The tech industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-paced industries in the world, with new innovations and developments emerging every day. As a tech company leader, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. You’re the industry expert, and it’s time to showcase your knowledge to the world. This is not only a great way to build your brand’s reputation, but it can also help you achieve your commercial goals.

At DUO, we curate content to align your messages with current industry news for a greater presence in South Africa’s media publications. We also develop detailed content pipelines that combine thought and industry leadership and take topical angles into account. We have created successful thought leadership strategies for numerous tech companies that have elevated their brands and resonated with their target audience.

Here are our four tips to help your business create a successful thought leadership strategy:

Tip #1: Defining Your Brand’s Expertise

The first step to becoming a thought leader is to define your brand’s area of expertise. What unique insights and perspectives can you offer your audience? Whether you specialise in AI, cybersecurity, or cloud computing, it’s essential to identify your strengths and communicate them effectively. By subscribing to daily newsletters or engaging with industry content on LinkedIn, the foundation of your strategy is to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and news to remain relevant and authoritative in your field.

Having a diverse leadership team with different perspectives and areas of expertise can be a valuable asset for your brand. However, it is important to recognise that not every member of the team may be the best spokesperson for every topic that needs to be addressed. Identifying the best spokespeople for different topics is important for ensuring that your brand’s messaging is clear, credible, relevant, and efficient. This can help to build trust with your customers and stakeholders, and ultimately contribute to the success of your business.

Tip #2: Creating Valuable Content

Content is (and will always be) king. Thought leadership is all about offering valuable insights and ideas to your audience. Creating valuable content is key to becoming a successful thought leader. Whether you choose to create blog posts, white papers, webinars, or podcasts, it’s crucial to choose the most effective format for your brand and its commercial focus. Ensure your content is engaging and easy to consume.

By creating valuable content, you can demonstrate your expertise and knowledge, building trust with potential customers and increasing your chances of winning their business. Remember, it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. Ultimately, the purpose of your thought leadership content is not about selling your product or solution, but about understanding an industry challenge and being able to address it.

Tip #3: Leveraging Your Network

Building credibility and increasing visibility is crucial to becoming a successful thought leader in the tech industry. Identify and engage with industry influencers and thought leaders to amplify your message and increase your reach.

Digital marketing is a key element of any thought leadership strategy. With so many platforms available, it’s important to identify where your audience is and how to reach them effectively. Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are great for building your brand’s profile and connecting with potential customers. However, it’s also important to have a comprehensive digital marketing plan that includes search engine optimisation, email marketing, and other tactics to amplify your thought leadership content and ensure you’re reaching your target audience.

Tip #4: Measuring Success

Measuring success is essential in understanding the effectiveness of your thought leadership strategy. However, it’s also crucial to tie your metrics back to your commercial goals. Are you trying to grow your share of voice, increase website traffic, generate leads, or close more sales? By aligning your thought leadership strategy with your commercial goals, you can ensure that you’re not only building your brand’s reputation but also achieving tangible business results.

Creating a successful thought leadership strategy in the tech industry requires a combination of identifying your brand’s expertise, creating valuable content, leveraging your network, and measuring success. By incorporating digital marketing and aligning your strategy with your commercial goals, you can elevate your brand and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Here’s an example of how we used thought leadership to reposition Oracle’s brand to build an authentic and impactful presence in Africa:

Connect with us today to find out how you can use thought leadership content to achieve tangible business results.