Enterprise Storytelling for Thought Leadership Content
What is thought leadership content?
The cornerstone of establishing your brand as an industry authority, thought leadership content goes beyond conventional marketing to provide valuable insights, share your expertise and showcase a deep understanding of your niche.
Thought leadership content is defined as authoritative, helpful, inspirational content that:
- Drives change by challenging existing norms and fostering innovation through personal stories of success and insight
- Builds credibility and authority through the demonstration of expertise and industry knowledge
- Provides value by addressing the specific needs and interests of the audience
- Shares new perspectives to broaden the intellectual horizons of your readers
- Empowers your subject matter experts, turning them into advocates for your brand and building their individual authority
Thought leadership transcends the conventional boundaries of corporate communication, providing a window into your company’s aspirations and vision. It allows you to articulate not only where you’re headed as an organization but also how you navigate and triumph over your customers’ most formidable challenges. It’s a commitment to authenticity, a promise that customers can count on you to be a stalwart companion along the buyer’s journey.
Through thought leadership, you extend an invitation to share in your experiences, challenges and triumphs, fostering a relationship built on trust and a shared commitment to growth. You’re not just guiding your customers — you’re educating and enlightening them. Thought leadership is a dynamic and evolving journey you embark upon with your audience.
The power of thought leadership content
Why does thought leadership matter for your business? According to research from Content Marketing Institute[1]:
-
60% of the highest-performing B2B content marketers demonstrate thought leadership
-
53% of B2B content marketers are increasing their thought leadership content budgets
-
51% of B2B content marketers say thought leadership e-books or white papers are among the most effective content types
[1] Stephanie Stahl, “B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends: Outlook for 2024 [Research],” Content Marketing Institute™, October 18, 2023
Bringing enterprise storytelling to thought leadership
When contemplating your thought leadership content strategy, consider the impact of enterprise storytelling. Bringing enterprise storytelling to thought leadership adds a transformative layer to your content strategy. By working with a skilled enterprise storyteller, your thought leaders can infuse their content with narratives that resonate, creating a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Enterprise storytellers use their expertise to elicit your experts’ wisdom and insight, spinning the threads that stitch together your brand’s identity, values and vision.
Consider adopting a thought leadership content strategy that:
- Explains your origins and evolution. Unveiling the story of how your business came to be not only provides a historical context but also humanizes your brand, allowing your audience to connect with the journey that shaped your identity and values.
- Shares your lessons learned and successes. Sharing key takeaways and how you’ve overcome challenges not only demonstrates transparency but also imparts valuable insights to your audience, positioning your organization as a source of knowledge and experience within the industry.
- Describes your unique vision and differentiators. Articulating your distinct perspective and competitive edge not only sets you apart in your market but also establishes a clear understanding of what makes your brand stand out from the crowd, creating a compelling reason for your audience to engage and convert.
- Defines your partnerships — and why you’re better together. Emphasizing the synergies in your tech partnerships reinforces your commitment to collaboration and shared success. It communicates that your alliances are strategic, fostering an environment where collective strengths create a sum greater than its parts. Collaborative thought leadership initiatives also increase the visibility of tech partnerships in the market. Whether through joint webinars, white papers or co-authored articles, a collaborative approach expands the reach of both partners and solidifies their presence as key players in the industry.
Examples of thought leadership storytelling
Hitachi America highlights thought leadership across industries
Hitachi drives positive change through co-creation, delivering innovative digital technology solutions across diverse sectors and actively contributing to the creation of sustainable, environmentally conscious solutions for global challenges.
See how StoryOne helped them establish their thought leadership in:
- Transportation: A High-Speed Path to a Sustainable Transportation Future for America
- Manufacturing: Digital Solutions Drive Sustainability in Manufacturing
Thomson Reuters shares exclusive insights to establish thought leadership
Thomson Reuters’ thought leadership strategy is designed to consistently deliver insightful and authoritative information, positioning the company as an industry leader with a deep understanding of complex issues and emerging trends.
See how StoryOne was put into practice for:
Trimble exemplifies thought leadership in construction management
Trimble addresses the industry’s challenges and emphasizes the importance of real-time access to accurate project information, showcasing their expertise in streamlining construction processes and fostering efficiency.
StoryOne for thought leadership
At McLellan Writing Team, we put our StoryOne storytelling process to work crafting thought leadership content that not only captures attention but also establishes your brand as a leader in your industry. StoryOne is designed to empower your brand’s narrative, allowing you to seamlessly create, manage and share compelling stories that resonate with your audience.
Download our infographic to learn about the eight steps we recommend for telling your thought leadership story.
Get started: Connect with us to learn how to bring enterprise storytelling to your content — and connect more effectively with your customers.