media in video form, giving you another avenue to promote your thought leadership.

Beyond the business - let’s talk personal brand

As a business owner, you are more than just your business. Whether you’re in the early stages of your startup or scaling up, brand trust and enthusiasm can be built beyond simply pitching products or services. Look at the voices within your industry and aim to become the most compelling one in the room. Establish yourself as a thought leader by actively participating in industry events, joining podcasts, writing opinion pieces and engaging with your audience across social media.

Why Thought Leadership PR actually matters…

It’s not just a marketing tactic - although some think that!

It’s an investment in your long-term reputation and brand building. By consistently offering valuable insights, you build trust and foster relationships with your audience.

This can lead to several benefits:

• Increased media coverage: When you are known as an expert, media outlets are more likely to reach out to you for quotes, interviews and features.

• Enhanced brand image: Regular contributions to your industry conversation enhance your brand’s image as a leader, innovator and reliable source of information.

• Higher consumer trust: Consumers are more likely to trust a brand that shares valuable content without asking for anything in return.

• Stronger industry connections: Engaging with other thought leaders and participating in industry events builds valuable connections that can lead to new opportunities.

• Boosted bottom line: All these factors contribute to increased sales and growth, proving that thought leadership is not just good for reputation but also for revenue.

Thought leadership PR is about inviting people into your story, sharing your values and becoming the voice people turn to for insight and expertise. So, step into the spotlight and become the voice of authority in your field.

Your business will thank you for it… trust us! We know.