If you’re an entrepreneur or CEO, is it worth your while to become a thought leader, an influencer, or both?
Let’s get clear on these terms first:
- A thought leader is someone who shares her opinions, ideas and insights about her industry based on her experience and/or research. Think Brené Brown.
- An influencer is someone who encourages people to buy a product or service by recommending it to her social media audience. Think of someone you follow on Instagram.
They are both ways of earning income, through brand partnerships or by attracting clients to business. They are both ways to become a sought-after expert in whatever sphere you’re recommending products or sharing your ideas.
So what’s worth your while?
Both.
In other words, become a thought influencer:
- someone who shares her product and service recommendations based on her experience and/or research.
- someone who encourages people to think differently by sharing her hard-won insights, ideas and opinions with her audience.
If you’re an entrepreneur or CEO with experience and a following under your belt, you’re probably well on your way to becoming a thought influencer. Do:
- You advertise products or services you personally vet on your podcast?
- You speak in public or on other people’s podcasts?
- Colleagues and clients ask you for recommendations?
- You share your ideas via an email list, blog, or video series?
- You have a Facebook group or other closed community where you facilitate a braintrust of fabulous people?
To make the impact you’re here to make; to become that sought-after expert and leader in your space, being a thought leader and influencer will help your cause.
And that is whether or not you go the generic “influencer” route and partner with brands on Instagram. Influence is your currency. Influence of thought, of referrals and recommendations, of products and services. You are a purveyor – and a leader – of opinions, insights, and ideas.
