I’m often asked, “Matt, O Wise One, what is the difference between Thought Leadership and content marketing?”
“Pfft. You think I don’t know?”
“No, it’s just that I don’t know…”
They’re getting sort of confused by this point. That’s when I whip this one out…
“One of the two things in your question is written in Title Case, and the other is not. Does that not clear it up?”
It does not. And by this point, they’re kind of done with me.
Now that we’ve got rid of the people asking pesky, annoying questions, let’s you and me talk about it.
Content marketing is, as the name implies, a marketing technique. The content marketer trades useful information for the attention of the reader/viewer/listener. Hopefully, the content marketer will be adept at turning that person into a buyer.
Thought Leaders don’t just inform their readers/viewers/listeners, but help them transform in some way. The follower doesn’t just walk away with a fact or two, but a whole new way of looking at and interacting with the world.
Thought Leadership takes a more long-term approach while Content Marketing has a short-term results focus.
Your short-term focus should be to sign up for my daily emails that will teach you to be a better Thought Leader. And if you’re not a Thought Leader, they’ll teach you how to become one.
You can sign up at You Can Be A Thought Leader.