The Notorious Thought Leader

In this final episode of The Notorious Thought Leader, Erin Balsa opens up about her personal journey to work less and live a more balanced life. She talks about expanding her view of success to include well-being, inner peace, and wisdom. She also shares how The Notorious Thought Leader was a passion project and that she feels like she's done what she set out to do — demystify thought leadership for B2B marketers. This episode also serves as a recap of memorable quotes on thought leadership from each of the guests. Erin takes listeners on a reflective journey, highlighting the essence of thought leadership in the B2B space. Drawing from her conversations with 24 industry experts, Erin underscores the significance of having a distinct perspective, emphasizing its role in maintaining relevance amidst a sea of voices. As Erin signs off, she leaves her audience with a promise: while the podcast may be ending, her dedication to sharing insights and personal stories to elevate content and thought leadership remains unwavering. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Leading Thoughts, at hausofbold.com. 

Erin Balsa was a guest on Ben Goodey's How the Fxck SEO Podcast. Erin and Ben discussed the intricacies of integrating thought leadership into SEO. Erin recounts a standout 2020 case study, where a unique report relevant to the challenges of remote work generated a staggering 680k in revenue. This wasn't just about numbers; it was about providing actionable insights for businesses navigating the remote work paradigm.Diving deeper, Erin emphasizes the power of narratives in content creation. She believes that every piece of content should resonate with the company's core story, ensuring a cohesive message across all platforms. This not only aids in brand recognition but also in building trust with the audience.The duo concludes by touching on the essence of documentation in SEO. It's not just about creating a process but understanding the underlying "why" behind each strategy, ensuring quality and relevance in every piece.

In this episode, Rusty Shelton, Founder and Chairman of Zilker Media, delves into the concept of thought leadership and its impact on business growth. Rusty emphasizes the importance of trust, stating that it's crucial to build it even before you enter the room with potential clients or partners. He explains how an online presence can be a powerful tool in establishing this trust.Rusty further discusses the significance of personal branding and owning your online presence. He advises listeners to secure their full name as a website address, highlighting the value of this digital real estate. He also underscores the importance of aligning oneself with brands the audience knows, trusts, and respects to accelerate trust.Lastly, Rusty shares an innovative approach to content marketing, using it as a bridge to build relationships. He gives an example of a bank president hosting a podcast, not as an advertisement, but as an opportunity for peer-to-peer interaction, thus creating good content and building goodwill. This episode provides valuable insights into the power of thought leadership and the role of trust in successful business relationships.

In this episode, host Erin Balsa welcomes special guest Jay Acunzo, a thought leader in the world of content creation. The conversation dives deep into the importance of personal connection and the power it wields in a content-saturated landscape. Jay emphasizes that building a strong, genuine bond with your audience surpasses the goal of being 'the best' in the field.Jay shares his unique take on how content creators should approach their work, focusing on the concept of 'favorite' instead of 'best'. He posits that it's the emotional resonance, not the objective quality, that makes a piece of content or a brand irreplaceable for an individual. This aspect of subjective preference drives loyalty and long-term engagement.The episode wraps up with Jay extending an invitation to his show 'Unthinkable' and his membership platform, Creator Kitchen, offering a glimpse into the creative mindscape of today's most innovative thinkers.

In this episode, we dive deep with Bolaji Oyejide, the mastermind behind the serialized content show, Demand Wars. Bolaji unravels the intricacies of storytelling in B2B marketing, emphasizing the power of serialized content. He highlights the need for marketers to shift from data-driven narratives to emotion-driven narratives, fostering a more profound connection with the audience.Bolaji cites examples of successful serialized content, including his own show, Demand Wars, and others like ProfitWell's Recur Network and Salesforce Plus. He underscores the growing trend of reputable brands venturing into serialized content, paving a unique path for B2B marketing.In a captivating finish, Bolaji intertwines the history of hip hop and music composer Johann Brahms to illustrate the secret to long-term influence: repetition and gentle surprise. With valuable insights and engaging anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to elevate their B2B marketing strategy.

Thought leadership content is about sharing valuable knowledge and insightful perspectives. And more and more brands use this tactic to stand out from their competitors and connect with their audience on a deeper level. But how do you write a truly remarkable thought leadership article?In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Lily Ugbaja, a self-employed fractional content manager, to discuss her powerful LEMA framework, what it stands for, and how to use it to create thought leadership content.

