There a number of effective ways to position yourself as a thought leader in your niche without spending a fortune on marketing. The first step is to know your niche inside and out. What do your customers want and need most? What are their pain points - their most important problems that they need to solve?

Customers are looking for solutions that actually work and offer good value. They are constantly asking the question, “What’s in it for me?” With so many websites and businesses online, you need to answer that question from the moment they discover one of your products online. Once you know what your target audience needs, offer it to them. You can do this in a number of ways.

Make sure your website has information on every product and service you offer. Include a Marketplace that links to every product. There is nothing more frustrating than leaving a web page with more questions than answers. This is a huge turnoff for any of your site visitors. Have a couple of people whose opinions you trust navigate your marketplace and help identify any potential problem areas.

Make sure your site looks professional, with an easy to use layout that is mobile-friendly. Your relevant content must be worth taking the time to read. Just because it is free does not mean it should be junk. In fact, publishing impressive niche content regularly is a great way to position yourself as a thought leader.

Use your site as a lead generation tool in order to build your email marketing list. In this way, you can communicate with your list on a regular basis, presenting your niche customers with information, products and services that will prove you know what you are talking about.

The products you promote can be yours, or affiliate products you are selling for a commission. They might also be Joint Venture (JV) products you are promoting to your list in exchange for your partner promoting your items to theirs.

In order to get people to sign up for a mailing list these days, you need to go beyond the free newsletter offer a compelling special report registrants can download that will be packed with relevant information (and links to buy products). Aim for a broad topic most people interested in your niche will be eager to read, and even share with others via email or social networks.

Working with JVs gives you added opportunities to show yourself as a thought leader. These include writing reviews of every product you sell as an affiliate or a partner. JVs might also invite you to participate in an online webinar or interview you as an expert in your area. You might even get some guest blogging opportunities allowing you to write articles and flaunt your expertise for some of the top blogs in your niche.

One of the best ways to give yourself instant expertise is to write a book and publish it on Amazon. It doesn’t have to be an encyclopedia of everything you know about your industry. Many bestselling books are usually ones with How To somewhere in the title, offering real solutions to your readers. Publish it as an e-book through the Kindle Digital Platform first. If there is enough demand, publish it in paperback as well. Get a great cover designed for $5 on fiverr.com.

Becoming a thought leader is easy if you give your prospects what they want and need while showing that you are in the know about all the top products and services available, not just your own. Your credibility will rise as you establish your position as an industry expert. If you could use some extra guidance as you journey toward thought leadership, visit www.icemediaent.com or email us at contact@icemediaent.com.