The Busy Person’s Guide to Writing Thought Leadership Content in 6 Easy Steps

What does it take to become a thought leader? In today’s marketplace, an excellent CV is no longer enough to elevate your profile. Leaders need to stand out from the crowd. It takes dedication, patience, and strategy. Leaders need to provide expertise, credibility, value, and a unique point of view. And they need to do it in an engaging way on multiple platforms and outlets in order to increase and amplify their impact.

What if you’re not sure what your brand is, much less your “voice?” What if you have too many ideas but aren’t sure which one is the best for the marketplace and where you want to position yourself? All of these considerations can kill the spark of inspiration before it ignites into the action you need to take. But they don’t have to. As the saying goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (or 6). Let’s begin.

1. Know your why.

Who is your audience? What problem do you want to solve? What new perspective are you sharing? How does your expertise bring value to your audience? The answers to these questions will help you prioritize the deepest insights and information that can successfully set your content apart.

2. Know your where.

Where do you want to publish your article? Finding the right place to publish your content is important to driving readership. Some media outlets and digital magazines will publish articles from contributors who are not part of their editorial team. Familiarize yourself with which outlets accept external submissions and research their criteria on length, style, and content before the writing begins. A good way to start is by going where other colleagues or thought leaders in your industry are publishing.

3. Know your how.

For many, writing can be intimidating and time-consuming even when you have adequate content ideas. If this is you, one option would be to find a good copywriter to work with. Copywriters can help you craft your idea, work with a first draft if you have one, or work with you to ghostwrite. If you are doing the writing, start with an outline where every idea leads to the next.

4. Know your who.

Ask yourself why are you the one to be writing this article and putting forth this idea. Include your experience and expertise so that your audience will trust what you are saying and where you are taking them.

5. Know your what (and prove it).

Thought leadership content should have a unique point of view. Include personal stories or stats and compelling infographics to back up your points and make sure they’re current and reputable. If you’re working with a copywriter, they often can provide additional research, if needed.

6. Then, let it be known.

How do you want to influence your audience? What do you want them to do or think about after reading your content? You can invite readers to engage and comment by posing a meaningful question within your content. Once your content is published, continue to promote it throughout your network. If you need help, work with a social media consultant who can greatly increase your reach by creating additional content from your article or helping you stay engaged with your network so that your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

Nothing should stop you from creating powerfully engaging thought leadership content that will expand your reach, raise your profile, and influence the change you want to make in your industry or the world. The journey begins now.

Pioneering Collective exists at the intersection of personal PR, thought leadership, transformational coaching, and powerful networking to transform your hard-earned wisdom into heavyweight impact—personally, professionally, and culturally. We invite trailblazing leaders to join Pioneering Collective, to tell stories in compelling ways and stretch beyond the status quo to connect and drive impact.