Thought leadership is about sharing unique insights with your audience. And it's the most effective way to establish brand credibility and build trust. But how do you create epic thought leadership content? In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Steffen Hedebrandt, the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Dreamdata. They talk about why you need to use your audience's words in your content, what epic thought leadership content looks like, and why SEO can't be the only play for typical B2B companies.

Visionary thought leaders are subject matter experts with original ideas, and they lead powerful change within their industries. But they're often too busy to create content and build large audiences. In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Pete Larkin, the co-founder of Parlay. They talk about the differences between thought leaders and visionaries, the enormous potential for a mutually effective relationship between visionaries and marketers, and how visionary thought leaders are changing the game.

Thought leadership content and SEO content are both effective marketing strategies, and by combining the strengths of both types of content, an organization can create a powerful marketing strategy that leverages their expertise, thought leadership, and online presence to achieve their business goals.But people often put thought leadership and SEO into two buckets and think that it is impossible to have thought leadership and SEO within one article or as part of a holistic content strategy. According to Erin Balsa, the founder of Haus of Bold, the best thought leadership content helps your content rank higher on the search results page. Erin was a guest on Ramli John's Marketing Powerups podcast, where they discussed her Content Sweet Spot Framework as well as thought leadership, its definitions, and the misconceptions about it.

Thought leaders are known for challenging conventional thinking and offering new perspectives on complex issues. By establishing themselves as thought leaders, individuals and organizations can gain competitive advantage and build their reputation as trusted authorities in their field.But to establish thought leadership, you must have a deep understanding of your field and be able to communicate your insights clearly and compellingly without coming off as overtly salesy.In this episode of Notorious, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Dan Fogarty, a thought leadership ghostwriter for VCs, founders, and executives. Dan gets into thought leadership and ghostwriting and explains his ghostwriting process. Dan and Erin discuss utility, data-driven/investigative and forward-thinking thought leadership, and connecting the dots by NOT niching down.

Thought leadership is about sharing unique perspectives and extensive experience with the world. And there are so many leading experts out there who are yet to spark conversations in their space. But unfortunately, things like lack of focus, unclear impact, and vulnerability are holding them back. In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leadership podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Laura Fravel, an executive branding and communications coach and thought leadership advisor. They talk about the most common hurdles in thought leadership, why courage is vital, and how to stick to your main storyline as a brand or a leader.

Thought leadership is all about creating valuable content that establishes you as an industry expert. And the goal is to educate your audience through unique insights and ideas. But it requires a deep understanding of your customers' inflection points and challenges.In this episode of The Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes John Short, the CEO of Compound Growth Marketing. They discuss what thought leadership is about, different strategies for strong thought leadership, and the importance of understanding inflection points.

Thought leadership is a play for relevance, says our guest. But standing out in a highly competitive space such as B2B is a tricky endeavor. Therefore, company executives and field experts must acknowledge that becoming a thought leader is a marathon, not a sprint. And for those who are change-averse, it is better to reconsider their desire to become one.In this episode of The Notorious Thought Leader, Sonja Jacob, the head of Global Content Strategy at Meta, joins Erin to discuss thought leadership. Sonja shares her take on thought leadership, what makes for a successful content writer, and how to build a content strategy leading to long-term success.

A content creator is someone who creates entertaining or educational material that is expressed through a medium or channel. And professional content creators go beyond creating and publishing digital content and use that content to build an audience and generate revenue. However, sometimes, especially with B2B content, you have too much to create, and so your editorial planning is unfocused and hurried. This leads to generic, uninformed, and uninspired content, and your efforts do not lead to conversions or revenue. In this episode of Notorious Thought Leader, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Brooklin Nash, the co-founder of Beam, a content creation agency. Brooklin explains how Beam can keep your B2B content interesting and help you sell. Brooklin and Erin discuss thought leadership, creating good content, and what can help you shape your messaging.

In this episode of The Notorious Thought Leader, Michele Linn, the founder of Mantis Research, explains how research reports can help your business build thought leadership. Michele and our host Erin Balsa answer frequently asked questions and share first-person learnings.

Thought leadership is often perceived as a process where you share your expertise with the world. But thought leadership is not just about having big ideas; it's also about creating a community based on your beliefs and thoughts.In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Devin Bramhall, a marketing advisor, a TEDx organizer, and a speaker trainer. They dive deep into the concept of thought leadership, how it intertwines with content marketing, and why it's important to tell people what you stand for.

