On April 18th, 2023, over 150 experts gathered at One Vanderbilt in New York City for Queue’s NYC Meet Up for Experts Event, focused on helping experts become a go-to thought leader in their respective niches. The event, hosted by Jonah Lecker and Netanel Baruch, featured an impressive lineup of speakers who shared their expertise on building personal brands, mastering LinkedIn presence, making online connections at scale, and leveraging video and podcasting to establish thought leadership.

In his captivating speech at the NYC Meet Up for Experts, Netanel Baruch, CEO & Co-Founder of Queue, introduced a powerful formula for building online authority, which consists of three key components:

• Profile optimization
• Strategic connections
• Content creation

Continue reading to uncover Netanel’s insights, learn how to optimize your own profile, and get tips to 2x your productivity on LinkedIn.

Step 1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile As a Thought Leader

Treat your profile as a landing page, focusing on visual elements and compelling bio content. Netanel provided a step-by-step guide to optimizing your LinkedIn profile.

When it comes to the visuals, make sure that you:

• Use a professional headshot that showcases your personality and approachability.
• Create a background banner that reflects your brand and expertise.

Right under your heading, ensure your header/title communicates expertise, your offer, and social proof – as in the example below!

Additionally, make use of your featured posts section. It makes up a large portion of your profile’s “real estate” and can be used strategically to highlight your biggest wins or social proof, main thought leadership pieces, lead magnets, or information about your offer.

But visuals alone won’t give people all the information they need to know if you’re someone who can help them solve pressing problems in their business. Prove it in your about section – Here’s how:

• Write a compelling “About” section that highlights your unique value proposition.
• Use the “Problem-Agitate-Solution” (PAS) copywriting framework to identify your target audience’s pain points, emphasize the consequences of not addressing them, and position yourself as the solution.
• Incorporate relevant keywords to improve your profile’s searchability.

Ensure you showcase your expertise through the “Experience” and “Education” sections as well. Showing or telling people what you do and how you help them isn’t enough. You need to add social proof. This can be done by mentioning clients that you’ve worked with, which is something many people intuitively know to do. However, you can also:

• Utilize the skills section on LinkedIn: Use action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
• Showcase your personal achievements: Highlight relevant certifications, courses, and awards that establish your credibility.
• Leverage the “Endorsements” section: Encourage colleagues and clients to endorse your skills to build social proof.

Step 2. Build Strategic Connections on LinkedIn

To drive traffic to your optimized profile, Netanel recommends building the right network by following top companies and industry leaders, connecting with potential clients, and engaging in professional groups.

Follow top companies and industry leaders to stay updated on trends and insights. Connect with potential clients by engaging with their content and sending personalized connection requests.

• Follow top companies and industry leaders to stay updated on trends and insights.
• Participate in professional groups to expand your network and establish your authority.
• Share valuable insights, ask thought-provoking questions, and engage in meaningful discussions.

Then, leverage your existing presence and previous interactions into connection requests that are likely to convert. In short, engage first, build recognition and relationships, and then connect.

Top tip: Use the “Attention-Interest-Desire-Action” (AIDA) copywriting framework to craft compelling connection requests and follow-up messages that capture attention, pique interest, build desire, and encourage action.

Step 3. Engage Your Ideal Audience on LinkedIn the Smart Way

When it comes to content creation, Netanel advises starting with comments to gauge what topics resonate with your audience. Once you identify the topics that generate the most engagement, you can create posts that are both valuable and easily readable. Netanel emphasized the importance of making content scannable, as people tend to skim through posts to find the most relevant information.

1. Actively participate in comment sections of relevant posts to increase your visibility and establish your expertise.

• Provide thoughtful, valuable insights that add to the conversation and demonstrate your knowledge.
• Ask questions to encourage further discussion and engagement with other users.

2. Respond to comments on your own posts to foster relationships and build a loyal following.

• Show appreciation for feedback and address any questions or concerns raised by your audience.
• Use comments as an opportunity to provide additional value and showcase your expertise.

The comments section is a powerful (and often underutilized) tool. One Queue user began seeing leads coming in and connecting with him in just two days of consistently commenting under the right posts and engaging with people.

By providing valuable insights and demonstrating your expertise in comment sections, you can quickly attract the attention of potential clients and establish yourself as a go-to expert in your niche.

