Becoming a leader in your industry is neither easy or straightforward; it requires perseverance and passion.

Fortunately, there are ways to influence your market and become a well-respected leader. Here are three ways to get involved in your industry and establish yourself as a leader:

Develop relationships with influencers
Start reaching out to established industry experts or influential peers to discover how they operate their businesses. Don’t be afraid to share their content or reference them in your own content (just be sure to tag them in the post). Once you start to establish a relationship, consider interviewing them or asking them for feedback on your ideas etc.

Research your market
Understanding your audience, direct and indirect competitors and key thought leaders in your industry is essential. Join trade associations, networking groups and business organisations to learn more about your industry and meet others in it. Once you have a thorough insight into your market and where your business fits, you can start to develop a strategy based on your business’ stage in the life cycle.

Utilise social media
Social networks are ideal platforms to connect with other influencers and share your own ideas and vision. Social media provides a chance to establish your own personal brand which helps to make you stand out as a key influencer. Leverage off sites such as LinkedIn to connect with other professionals and showcase your experience. Regular blogging is a good starting point for those who are trying to establish themselves in the industry.