How to Demonstrate Thought Leadership on Twitter
Twitter can be a professional social media platform, just like LinkedIn. Maybe a Twitter profile isn't ideal for your digital resume, but it’s a great place to keep up with industry news and comment on it with insight and predictions. This is known as “demonstrating thought leadership”, in the world of personal branding. Here’s how to use your professional Twitter account in a meaningful way that will raise your profile in the industry.
Share industry trends.
No matter what industry you work in, there’s always something interesting going on. Be the first to know and share it with the online community. This is evidence that you’re in the know about current events, which is a great trait for any professional. Some of you may already know this, but blogging is a side hustle for me, while I spend my 9 to 5 in legal marketing. I used to work at a boutique intellectual property law firm, so my Twitter page is full of IP law updates and cool patent news, especially high-profile copyright cases in the fashion industry.
State actual facts. Make reasonable predictions. Start a conversation.
As a digital marketer who specializes in social media, I’m always keeping up with the algorithm changes of various social media platforms, especially Instagram and Twitter. So I tweet an update and sometimes take it a step further, by throwing in my opinion. That being said, it seems like retweets don’t hold as much weight as “quoting” a tweet. So go ahead and quote a tweet with your opinion or a prediction. Just don’t forget to do some research before you say something. It’s really cool to look back and see the record of the fact that you called it.
Make bold statements. Ask questions.
I’ll be the first to admit that some of my social media posts have been a bit provocative, in terms of politics, which is usually my biggest no-no when it comes to a professional social media account. Yes, below I’ve included an example or two that was not such a great idea. But generally, I don’t talk about politics on my professional (or personal, for that matter), just like I wouldn’t bring it up at work. So remember to be bold once in a while, but don’t be offensive. And if you want to connect with professionals in your industry online, engage them by just asking a question. It’s the easiest way to learn something new and hear what others have to say about current events and industry trends.
Be human.
Sometimes professionals forget to show a little humanity on their public social media profiles. Of course, your professional social media accounts should be kept PG, but it’s okay to share things about yourself that are not work-related. Think about the last job interview you went on. Interviewers always ask what you like to do in your free time. So there’s nothing wrong with promoting some of your hobbies. I show off my cooking skills and athletic abilities all the time, especially when I lead the team in spin class after work. Plus, it doesn’t happen often, so I just have to brag when I break my personal record at spin. And I really like going on walks after work, so I share snapshots of all the gorgeous sunsets I get to watch.
Promote the charitable causes you care about.
Support the causes and issues that matter to you. It’s a great way to spread the word about a good cause and you’re setting a good example for others. I promote all of the charity events that I’m involved in organizing and fundraising for on social media, but even more so during the month of October — National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a cause that is dear to my heart and hits very close to home. I’ve been volunteering with the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation for over ten years!!! It’s a big deal to me and I’m proud of it. And now, it’s become part of my personal brand, so I always have coworkers (former and current) reach out as early as August asking when I’m starting fundraising or when they can register with my team for the annual breast cancer walk.
Originally published June 16, 2020. Updated on December 18, 2020.