Bonus Tip: How to Create Hands-Off, Authentic Content in Minutes

Thought leadership content is powerful, but only if it truly resonates with your audience. To craft compelling posts that keep readers engaged, ditch the fluff and focus on delivering real value. Speak directly to your followers’ pain points with actionable insights and bold perspectives that challenge industry norms.

When crafting your thought leadership content, consider incorporating the following elements:

1. Aspirational focus: Share client success stories or personal anecdotes that highlight the transformative potential of your ideas and strategies.
2. Anthropological insights: Draw from anthropological research (insights from the field over time) to provide unique perspectives and learnings on foundational truths, changes and developments observed, and more.
3. Contrarian viewpoints: Challenge industry misconceptions or outdated beliefs, positioning yourself as a forward-thinking leader who isn’t afraid to disrupt the status quo.
4. Showcase your experience: Show your expert understanding of broader industry conversations, showcasing your understanding of the landscape and emerging trends.
5. Analytical Perspective: Support your ideas with data, research, or industry trends that validate your perspective.

Lastly, incorporate visuals, such as images, infographics, and videos, to break up text and make your content more engaging. Plenty of data shows that posts with images and videos perform better than those without.

Try to post 3-5 times per week. There’s also plenty of evidence that this helps you grow your exposure 3.5x faster (if not more!)

Get a Month’s Worth of Content FREE with Jessica

Jessica is an AI-powered content creation assistant designed by experts, for experts, to help thought leaders effortlessly generate authentic, engaging content that showcases their unique voice and insights.

By asking targeted questions and allowing users to communicate their expertise in a way that feels comfortable and intuitive, Jessica ensures that the resulting content is infused with the user’s unique perspective and authentically represents their brand voice.

For a limited time, you can get 4 free interviews with Jessica! Schedule your first free interview today and create a week’s worth of authentic, hands-off content in less than 10 minutes.

With Jessica, creating authentic thought leadership content is easy, all you need to do is:

1. Schedule your interview: Pick a time that works for you, or hop on a call right now! Jessica is flexible and ready when you are.
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3. Your expert interview: Sit back and have a conversation! Jessica will guide you through a natural interview, just like you’re chatting with a top journalist. Sharing your expertise and thought leadership has never been easier.
4. Get ready to publish content: After the interview, Jessica takes your insights and crafts a week’s worth of content inspired by your own words. The result? Authentic thought leadership content that sounds like you wrote it yourself!

Start your journey toward becoming a go-to thought leader today with hands-off content creation designed for top experts. Schedule your first interview now!

Netanel’s Key Takeaways from the New York Event

1. Optimize your profile to improve conversion rates, treating it as a landing page.
2. Build a strategic network by connecting with industry leaders, potential clients, and engaging in professional groups.
3. Make valuable comments on others’ posts to drive traffic to your profile and attract potential clients.
4. Create scannable, valuable content that resonates with your audience, starting with comments to gauge engagement.
5. Leverage AI tools like Jessica to streamline content creation while maintaining authenticity by combining technology with your unique expertise.

Watch the Full NYC Meet Up for Experts Event Replay

In addition to Netanel’s insightful presentation, the NYC Meet Up for Experts featured a lineup of exceptional speakers who shared their expertise on various aspects of thought leadership and personal branding.

Brad Zomick, the charismatic founder of Spectamur, shared his LinkedIn Domination Blueprint. Brad broke down the essential components of a winning LinkedIn presence: connections, content, and comments. His real-world examples of clients experiencing exponential revenue growth through LinkedIn left the audience inspired and ready to take action.

Matt Cretzman, the dynamic Founder of Stormbreaker Digital, shared his powerful story of resilience and purposeful network building. Matt provided actionable strategies for list building, AI personalization, and fostering genuine relationships, leaving an indelible mark on everyone present.

Kim Rittberg, the brilliant Founder of Henry Street Media, captivated the audience with her infectious energy and “4 S’s” approach to thought leadership through video and podcasts. Kim empowered attendees to embrace visibility, simplify their message, showcase their unique strengths, and sell without being salesy.

David Berkowitz, the visionary Founder of the AI Marketers Guild (AIMG), delivered a thought-provoking presentation on building communities and navigating the sometimes uncomfortable world of thought leadership. David encouraged attendees to step outside their comfort zones and create content that truly resonates with their target audience.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from these incredible thought leaders. Watch the full NYC Meet Up for Experts event replay now and gain access to a wealth of knowledge and actionable strategies to help you become a go-to authority in your niche.