With 2021 receding into memory, now is an excellent time for any leader and their organization to reflect on current trends and plans.
As the year 2021 fades into memory and the New Year commences, it’s vital for corporate executives to position themselves as respected leaders in their particular fields. As public relations specialists, it’s our team’s responsibility to identify these possibilities. That way, we can help our clients achieve end-of-year thought leadership.
So what’s the result? What are the benefits of prioritizing end-of-year thought leadership chances? How do you go about getting these opportunities in the first place?
Provide the media with the material they want.
Take advantage of the media’s excitement to look forward to the New Year and assess what patterns we may expect to see in the next months. Industry leaders have a lot to say about the future of their industries, and news outlets are aware of this. Please don’t allow your deep industry expertise to waste by not sharing it with them.
A leader knows where the buck stops. It stops with them. Customers, and hence reporters, are particularly eager for experts’ thoughts on the future. This is particularly true during these turbulent times of the ongoing epidemic.
Make end-of-year pitching to current and new media partners a priority by determining what macro trends are taking place and putting yourself into that dialogue. Prepare your pitch around this bigger trend by turning it into real, relevant thoughts that the media will be interested in hearing about.
When it comes to identifying your target audience, be precise.
Taking part in thought leadership towards the end of the year may be a fantastic way to get a head start on your objectives or requirements for the following year.
Remember to identify subjects for your end-of-year pitching, bylines, and other thought leadership materials based on the areas in which you intend to expand your reach or impact. To do the same for trends, pick your pitch and byline sources depending on who your target audience is for the topics you’d want to speak on.
For example, if you work in the entertainment industry but want to draw attention to a new, innovative technology that your organization is using, pitch tech publications rather than the entertainment sites that you would typically target.
Establish your knowledge by offering a unique perspective on a popular leader trend.
End-of-year thought leadership is not only in great demand, but it also positions you as a reputable source of information in the eyes of your target audience for the next year as well.
The public wants change. So do you. But you also want consistency and continuity. Honor company traditions while setting them on their head.
Be new. Think different. Dress strangely. Grow a beard. Shave off your mustache. Change hair color. Whatever. Let the world know you are changing things up. And let your staff know it’s a whole new ball game.
It is, in essence, a chance to build on your reputation as a leader year after year. Likewise, you avoid becoming lost in the flow of things.
Creating a byline is an excellent approach to draw attention to your professional accomplishments and significant business expertise. Take captive thoughts of the past. Look behind you to see what worked before. Rework it and massage it to fit 2022’s mandate.
Disrupt your marketing plan until it works better. You must make certain that what you say has an effect and is intriguing, rather than just repeating what everyone else is saying.
Establish a vision for the leadership direction in which the industry is going.
Thought leadership is an excellent way to obtain awareness for your brand while also expressing your ever-evolving vision.
Give your staff a bonus. Give them a hint of what’s coming next. Share the new framework for 2022. Don’t make it a state secret. Encourage positive gossip. Thought leadership is not only a “look forward” to the year 2022, but it can also be utilized as a “year in review.”
Thought leaders may provide an overview of what worked well for them and how they intend to improve in the future. A newsletter may be used to “brag” about the great outcomes of your hard work from the previous year humbly and respectfully.
In order to demonstrate your successes, LinkedIn is a straightforward and effective tool for leadership. To keep your network informed of all of the amazing initiatives you’ve been engaged in this year, use social media to post about accolades won, articles published, and other big “wins” from the previous year.
In conclusion, the holidays tend to be a particularly stressful time of year. So emphasizing thought leadership can help you set yourself up for success as the New Year begins.
