CMO · Playbook · Advanced · Saves 70+ hours
Thought Leadership Program Blueprint
A complete blueprint for building a thought leadership program that establishes your company and executives as industry authorities.
What's included
- Strategy Development
- Thought leadership positioning
- Topic territory mapping
- Voice and point of view development
- Platform strategy
- Content Program
- Content types and cadence
- Executive content support system
- Ghostwriting framework
- Quality standards
- Amplification Strategy
- Speaking and media strategy
- Social amplification
- Industry engagement
- Analyst relations
Best used when
- Building executive brand
- Establishing industry authority
- Differentiating company POV
- Training executive communicators
- Developing content strategy
The template
The Template
STRATEGIC FOUNDATION
Thought Leadership Positioning
| Element | Your Position |
|---|---|
| Industry context | What's changing in the industry? |
| Conventional wisdom | What does everyone believe? |
| Your contrarian view | What do you see differently? |
| Evidence | What proves your point? |
| Implications | Why does this matter? |
Topic Territory Map
| Territory | Description | Competitor Coverage | Our Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory 1 | Heavy / Light / None | ||
| Territory 2 | |||
| Territory 3 |
Rules:
- Own 2-4 territories deeply
- Don't try to own everything
- Choose territories that differentiate
Voice Development
| Dimension | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Authoritative but accessible | |
| Point of view | Contrarian, backed by data | |
| Personality | Direct, practical | |
| Language style | Jargon-free, concrete |
CONTENT PROGRAM
Content Mix
| Content Type | Frequency | Platform | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn posts | 3-5x/week | Engagement | |
| Long-form articles | 2x/month | Blog + LinkedIn | Authority |
| Industry commentary | As needed | Relevance | |
| Speaking | 2-4x/quarter | Events | Visibility |
| Media interviews | Monthly | Press | Reach |
Executive Content Support System
| Support Type | Approach |
|---|---|
| Idea generation | Weekly brainstorm session |
| Research | Provide data and proof points |
| Ghostwriting | Draft from exec input/interviews |
| Editing | Light touch to preserve voice |
| Publishing | Handle logistics |
| Amplification | Promote through company channels |
Ghostwriting Process
| Step | Activity | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview executive (15-30 min) | Recording + notes |
| 2 | Draft content | First draft |
| 3 | Executive review | Feedback |
| 4 | Revise | Final draft |
| 5 | Approval | Publish-ready |
AMPLIFICATION STRATEGY
Speaking Strategy
| Event Type | Target # | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Industry conferences | /year | Audience fit, visibility |
| Webinars (hosted) | /quarter | Lead generation |
| Podcasts (guest) | /month | Audience reach |
| Partner events | /quarter | Relationship building |
Social Amplification
| When | Action | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Content published | Share from company accounts | Social team |
| Same day | Share from exec account | Exec / Ghostwriter |
| Day 2-3 | Employee amplification | Advocacy program |
| Week 1 | Repurpose to other formats | Content team |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Thought Leadership Program Blueprint?
A complete blueprint for building a thought leadership program that establishes your company and executives as industry authorities.
Who is the Thought Leadership Program Blueprint for?
It is built for CMOs and their teams working on Content Strategy. The AI coach adapts it to your company, stage, and goals.
How long does the Thought Leadership Program Blueprint take to use?
It saves roughly 70+ hours versus building from scratch. Our AI coach can tailor the playbook to your situation in minutes, then hand you a step-by-step plan.
Is the Thought Leadership Program Blueprint free?
Yes. You can read the full playbook and start getting coached through it for free. Sign in to save your tailored version and track your next steps.
How does the AI coach help with the Thought Leadership Program Blueprint?
The coach teaches you the framework, asks a few questions about your business, tailors the playbook to you, and gives you measurable next steps to execute.