ERINNE HOEDT

 

 

What is thought leadership and how do you do it? Thought leaders are able to deliver content that is directly or indirectly related to their industry, but does not promote their specific products or services. The content is designed to get your buyers to seek out you for information. Good thought leaders educate, entertain, and provide answers to problems in order to create a following. The idea is that people who seek out you for information will be more likely to use your product or service when the time comes.

 

Coachella

Coachella uses a variety of platforms to deliver important information to both attendees and non-attendees. They use Twitter to promote artists, announce set times, and post about food and attractions to visit. The way that pictures are incorporated into their social media on Twitter and Instagram really explains it all. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and it is true. The moments captured in the photos are recognizable to almost anyone, which is proof that Coachella has been extremely successful at branding itself. There is no other festival like it and with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, it is easy to see that Coachella is a true thought leader in the festival world. Coachella also does something really unique, which only a few festivals do as well. They broadcast almost all of the sets on Youtube, so that the millions of fans missing the show can watch from their devices. Giving people this virtual experience is a powerful way to connect with fans and to promote the show. 

 

TechCrunch

TechCrunch, a technology based news source puts on many events, including two huge conferences located on the east coast and west coast. They utilize social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to relay important information to attendees and promote the event. Recently, the agenda for the upcoming TechCrunch Disrupt conference was posted on Twitter. Followers are updated with information in real-time. In addition to event information, TechCrunch uses social media to post updated news stories related to tech. Their goal is to be the number one guide for all things tech, and with 4.9 million followers to date, it looks like they’re meeting that goal.

 

Viacom

Viacom is the proud parent of companies like MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central. They host hundreds of entertainment shows every year and do a fantastic job at it. Their Twitter is full of links and posts to events they host to make followers believe that they are the leader in entertainment events. In addition to mentioning events, they also use their social media to promote shows on their many networks. In a way, a show is an event in the entertainment space and many of their shows incorporate social media during the episode so they can receive live feedback from viewers. Many times, Viacom hosts a live after-show after new episodes are aired in which they reveal details about the episode. All of Viacom’s social media keeps fans talking about their events which is what social media is supposed to be used for: starting and building on conversations.

 

Determining what to share on my social media would be based on what employers are looking for. I want to represent who I am and allow my personality to shine, while also demonstrating my knowledge of the events industry. Some posts would be reviews of large events in the entertainment space, technology space, and conference and meeting space. I would highlight what the event did successfully and what they could have improved on. Some of my posts would be trends happening in the events industry to show that I am tuned into what is current. Lastly, some of my posts would include tips for how to use different software, tools, and tricks to make the event planning process seamless.

 

Linkedin can be a great place to reach potential employers. Since Linkedin has a newsfeed, similar to Facebook’s wall, I can post links to articles that I write on my blog. If written well, potential employers can see that I have opinions and am capable of expressing them. It is also a chance for me to showcase my communication and writing skills, as well as my passion for the events industry.  Twitter’s hashtag and tagging functions make it easy to reach wider audiences and connect with the people you want to connect with. By posting links to my blog posts or even tweeting a quick tip or secret, I can generate a conversation with others about topics I am interested in. Pinterest is a fantastic platform for sharing ideas. Not only can I repost other ideas that I deem successful or unique, I can post my own ideas as well. I can also link to my blog posts, which drives traffic to my personal blog. Photos on this site capture the attention of the readers so my photos would need to be high quality. The neat thing about these sites is that they can all be integrated and link to each other. One audience seeing my Tweets can be directed to my Pinterest and then discover my Linkedin.

 

In order to measure my success, I would look at the increase in followers over time. I would also measure my success by the amount of conversations that are generated around my posts. Are conversations started? Do people comment on my posts and ask questions? The last way I would measure my success is through employment opportunities. If people start to reach out to me personally with more job opportunities, I know I am beginning to reach my goal of landing the perfect job. 

 

Check out some examples of thought leadership by visiting the "Tips & Trends" page.