Become a Thought Leader in your Industry in 5 Steps using ChatGPT

I’m putting myself out of business with this article, so I’m either generous or stupid…

Oh well — either way, if it helps you, then that’s a win!

Before we get into it, I have two questions for you:

1. Are you an entrepreneur?
2. Are you serious about becoming a thought leader in your industry?

If the answer to the above questions is a resounding ‘yes’, then please read on. If it’s a no, this probably isn’t right for you, but who knows? Reading is a pleasure, right?

CHATGPT

There, I’ve mentioned it already. As a writer, I should be afraid of this technology threatening my very existence, right? Wrong. But this piece isn’t about our existential dread of robots taking our jobs, it’s about harnessing a very powerful tool to improve your online presence, branding and ultimately, credibility as a ‘Thought Leader’.

If you’re not au fait with ChatGPT, here’s a quick summary. It’s an artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) tool that can help in an innumerate amount of ways, including elevating your personal branding. In this article, I will guide you through five simple steps to harness this powerful technology & become a thought leader in your industry (regardless of whether that’s Banking, Crypto or Flower Arranging).

Finally, why me? Well apart from over 500,000 writing views online in the last year, I’ve worked with a number of entrepreneurs and authors at all stages in their career to improve their personal branding through effective writing. Could you be next?

1. Define & Craft your personal brand and story

The first key step to becoming a thought leader is to define and craft your personal brand and story. This process involves identifying your unique strengths, values, and expertise that distinguishes you from others in your industry, as well as curating the reason why anyone should actually listen to you.

Take me as an example. In my “About Me” section across many platforms, including Medium, I use the same information. It provides clarity and confidence in a prospective reader’s/client’s (your audience’s) mind.

Clarity is important, as if you have your LinkedIn saying something different to your Medium and that’s different to your Twitter, where’s the clarity of how you can actually help? Nowhere. That’s where!

Confidence is another key ingredient in this cake (Mary Berry fan). It goes hand in hand with clarity. If your audience isn’t aware of the value you can add, why would they work with you?

This is where ChatGPT can come in and help you with both clarity & confidence. You can use it to help you identify patterns and trends in your personal and professional life that can inform your brand and story.

Here’s a prompt I’ve used before:

“I describe myself as a [your professional role] and I help [specific target audience] achieve [main outcomes you help your audience achieve.] What are the key elements that define my personal brand and make me unique?”

Now you’ve got some semblance of your brand identity, it’s time to get stuck into your story. Who are you? Why do you find yourself doing what you’re doing? How have you helped others before?

Storytelling is one of the most effective sales methods. As Seth Godin said,

“Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell.”

Here’s a follow up prompt for ChatGPT:

“Throughout my business journey I have faced these challenges [summarise any challenges you have overcome.] Given this information, what is the compelling story behind my personal brand? How can I craft a brand narrative that engages and resonates with my target audience?”

2. Establish and Enhance Your Online Presence

Okay, so now your audience know who you are, why you do it and how you can help, it’s time to build that audience.

But you’re not an expert on social media, right?

That’s okay, ChatGPT to the rescue! You’re already building your business, you don’t need to be stretched across LinkedIn, Threads, X etc, worrying about which platform you should invest your time in. Focus on one at a time, be successful on that and then build from there.

Remember: Stay consistent across those platforms with your brand identity & story

Here’s a prompt that will get ChatGPT to help you be laser focused:

“Which online platforms are most relevant to my personal brand and target audience? Recommend in order of where my target audience are most likely to be. How can I establish a strong online presence on these platforms?”

3. Curate and Share Engaging Content

Now that you have established your personal brand and enhanced your online presence, it’s time to focus on curating and sharing engaging content. As an entrepreneur, you need to provide valuable insights and expertise to your audience to establish yourself as an authority figure in your industry.

It also needs to be relevant and synchronised with your brand identity & story. After all, would you buy consultancy services from someone who’s always banging on about their baking escapades in their posts? Okay, it may be aeshetically pleasing, but does it add value to you? No.

