How to Become a Thought Leader as an Independent Consultant

You’re already an expert in your field, but are you a thought leader? 

That’s a question every successful or aspiring independent professional should ask. Marketing is changing along with the internet, and producing content that reaches your audience is fast becoming a necessity for solo businesses.

Influence and reputation are two keys to success as an independent business, and there are clear steps a business of one can take to improve these areas.

One way to enhance your reputation and elevate your independent consultancy is by developing a thought leadership platform.

A planned approach integrating social media, content marketing, and creative ideas can ease your transition to an online subject matter expert. That transition, from “good” consultant to sought-after expert, will give you a competitive edge and make you more visible to clients.

What is a thought leader?

Thought Leaders inspire others with innovative ideas, which they then turn into reality. Their goal is to replicate and scale their efforts by creating a dedicated community of loyal friends, fans, and followers to help them create sustainable change.

How to build thought leadership

The three primary ways to build thought leadership are by the things that you do, going where there is already traffic and teaching others to become like you.  Learn more about these strategies and get other tips in our guide “Thought Leadership for the Independent Consultant.”