Social Media has become one of the most powerful influences on the global society to-date. It is an amazing prospect when you consider that everyday members of society are considered just as and sometimes even more inspirational than magnates of any industry. Social media has given every man and woman a voice and creates a unique, far-reaching platform to share their trials and strengths.
Who is a Thought Leader?
Thought leaders come from every walk of life, have jobs that range from junior to executive and tap into the very basics of humanity by distributing themselves to the masses, freely. Drawing from the strength, availability and ease of use of social media, thought leaders have found their soap box. The every-man and every-woman of the 21st century is able to reach out and touch thousands, even millions of fellow humans, unlimited by race, gender, orientation, age or location. Likewise, they can refine their audience without sacrificing numbers for designation. By inspiring people with the expertise and honesty of your words, you too can be a modern day leader!
How Can Social Media Help?
Everyone is wired in and those who aren’t at least have access to those who are. We are a living, breathing, thinking network of people who go through life, succeeding and failing along the way – we may be from different ends of the spectrum but the network, aided and abetted by social media, interlinks us at a visceral level. Social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tumblr are free and connect friends, family and enthusiasts to each other’s thoughts and opinions.
More than that, their formats give account holders the opportunity to broadcast their thoughts, opinions and advice to vast numbers of people. Thought Leaders are able to rouse excitement and provoke thoughts and actions by the power of their words and social media is the universal megaphone!
Tips On How To Use Social Media To Be A Powerful Thought Leader:
• When you think it up, post it up – How many great ideas have you lost because you didn’t get them out there when you could have? Tweet it or weave it into your Facebook status as soon as it strikes and give yourself and your message a fighting chance at visibility and relevance.
• Bigger than a blurb? Blog it! – Sometimes 140 characters aren’t enough for you to say what’s on your mind. No need to rent a conference room – put it on your blog! If you want to draft it in Word, toggle with the style and spell-check first, that’s great, but go green and be seen! No need to waste paper on a flyer when you can employ a weblog like Tumblr or WordPress.
• Put a face to your name – You want people to know you, know who you are and have faith in whatever maxims you’re preaching? Put a picture up or make a video! There’s something of a personal touch that comes with a body in motion and sites like Youtube and Vimeo help thought leaders spread their word.
Abby Evans is an avid blogger who writes on everything from how to find jobs in Toronto to outlining the principals of how to write a killer blog post.
Bob, interesting thought about getting your idea out there when you first think of it instead of developing and refining it. What if you had blurted out what you wanted to do with ResumeBear when it was a brand new concept. Maybe nobody would have been visionary enough to pick up the ball. On the other hand, maybe someone else would have stolen the idea and run with it, and now be reaping the benefits. When is saying something, saying too much?
Thinking back just a few short years, in the MLM business there was the “3 foot rule” – tell everyone who is within 3 feet of you about your opportunity.
Now with the power of social media, you can touch thousands from the comfort of your home. The one draw back is that it is easier to “read” someone when you are face-to-face.
Using social media you need to be much more careful who you believe, who you follow, and what you believe regarding the truth of what others say.
This is what is going to make this year’s elections in the USA so interesting. This is what is making the times we live in so interesting.
Some months ago my boss encouraged me to become “the obvious expert” in our industry (helping people get jobs in the IT field.) Of course I turned to social media right away. As some have mentioned, I have a healthy does of skepticism about the true value of SM, and while I am a long way from reaching my goal, I certainly have met a lot of great people who have taught me a lot about what I still need to learn to be even a modest expert in my field.
I would say before you post that Great thought or idea you also must be ready to act on it. There are to many people out there ready, willing and able to steal it and call it their own. SM is a fantastic way of meeting people who can help with bringing your thought and ideas to life, but just as you pick your friends in real life wisely do the same on the net.
Great post and tips.
All social media measures is one’s ability to use social media for a single purpose. 30 years of excellence in your field makes you a though leader not tweeting links about a subject that you have gleaned from the web.
Your first tip is so important: posting and linking your post to facebook and twitter because your posts have to get out there! The more visibility you have, the better.
