“They are the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world,” stated Time magazine in their most recent special issue, “The 100 Most Influential People in the World”
World leaders such as Barack Obama are no surprise to appear on Time magazines prestigious list along with well-known U.S. celebrities such as Chelsea Handler and Adele. The select few that are featured on this list are opinion leaders. Opinion Leaders are those who the public looks to for direction and guidance for little things such as, “What brand of shoe should I wear?” to big things such as, “Who should I vote for in the upcoming election.” Opinion leaders help individuals identify with their personal beliefs by being in the public spotlight and making decisions.
As PR professionals we should look to this list of individuals to help identify with our publics. As opinion leaders set the status quo, PR professionals should be at the pulse of their most recent endeavors and expand upon their efforts.
Quote influential people and comment on their efforts in a blog, tweet, or post. Not only are you gauging what others think about your opinion leader but you are also engaging with your publics about a mutually accepted topic.
View the whole 100 Most Influential People list here
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