How to Build Thought Leadership on Twitter

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Odds are, you’ve heard the term “thought leader” before. You may even aspire to be one yourself! But you likely know that it’ll take a lot of dedication and a bit of time to get your brand to that level in the online world. It’s simply not going to happen overnight. However, that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task to accomplish.

In this post, you’ll learn what it means to be a thought leader and the benefits it offers. Plus, there are a few tips you can implement to begin building thought leadership on Twitter, my favorite social media platform. After all, it provides a lot of opportunities to establish your presence as a brand and a top resource in your field.

What is a Thought Leader?

A thought leader is someone whose views are seen as both authoritative and influential. Someone in this position doesn’t hesitate to share their opinions on a subject. They also create and distribute high-quality content that allows them to showcase their expertise.

Here are a few benefits of establishing thought leadership in your field:

  • Visibility: Thought leaders typically have a large, highly-engaged audience of people who love what they create. That’s because they’ve painstakingly published quality content on a consistent basis to grow their community. They have shown up, done the work, and generated tons of exposure for their brand.
  • Sales: Once you’ve established yourself as a thought leader and have built the Know, Like, and Trust Factor, you’ll be more likely to attract sales. That’s because your target audience will see you as a credible and trustworthy source. And therefore, they’ll be more inclined to purchase the products and services you offer.
  • Opportunities: As a thought leader, you’ll likely see increased opportunities that are only going to grow your brand even further. For example, you might be asked to speak at conferences, contribute to industry blogs, or be part of an influencer marketing campaign.

How to Build Thought Leadership on Twitter

Now, let’s talk about how you can build thought leadership on Twitter. It’s an incredible platform for establishing your brand since it offers numerous opportunities for content creation and for making connections with others. Here are some tips you can use:

1. Publish Quality Content

First and foremost, you need to make sure you’re showing up and sharing high-quality content on Twitter. After all, you can’t expect to become a thought leader if your account is inactive. Ideally, you want to post every day. You could tweet links to original content you’ve published on your blog, YouTube, or podcast. Or you could share content that’s been created exclusively for Twitter through videos or Twitter Spaces. (More on that in the next tips!)

2. Share Videos to Your Feed

One of the best ways to build thought leadership on Twitter is to find ways to stand out. This is going to help you get noticed by new people and grab the attention of those already following you. So, how can you create content that will differentiate you from the crowd? Make videos!

There are over 2 billion video views on Twitter every day. So, it only makes sense to take advantage of this by uploading your own videos to your Twitter feed. In a world where people primarily share written tweets, videos allow you to do something fresh and fun. Just take a look at the daily video series Gary Vaynerchuk has been sharing!

Related: Cool Things to Do With Twitter Video Content

3. Host Conversations on Twitter Spaces

To position yourself as a thought leader, you need to put yourself out there and provide value to your community. One of the best ways to do that on Twitter is through Spaces. By hosting live conversations on Twitter Spaces, you can share helpful tips and tricks that address the pain points of your target audience. You’ll also have the ability to form and nurture relationships with new people. If you love to talk and you enjoy audio content, try Spaces. You may even want to consider hosting your own weekly Spaces show because consistency is key to growth.

4. Curate Content From Top Sources

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that everything you publish on social media has to be your own original content. There’s nothing wrong with curating content from other valuable sources. At the end of the day, it’s more about showing up and serving your community. And that can be done whether you’re sharing a post you’ve published or something from another creator.

But how is this beneficial for establishing thought leadership on Twitter? Well, it’s about delivering high-quality content to your target audience. It’s giving them a reason to follow you and to engage with your account. Plus, it’s a powerful way to spread knowledge. I often share curated content on topics I know my community will be interested in.

5. Participate in Twitter Chats

To truly become a recognized expert in your field, it helps to find different ways to get your name out into the world. By regularly participating in Twitter chats in your industry, people will begin to take notice of who you are and what you do. Simply find relevant chats to join and make it a priority to participate each week. When you do, share your expertise with every question you answer. And don’t forget to reply to other participants in an effort to kickstart new conversations.

6. Engage With Other Leaders in Your Industry

Finally, it’s also smart to make connections with the other industry leaders in your field. Not only is it beneficial for forging new relationships, but it helps get your name out there. The more you’re engaging with someone and making an effort to have a conversation, the more likely they are to take notice of you. Make time to scroll through Twitter and find opportunities to join conversations that are already taking place. Respond to tweets these leaders are sharing. Or reply with your own thoughts on an article they’ve published.

One of the best ways to go about this is to create Twitter lists with the thought leaders in your industry. This way, you can easily stay updated with the posts they’re sharing. A quick scroll through your dedicated list and you’ll find plenty of chances to engage. And you never know, they may follow you back and start sharing some of the content you’ve published. That’s a great way to build thought leadership on Twitter since you’ll get more traction on your content.

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