One of the effective ways to build brand credibility, awareness, and visibility is by integrating a thought leadership PR strategy. If your PR strategy concerns press releases and hoping for media features, you’re playing the long, exhausting game. PR isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being remembered as the go-to expert in your field. That’s where thought leadership comes in.
If you want a PR strategy that does more than noise? Here are the five ways to make your brand the industry’s trusted voice:
Table of Contents
1. Own a Conversation That Matters
Not every opinion deserves a microphone (we’ve all seen enough of that on social media). If you want to be taken seriously, pick a niche and own it.
Ask yourself:
- What’s one industry challenge you can break down better than anyone?
- What insights do you have that people need?
- What conversation can you lead instead of just following trends?
For example, if you’re in agribusiness, you could champion climate-smart agriculture, digital transformation in farming, or making markets work for smallholder farmers. Be the person people turn to when they need real solutions, not just buzzwords.
2. Stop Waiting for Media Features—Create Your Spotlight
Sure, getting featured in a big publication is great. But why wait for journalists to tell your story when you can do it yourself?
Write blogs that showcase your expertise (like this one, see what we did there?).
Launch a podcast where you share insights in a natural, engaging way. (Check out our episode: Podcast for Thought Leadership: Beyond Numbers, Building Lasting Impact.)
Post on LinkedIn like your industry depends on it (because it does). The more you control your narrative, the more valuable your expertise becomes.
3. Get the Right Kind of Media Coverage
Not all press is good press—ask anyone who’s gone viral for the wrong reasons. Instead of chasing any and every feature, be strategic:
Write guest articles for respected industry publications. Get interviewed for your insights, not just your company updates.
Build relationships with journalists who cover your industry.
Your goal? Be the expert journalists call when they need insights, not just another name in a press release.
4. Speak Where It Counts
No, you don’t need to be on every panel discussion ever, but you do need to be in the right rooms.
Look for:
- Industry conferences where decision-makers are listening.
- Podcasts that align with your expertise (again, ours is a great place to start!).
- Webinars and virtual summits where your audience can engage with you directly.
When you share your knowledge, you reinforce your authority—and let’s be real, that’s how industry leaders are made.
5. Build Real Relationships (No, Not the Spammy Kind)
Thought leadership-driven PR isn’t just about looking smart—it’s about building trust. It also involves engaging with industry conversations, contributing to meaningful discussions, and connecting with key stakeholders.
- Join industry groups and forums.
- Collaborate with other thought leaders.
- Respond to media stories with fresh, valuable insights.
Note that the more you contribute, the more your name becomes synonymous with expertise.
Conclusion
You can take these insights, run with them, and hope for the best. Or, you can let us help you craft a thought leadership strategy that works. We help brands like yours build influence with thought leadership positioning and content that gets you noticed (for the right reasons).
Let’s make you the expert everyone turns to. Check out our services.
What do you think?