The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Thought Leader

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

You started a blog, penned some insightful articles and accumulated a couple thousand followers on Twitter. Shall we label you a “thought leader?” Nope, not happening.

Sorry. But while that may sound a bit harsh, the teenager who lives down the block did the same thing. While I truly believe he’s smart and has some witty things to share, I’m not convinced he fits into the “thought leader” category just yet.

What makes a thought leader?

The term “thought leader” has been used and abused not only in the business jargon category but in the English language overall.

While rolling their eyes, there are some who think it should be added to the list of overused words and join the likes of bae, twerk, selfie and hashtag (please go here if you don’t know what any of those mean). While we’re at it, let’s talk about the overuse of lists. The 10 Most This and the 5 Best That … wait, I digress. Read more →

7 Comments/in Communication, Thought Leadership /by Guest Contributor/#permalink

May 22, 2015

22 May 2015

Trust, Disclosure & Content: 3 Keys to Thought Leadership in the Media [Report Review]

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Doug Simon No matter how the world changes, three things seem to stay the same when it comes to building thought leadership: trust, transparency, and content.

These were some of the key findings of D S Simon’s 14th Media Influencers Report (you’ll need to give them your email address if you want a copy; the report is free and they sent me one for this review); this is a pretty good summary from PRWeek.

If you’re not familiar with DSS, they do a lot of work in the digital space, particularly around video – producing and distributing it. So it wasn’t a huge surprise that the survey really focused on whether, and how, journalists would use externally-produced video.

Disclosure: just so you know, I’ve worked with D S Simon in the past, and have never had a bad experience. Plus Doug Simon, the president & CEO, has a really dry sense of humor, which always makes life interesting.

Some of the highlights from the report on video content: Read more →

6 Comments/in Public Relations, Thought Leadership /by Shonali Burke/#permalink

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Strategic Social PR from A to Z ❯

Today, good public relations entails much more than blindly blanketing the media (and bloggers) with information that’s of dubious value to begin with. And more often than not, it entails a strong element of building and managing online community. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the three key elements of an effective 21^st century “social PR” strategy, and how it differs from “old” PR
Know which time-tested research and analytical methods you should still use in the 21st century
Understand why talking at people isn’t effective, and how to effectively use today’s popular social media platforms to talk with them
Experience real-time social engagement through workshop exercises and hands-on participation
Understand how to effectively incorporate measurement, so that it validates and improves your programs and, therefore, your business

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From Passive to Active Listening ❯

There's a difference between "hearing" and "listening." Do you know which it is your organization or business does... and the business ramifications of not doing it well? In this workshop, you will:

Learn the difference between "passive" and "active" listening (and 'fess up which you've been doing thus far)
Make the connection between active listening and strategy, and how they have a mutually symbiotic relationship
Familiarize yourself with different types of listening dashboards (yes, some are free!) and how to use them effectively
Experiment with simple yet effective techniques to build community through active listening online
Understand how to put active listening at the center of your communication strategy for better business results

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Smart PR Measurement for the Digital Age ❯

We have more measurement tools than ever before; so many, that we don't know what to do with most of them. And no matter how good a tool is, you still need smart people using it in a smart way, to derive the most benefit. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the basics of good PR measurement and, conversely, the seven deadly sins of bad measurement
Understand how to differentiate between fact and fiction in the measurement context, and the two acronyms to stay far away from
Master the process behind creating effective and realistic measurable objectives
Learn how to incorporate online analytics into your PR measurement (yes, it can be done)
Understand how to make the right kinds of correlations between your communication efforts and your organization's business objectives

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Social Media for the C-Suite ❯

Gone are the days when “social media” was the domain of your twenty-something employees. Today, social platforms are where your customers and constituents of all ages and stages literally live online. If you’re a business leader, you should take this workshop to:

Learn the three core principles of effective social media engagement
Examine key social media platforms, and understand how they work on both personal and professional levels
Review how businesses of all sizes have effectively used social media to support and reach business goals
Experience the benefits of real-time social engagement through workshop exercises and hands-on participation
Understand the kinds of metrics your social media team should and shouldn’t use when reporting back to you

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