Try this on for size:

“What valuable content can I curate and share with my audience to establish myself as an expert in my field? How can I consistently provide value and showcase my expertise?”

“Content is king,” as Bill Gates once said. As an entrepreneur, you have access to a wealth of knowledge and insights that your audience can benefit from. By curating and sharing engaging content, you can establish yourself as an industry leader and inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

4. Engage and Connect with Your Audience

As entrepreneurs, we know that building relationships is key to success. It’s no different when it comes to online networking. To become a thought leader in your industry, you must be actively engaging and connecting with your audience.

Something I always coach my clients on is that it’s not B2B or B2C, it’s H2H (Human-to-Human). Following other thought leaders, engaging with their posts, demonstrating your credibility in forums relevant to your industry or service offering with an already engaged audience is critical for your success.

It can be exhausting coming up with your own content strategies to build & maintain an online presence, but with consistency and discipline, you will see a return on your investment. However, this is where ChatGPT parachutes (as much as software can parachute) in and can streamline most of this for you, so you’re not wasting time thinking what to do next:

“Using [the main social media platform you’ll focus on], how can I actively engage with my audience to foster meaningful connections? What specific strategies can I use to encourage interaction and conversation? Create an action plan of 3 things I should do every day.”

Remember, online networking is all about quality over quantity. Focus on building genuine relationships with individuals who share your passions and values. By harnessing the power of ChatGPT to craft personalised messages and create compelling content, you’ll make a good start on your journey to becoming the Lord of the Rings. Wait, that’s the wrong quote…

5.Feedback & Improvement

As an entrepreneur, it is essential to continuously seek feedback and improve your personal brand and business development strategies, otherwise you’re falling into the ‘repeating the same mistakes and wondering why nothing’s working & blaming it on everyone else except taking accountability’ camp.

Okay, that’s a little fiery, but we’ve been there before. All of us.

As a writer, you might expect me to shy away from numbers and data, but I LOVE them! Buried beneath this lyrical lion beats the heart of an archetypal accountant — an almost sickly level of love for data and analytics and ChatGPT can help you with that. It can assist you in processing the data and generating insights that highlight potential areas for growth. By embracing AI, you can analyse industry trends and adapt to changes to stay relevant and competitive.

Keep an eye on your follower count, engagement analytics, views per post metrics etc. ChatGPT can help with all of this and more. Try asking it this for more inspiration:

“How can I monitor and assess the perception of my personal brand online? What steps can I take to enhance and adapt my brand as needed?”

SO WHAT NEXT?

Take a deep breath, digest and get on with it. No time like the present.

If you need any further help, please comment below and I’d be happy to help or connect with me on LinkedIn.

FAQ

How can ChatGPT help me become a thought leader in my industry?

ChatGPT can assist you in generating ideas, insights, and valuable content that resonate with your audience. It can help you develop your communication skills and deliver your message effectively, establishing you as an expert in your field.

Why is defining and crafting my personal brand important?

Defining and crafting your personal brand is crucial as it helps you identify your unique strengths, values, and expertise. It allows you to effectively communicate your message and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.

How can I establish and enhance my online presence?

To establish and enhance your online presence, utilise ChatGPT to create compelling content for your website, blog, and social media channels. Formulate a strategic marketing strategy to reach your target audience and increase visibility in the digital sphere.

Why is curating and sharing engaging content important?

Curating and sharing engaging content helps you captivate your audience and establish yourself as an expert. By utilising ChatGPT to generate ideas and valuable insights, you can consistently provide high-quality content that resonates with your audience.

How can I engage and connect with my audience?

To engage and connect with your audience, leverage ChatGPT for online networking, facilitating meaningful conversations, and building relationships with industry peers, potential clients, and followers. Fostering genuine connections enables you to expand your reach and influence.

Why is seeking feedback and continuous improvement necessary?

Seeking feedback and continuous improvement is crucial for staying updated with industry trends. Utilise ChatGPT to gather valuable feedback from your audience and adapt to changes. Embrace the power of AI to refine your personal brand and overall approach, constantly growing as a thought leader.