Yes. New ideas and thoughts can come from anyone at anytime, but unless it gets ‘shared’ it remains just that, a thought. An apple isn’t a product until it enters the commercial system and an idea is nothing until it gets communicated.
Great post
Thank you for this blog! Sharing this!
This was a very meaningful post for me, Bob. Sometimes a single idea, “When you think it up, post it up” can trigger a whole wave of new thinking. Thanks!
My problem is that I do not think that a lot of people would like to hear what I have to say and too many are so thin skinned that they would take objection without thinking my message through.
Great article Bob, just saw on twitter that Gen Y is not reading. They are watching. I guess that means you are going to have start posting video. Love your blog.
I agree. Even more, I believe that the ones that use Social media the most by giving advice will stand up as experts, and specialists and experts are the ones we end up hiring. Information is power… Thanks for the blog!
Very interesting tips, thank you for writing and sharing.
I think SM is way overestimated. 99% is hot air and represents very little substantial content. It is hard work to weed through all the spam and find the true jewels.
Bob,
It is amazing how powerful social media is and how many different ways it can be used to help bro your business. Thanks for this great post!
Wendy Elwell
This is an excellent article as usual Bob.
Most people should take the time to understand the power of Social Media and how it will bring value to all who explore it.
Thanks
Agree that when the thought comes you must do it now! Great post
Social Media has the power to change many things, and people getting credit for their individual thoughts. Great stuff.
I think therefore I must type. Don’t let writers block stop you
Added values of social media are getting more and more important.
Michail Gorbatschow told:
“Life punishes those who delay… “
It is, social media, still about offering something of value to a person or persons and in turn making a connection and how we strengthen the connection is important once we have connected.
good stuff Bob!
it is so true. If you think it, tweet it !!
Nice article!
Just shared this. Anyone looking to become known as an expert online should read this.
Great article, Bob. I think that social media is wide open for anyone to get what they want out there, but they HAVE to connect. You can’t just put your thoughts out there without resonating with readers. They will pass you one by! You, however, always have great info!!! :0)
Great reminder !
Great Article Bob!
Great post and tips! Sharing this
Social media is a symtpom of the changing world aroud us. We’re leaving the institutionnal world to enter the collaborative one. Hint: It’s not easy for institutions
Personally, I think content is going to be the main part of any aspect of SM that you choose to use. If your content is not appealing to the masses, then you will have very little interaction, no matter how well read up you are on the subject. You need to give the people something right from the start to grab their attention, and continue to hold their attention with even more powerful and factual statements or you will lose the people that you grabed with your first line. Know what you are saying, have something to back it up, and be willing to allow them to ask questions, but only if you are able to answer the questions.
Bob Your tip on getting your idea out while you are focused on the idea “When you think it up, post it up” is bold to keep action.
While my habit is to re-think and analyse this can paralyze too while you can make use of “co-thinker” to expand your ideas into reality or at least inspire others to do so.
good post
@Themelis_Cuiper
Great topic and thoughts – what I tell people who ask me about social media is it is “essentially a conversation” – if it’s too much “push” and not enough “pull” – it doesn’t work.
Great blog!
Great Article Bob and Provokes Thought about Thought LOL . Couldn’t agree more . Everyone has a SOAPBOX today . Use It
There’s still nothing like a blog, IMO, for having a place to share your thoughts and interests.
One of these days I’ll get around to doing a video post … but I think with all the links to flickr I’ve done over the years, people have probably seen all they care to of my mug
Nor much to say still learning
Nice one Bob. Love SM and your tips are right on the mark. SM only works if you work it, in interaction and it becomes a horse locked in the barn, not much use to anyone and an unhappy horse.
Open the door, open you mind, share it with the world so we can all gain from the gifts that you have to give.
Many thanks
Simon
Since the advent of Social Media, it has exploded in different directions which is a plus sign if you want to venture to get positive connections whether to further your career or just to discuss interesting topic. HOWEVER it can have a negative side if abused. There’s always pro’s and con’s.