Artificial intelligence is the future. And it's impacting just about every industry you can imagine, including marketing. But what's the impact on thought leadership? Despite what some people fear, AI can't fully replace humans. In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Ben Pines, the director of Content at AI21 Labs. They discuss thought leadership, the importance of a digital detox, and why AI can't replace expert writers.

Thought leadership marketing is the new marketing buzzword. And since it's one of the most effective ways to elevate a content marketing strategy, everyone wants to be in on it. But not all companies should do thought leadership marketing. In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader podcast, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Christopher Fox, the founder and managing partner of Syncresis. They talk about what thought leadership really is, why it's not for everyone, and the difference between subject matter experts and thought leaders.

Thought leaders are influencers in their niche, and their community recognizes these notable experts for their unique ideas and valuable insights.But can anyone become a thought leader? In this episode of the Notorious Thought Leader, our host Erin Balsa welcomes Diego Pineda, the founder of Thought Leadership Marketing. They chat about thought leadership, becoming a reputable thought leader in your industry, and Diego's Solo Thought Leadership framework.

In B2B marketing, we constantly see buzzwords fly around. And it seems as soon as a term brings value to marketing, it gets overused and outdated.But what does that mean for the term “thought leadership”? How does this term play a role in marketing right now?Steve Watt, the Director of Market Insights at Seismic, is our guest on this episode of  The Notorious Thought Leader. Steve discusses what thought leadership is not and the difference between a thought leader and a subject matter expert. Steve also explains how companies and their employees can be thought leaders and what businesses should do to encourage their team members to pursue it. Finally, he shares what high-quality content is and the types of formats he mainly creates for LinkedIn. 

Is being a thought leader and a subject matter expert the same? That is the question we ask every guest. Of course, opinions differ, but that makes the discussion even more exciting. Therefore, we'll continue expanding on the topic. According to our guest today, a thought leader is an expert in their field that shares their experience with their specific community.Chima Mmeje, the founder of Zenith Copy, is our guest on this episode of Notorious. Aside from discussing thought leadership, Chima shares her professional journey from working for a content mill to becoming an entrepreneur. She discusses the poverty mindset and how it influenced her approach to money today. Chima also explains how she creates content and why writing a brief is such a critical part of it.

Thought leadership is another popular buzzword in the B2B marketing space. But even though it's a buzzword floating around, it's still critical for business growth. And very few companies know how to approach it. In this episode, Tracey Wallace, the Director, Content Strategy at Klaviyo, joins Erin to share her perspectives on what thought leadership means. Tracey pinpoints what it takes for an individual to be considered a thought leader. And she also outlines how thought leadership and content marketing can work together. During the conversation, Tracey breaks down the key elements of content that build trust and stresses the importance of repurposing content. They also touch upon the difference between communicating with executives and prospects and how mastering the skill of strategic communication and cross-collaboration can positively influence a content marketer's career.

Lots of people call themselves category creators. But are they really?In this fifth episode of The Notorious Thought Leader podcast, Kari Hanson, VP of Marketing at Spiro, joins Erin Balsa to:Explain the difference between coining a term and creating a categoryShare how she helped create the Identity Governance category at SailPointChat about content that builds credibility and thought leadership“Thought leadership is about building credibility behind your opinions and views in a specific market.” - Kari Hanson, VP of Marketing at Spiro

As you *might* have noticed, the internet is saturated with content — so how do you win the SERP wars and your audience's trust? Evan Bailyn, CEO of First Page Sage, is here to explain.

If you think you absolutely have to be a CEO or an executive to be a thought leader, this episode might just explode your brain. In this third episode of The Notorious Thought Leader podcast, Tara Robertson, Senior Manager of Demand Generation at Chili Piper, joins Erin Balsa to chat about peer-to-peer thought leadership and Chili Piper's passion for building in public.

In this second episode of The Notorious Thought Leader podcast, Chris Walker, CEO & Founder of Refine Labs, joins Erin Balsa to discuss the importance of staying in the details and putting in the time to collect insights, recognize patterns, and develop leading thoughts.

In this inaugural episode of The Notorious Thought Leader podcast, Ashley Faus, Director of Integrated Product Marketing at Atlassian, joins Erin Balsa to define thought leadership, explain the four pillars of thought leadership, and share tips for harnessing the brilliance of internal subject matter experts.