3 Thought Leader Branding Trends No One’s Talking About (Yet)
- Written By: Melanie Borden
- June 6, 2025
Everyone’s posting. But only a few are actually standing out. Here’s how to join them.
MAKE THE CONNECTION
Every platform is noisy right now.
It feels like everyone’s showing up, posting nonstop, and trying to stay visible—but very few are actually making a real connection.
There’s a big difference between being seen and being remembered.
What worked even a year ago—long lists of wins, generic content pillars, polished authority tones—is starting to fall flat. The landscape is shifting, and fast.
If you’re building a personal brand that supports real business goals, this moment is your opportunity to evolve.
Not by adding more content to your plate.
But by showing up with more clarity, more strategy, and more you.
Here are 3 branding trends I’m seeing right now that are helping thought leaders stay relevant, create deeper trust, and actually drive results:
1
Lead with POV, not your bio. People don’t follow you for your job title. (Sorry not sorry) They follow you because of how you think. Right now, there are people out there with a fraction of your experience winning new clients and landing C-suite roles because they took the step in putting themselves out there. The individuals who are breaking through are the ones with opinions. Stories. Contrarian takes. It’s not just a long list of credentials. Why this matters: Platforms like LinkedIn reward originality. If your content could have only been written by ChatGPT… it probably won’t convert.
Try this: Post one bold belief this week—and back it up with a short story or lesson learned from the last 10 – 15 years.
2
Build a “Lite” Content Ecosystem. One idea = multiple touchpoints. The smartest thought leaders are no longer starting from scratch. They’re using one idea to create a post, an email, a caption, a short video, even a carousel. Why this matters: You stay top-of-mind without burnout.
The best part? You don’t need a big team to do this—you just need a system. Try this: Take your last high-performing post and turn it into a 3-sentence email or 60-second video.
3
Show Up Like a Creator (Not Just an Expert). The polished expert vibe? It’s fading. Today’s audience craves real…real stories, real energy, real you. Why this matters: People trust people. When you give a peek behind the scenes, it builds connection—and connection builds conversion.
Try this: Post a moment from your day (even the messy one). Then tie it back to your bigger mission.
“Your story is the shortcut to trust.”
— Unknown
Ask Yourself This:
Am I showing up online as a person with a perspective, or just a professional with a list of wins and a box to check?
The most effective thought leaders aren’t echoing what everyone else is saying—and they’re not trying to reach the masses. They speak to one person at a time. Because the real impact happens when your message helps someone, not “a target audience.”
Your brand grows when your content feels personal, timely, and meant just for the person reading it.
With Gratitude,
Melanie Borden
