How Thought Leadership Can Elevate Your Products and

Career

Jim Semick, Founder

About Pragmatic Marketing

• Experts in technology product management andproduct marketing

• Specialize in training

• Trained hundreds of thousandsof people at thousands ofcompanies since 1993

About the Presenters

Founder of ProductPlan, product roadmap software

Product launches include AppFolio and GoToMeeting

Speaker and writer about new product development

Follow at @jimsemick

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Jim Semick

Webinar ObjectivesHow to become an internal product advocate

How to be a thought leader in the market

How to generate excitement about your product

How to communicate about your product

Tips for establishing credibility and influence

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PollWho in your organization promotes your product internally most often?

• The product manager• A product executive• The CEO/founder• Marketing or sales• Someone else

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Advocating Your Product

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Talk Big Picture: Drive the Vision & Goals Across the Organization

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Focus more on innovation than incremental change

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Generate Excitement with Stakeholders

Regular communication and updates

Solicit evidence-based insight

Show what’s coming– -product previews

Visual roadmaps and presentations

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PollDo you see yourself as a thought leader in your industry or specialty?

• Yes• No • Sometimes

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Thought Leadership

What’s a Thought Leader?Knowledgeable in a domain or specialty

Unbiased and credible– no pitching

Authoritative with customers, prospects and competitors

Spreads insight widely and frequently

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Why be a Thought Leader?Brand equity

Competitive differentiation

Improved awareness and sales

Access to industry experts

Career advancement

Authority and career satisfaction

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Getting Started

Industry conferences

Analyst reports

Subscribe and read

Mentors and role models

Confidence – just do it

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Exercising Thought LeadershipWrite/blog

Start and engage in the online conversation

Speak at conferences/meetups

Grow social media and online presence (Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora, industry sites)

Offer yourself for interviews, podcasts

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Becoming an internal advocate and external thought leader can

improve your market position and accelerate your career

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Contact Us

Rebecca Kalogerisrkalogeris@pragmaticmarketing.com

Jim Semickwww.productplan.com

Free Product Roadmap Book: www.productplan.com/book

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@productplan

@pragmaticmkting

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