Thought Leadership Series
This is a solo episode in which I get to share some of my favorite takeaways from each of the 11 episodes in this series. This series includes interviews with experts who discuss topics ranging from defining exactly what a thought leader is to how to develop stronger relationships and make more sales with your audience through email marketing to how to successfully add keynote speaking to your business.
I start by walking you through the approach and mindset I used to create this series and I hope you finish today’s episode inspired, with ideas to implement right away, and possibly with a desire to go back and listen to some episodes to glean more of the golden tips my guests shared.
This episode at glance …
>> (2:30-6:00) Episode 31 takeaways about what a thought leader is, what an audience comes to a thought leader for, reasons why you should focus on becoming one, the initial questions you should ask yourself to develop the right strategy, and how to build thought leadership into the foundation of your messaging.
>> (6:10-9:38) Episode 42 takeaways for Instagram success with Amy Studer include simplifying the process by shooting and recording inside the Instagram app on your phone, unfollowing your competitors, and easy ideas for reels and stories every day.
>> (9:48-11:03) Episode 40 takeaways for email marketing with Kate Doster include simplifying the process by focusing each email on only one thing, she also shares about recording yourself with an app on your phone as a faster way to figure out what to write to communicate the way you normally sound in conversations, she also gives a subtle approach to help you bring in more sales in every email you send.
>> (11:05-12:35) Episode 39 takeaways for pitching the media with Jody Fisher include whittling your pitches down to a single sentence because the media is bombarded with pitches and he recommends sharing the topic you want to discuss for a particular reason or angle you know the reporter will want. For follow up, he again recommends keeping it to one sentence and adding something extra about why you think you or the person you represent is the perfect fit for the piece the reporter is writing.
>> (12:35-16:05) Episode 38 takeaways for strengthen your mindset with Laura Terrell include knowing that no one is immune to fear, so never feel alone or less than simply because you feel fear. Resilience is one of the most important traits to develop. Everyone fails but what matters most is learning from the experience and understanding how to recover from it. She also shares a great way to shut down feelings of imposter syndrome by shifting the way you define it.
>> (16:06-18:27) Episode 37 takeaways for growing your business on LinkedIn with Dr. Melissa Henault include showing up on LinkedIn as a business owner, not an employee. This means that your banner should include your branding, not the default plain blue banner. Also, your headline should share the solution you offer clients, not a list of titles like your job title, podcaster, author, etc. You’ll stand out on that platform and reach more of your target audience when you share authentic and vulnerable posts.
>> (18:30-20:48) Episode 36 takeaways for becoming a better interviewer (for podcasters and others) with Mike and Kim Barnes include not just sticking to the pre-planned questions. Stay engaged in the interview and respond to the answers they share. It may lead you to great insights that you never would’ve found otherwise. When preparing, identify whether the focus of the interview is on the person or the topic and plan accordingly. Finally, before you start recording the interview, spend a few minutes developing a rapport with the person you’re interviewing to put them at ease and to have a more natural, comfortable conversation.
>> (20:50-24:15) Episode 35 takeaways for becoming a better interview guest with Mike and Kim Barnes include thinking about your biggest fan and imagining yourself having a conversation with that person instead of thinking about everyone who may watch or listen to your interview. This helps you to relax and enjoy the conversation more, which will definitely come across to your audience. Stop imposter syndrome in its tracks and know that the person interviewing you already sees you as the expert, so you don’t need to worry about whether or not you come across that way. Think about when you have conversations about your field with colleagues and how excited and passionate you are to chat about your area of expertise. Let that flow through your interview. Finally, even though you don’t control the questions, you have complete control over every answer. Prepare your main talking points ahead of time and look for ways to include them in your answers.
>> (24:20-26:55) Episode 34 takeaways for TikTok for business with Samantha Vlasceanu include understanding how to use it for your business and how to avoid the overwhelm of video creation by planning videos as part of a series. Pick a topic and break each tip into a 30-second video. This makes your content more binge-worthy and makes it easier for you to create. Spend some time upfront doing research to find your audience and identify the right hashtags to attract them.
>> (26:59-29:15) Episode 33 takeaways for paid speaking with Taylorr Payne include starting the process of becoming a paid, keynote speaker by checking out speaker bureau resources to do some research. In terms of how quickly you can get results with paid speaking, the timeline is often 6-12 months, so remember that you’re playing the long game as you approach paid speaking. When it comes to pricing, you may be significantly undervaluing yourself. He gives tips on a good starting point and how to adjust from there. Also, when developing your pitch, put yourself in the shoes of an event planner and the results they are held accountable for in order to have a successful event. Show them how you can help them achieve their results.
>> (29:25-34:45) Episode 32 takeaways for podcast guest speaking with me include why I shifted gears in my business this year to focus exclusively on booking my clients as podcast guest speakers. I share why I believe every business owner needs to include this strategy in their marketing plan. Essentially, it’s the only place in online marketing where your audience gets excited to show up and dive into a single piece of content for 30-60 minutes. You can build a relationship and establish the know, like, trust factor in a big way with one episode. You can get in front of an audience that’s perfectly targeted for your business that you didn’t have to spend any time creating. You’re introduced as the expert, so you don’t have to sell your credibility as hard. It’s a great way to generate leads, grow your SEO, and strengthen your brand by having a conversation with someone for 30 minutes in the middle of the workday and then quickly going back to taking care of the rest of your day. It’s extremely convenient and efficient.
Keys to success include starting with a strong, clear strategy. Determine exactly what you want to be known for, who you want to get in front of, which topics will be most appealing to the hosts and audiences you want to connect with, and keep your pitches short. Include a couple of your top credibility pieces, share the connection you have with that particular show, the topic you want to discuss, and how that will benefit the audience.
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