Build Community as a Thought Leader

Grow Your Digital Network with Thought Leadership

When it comes to building community as a thought leader, it can be difficult to know where to start! There are plenty of opportunities to establish authentic connections. Read on for tangible, time-tested ways to build an engaged community as a thought leader.

ESTABLISH TRUST

Establishing trust with your audience is a key aspect of building community. This takes time and effort, but there are some simple things you can do to grow and maintain trust with your network: 

  • Be genuine, especially on social media! Don’t pretend to be an expert in something you are not, or mimic other thought leaders’ content because they happen to be successful. People (particularly on social media) can see through inauthenticity quite well

  • Ensure you do plenty of research on your area of expertise, and are well informed about a topic before educating your audience. Credibility goes hand-in-hand with trust

  • Be a resource. Always stay on top of industry trends and regularly update your skillset. Providing value to your community through strong content is one of the simplest ways to build trust and a loyal audience

Learn how to create a social media strategy in five minutes!

ENGAGE

Perhaps the most important step to building community is engaging with others. This is especially true for thought leaders who use social media to grow their personal brands. Show your community you’re there for them by regularly interacting with them.

  • Respond to comments and questions on social media

  • Get to know your online community by encouraging them to share more about themselves. Let them know you are truly interested in what they have to say

  • Conduct polls on LinkedIn and Twitter to gauge what your network is thinking. Their answers will help you create valuable content that will keep them coming back

  • Engage in active discussions! Start a group on LinkedIn or Facebook, or host regular Twitter chats to give your community something to look forward to each week

KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS TOP OF MIND

Whether you are creating content for social media or speaking at a (virtual) event, building a community as a thought leader requires you to keep your network top of mind. Give them a reason to look to you for inspiration by putting them first! Ask yourself: What is it they want, and how can I deliver?

  • Make sure every piece of content you create educates, inspires or entertains your community. Even something as simple as sharing a link to an article on social media should be purpose-driven

  • Be humble and down-to-earth. Thought leaders are considered respected authority figures, but humility is a big part of gaining respect from your community

  • Regularly request feedback from your community. Ask them where your content can improve and what they would like to see from you going forward

Click here to learn how to build brand authority as a thought leader!

USE VIDEO

According to Cisco, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic—15 times higher than it was in 2017—by the year 2022. As COVID keeps us apart, we crave interaction more than ever. Video allows you to connect with your audience on a far more personal level. 

  • Your videos don’t need to be fancy! Nowadays, authenticity is the norm. Your phone will suffice

  • Hop on Instagram or LinkedIn stories to share a video update with your audience, ask a question, start a conversation, or even share what's on your mind

BE RELATABLE

It’s no surprise, but one of the biggest parts of building a community is being human. Grow your community and personal brand by showing others you are just like them. 

  • Add personal anecdotes to your educational content on social media. Storytelling is a powerful tool when it comes to establishing connections

  • If comfortable and where relevant, use real-world examples from your own life to convey your message. The more relatable you are, the more your community will feel connected to you

There you have it! Building community is vital to becoming a successful thought leader, especially in our current landscape. Grow a loyal network by being authentic and relatable, actively engaging with your connections online, and keeping your audience’s needs top of mind at all times.

Community Building for Thought Leaders

Building a community of supportive peers is paramount to growing as a thought leader. In our online course, TLCxDNA, you’ll learn how to identify fellow thought leaders around you and find ways you can collaborate and support each other.

CSuite, Thought LeadershipThe Coast Kit