What is

“Executive thought leadership”?

We want our first 30-minute conversation to be as productive as possible. So, we compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions so you can understand the biggest one:

“What exactly is executive thought leadership?”

With the details regarding what we do out of the way, we can have 30 minutes to talk about the important details: your executive brand message, personal & organizational goals, and how they might align with a strong thought leadership campaign.

Scroll through to find answers to our most frequent questions:

Qs 1 to 5: General

Qs 6 to 11: Publications & Placement

Qs 12 to 16: Strategy & Impact

Qs 17 to 21: Social Media & Newsletter Add-ons

Qs 22 to 28: Our Process & Team

If you prefer to download these FAQs to keep as a handy resource, click here.

FAQs

General

Q1: What types of executives do you typically work with?

We are open to working with executives from all industries but most of our experience is with CEOs, CMOs, CHROs, DEI Officers, & other purpose-driven C-suite leaders—especially those focused on transformational leadership, talent retention, & shaping public conversation.

Q2: I already have a marketing team. Can I still work with you?

Absolutely. Many of our clients come to us with existing marketing teams looking to add mainstream publishing as a high-impact layer to enhance their current campaigns. We love to collaborate to provide a more seamless thought leadership strategy.

Q3: What if I’ve never published anything before?

No problem. Whether you’ve already got a newsletter, blog, website & an active voice on social media or not, we can help grow your digital presence. We guide you through every step—from ideation to final publication—with minimal time required on your part.

Q4: How much of my time will this take each month?

Typically, we ask for 30 minutes per month for an initial interview. We also offer an additional monthly 30-minute follow-up call as needed for live reviews or edits. Everything else—from writing to placement & promotion—is handled by our team.

Q5: What’s the first step to getting started?

Book a 30-minute consultation with us to determine your publishing goals, brand positioning, & eligibility for top-tier outlets.

Publishing & Placements

Q6: Where will my articles be published?

Our primary relationships include Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., & Rolling Stone. These outlets offer thought leadership bylines that many executives qualify for. These are optimal for building a foundation as they guarantee monthly publication (subject to editorial guidelines) & tap into a large existing audience for rapid growth & new publishing opportunities.

Q7: Can I choose where my article is published?

We’ll work together to prioritize outlets & always prioritize our client’s preferences. Final placement depends on editorial alignment, contributor opportunities, &, of course, the approval of our clients. We only pitch where we know your voice will resonate.

Q8: Can I have my article pitched to a major paper, like the New York Times?

Such outlets may accept op-eds submitted by executives, but the process is highly selective & not guaranteed. If you already have an established audience or publishing history, we may explore opportunities to pitch your article to be featured in a major news outlet. We are more likely to explore this service with a client once they establish an existing and comprehensive thought leadership portfolio and audience to increase the likelihood of acceptance.

Q9: What if I’m not approved as a contributor for a specific outlet?

We only reach out to clients if we are sure they will be approved for the publications we work with. If you contact us, we will first determine your eligibility based on your company attributes & your individual leadership experience. If necessary, we can explore alternative publications that will fit your brand & ensure your voice reaches an audience aligned with your goals.

Q10: Do I retain the rights to the articles you write?

Yes. Your byline appears on every piece we write, & you maintain full usage rights for your website, social media, & portfolio.

Q11: Can I review or revise the article before it’s published?

Absolutely. We aim to minimize the amount of time you have to invest to review, but we welcome feedback & will make unlimited edits until you are satisfied that each article reflects your voice, ideas, & standards.

Strategy & Impact

Q12: How long before I see results from a thought leadership campaign?

With our full publishing and social media package, clients typically see significant traction—audience growth, improved search visibility, brand trust, & inbound opportunities—within 6–12 months. This can vary based on the KNG publishing package & client response rate.

Q13: What’s the difference between monthly and every-other-month publishing?

Monthly publishing accelerates audience engagement & authority. Every-other-month is slower-paced & better suited for leaders with existing active platforms or tighter time budgets.

Q14: What results should I expect from thought leadership content?

Expect increases in brand visibility, executive search rankings, media attention, employee engagement, lead generation, & speaking or board invitations.

Q15: Can this help me attract talent or position my company as a great place to work?

Yes. HR & DEI-focused articles are powerful recruitment tools. They demonstrate leadership, values, & forward-thinking policies, especially when compounded via LinkedIn content or a company newsletter.

Q16: How does publishing in major outlets compare to regular blog posting or LinkedIn updates?

A blog is a great way to publish thought leadership & start conversations, but by publishing in recognized media, you can borrow from their existing audience & brand authority. This allows you to build your own authority faster & lends credibility to everything else you publish, enhancing your reach & reputation.

Social Media & Newsletter Add-Ons

Q17: What’s included in the social media add-on package?

Our social media packages are primarily used as add-ons to one of our mainstream publishing options. With our standard package, we provide 3 custom posts per week on up to 2 platforms, as well as a monthly newsletter or blog to drive visibility, engagement, & your search results.

Q18: Can you coordinate with my internal social media or PR team?

Absolutely. We welcome collaboration & will adjust our strategy to fit within your existing communications & branding ecosystems.

Q19: What if I already have a strong social presence?

Perfect. A mainstream publication package will fast-track your social media growth, lend greater authority, faster, & open the door to new opportunities and influencer collaborations. We can also offer content strategy enhancements & tailored support to amplify your voice & align messaging.

Q20: Do I have to post on social media myself?

Not unless you want to. Not only do we provide ready-to-post content that sounds like you, we can even schedule it for you.

Q21: Can you help grow my LinkedIn presence?

Yes. LinkedIn is a critical channel for executive branding. Our strategies support follower growth, post engagement, & newsletter subscriptions over time.

With our combined background in HR, hospital care, & specialized executive content, we combine complex corporate strategy with voice & high-impact content. Our thought leadership campaigns tie directly to executive outcomes like visibility, authority, & business growth.

Our Process & Team

Q22: Who will I be working with at KNG Services?

You’ll meet our co-founders, Graceann & Kristin, during your consultation call. Kristin will be your primary contact. Graceann works largely behind-the-scenes with a small creative team specialized in executive voice & high-visibility publishing, & is available to join live article reviews & edits for more complicated topics.

Q23: What’s your background in HR & DEI content?

Kristin brings decades of HR leadership experience, particularly in hospital systems, and specializes in workforce culture and DEI storytelling. Graceann has ghostwritten 12+ books & thousands of executive articles on a range of business topics, including HR & DEI.

Q24: What makes your firm different from a typical PR agency or ghostwriting shop?

Q25: Is this service confidential? Will anyone know that you ghostwrote my article?

Your byline, your voice. We maintain strict confidentiality unless you invite us into the spotlight as collaborators.

Q26: How do you evaluate the success of a thought leadership campaign?

We track improvements in Google search visibility, article shares, & engagement on supplemental social content. With access to analytics, we can also report on audience growth, reach, & top-performing topics.

Q27: Can I pay through my company budget, and is that typical?

Yes—most of our clients pay through their company’s marketing, HR, or executive development budget. Companies often view thought leadership as a strategic investment in brand awareness, talent attraction, public trust, & positioning key leaders as visible, credible authorities.

Q28: How do I know this investment will be worth it?

Our most successful clients have used this strategy to:

drive media attention to themselves, their organization, or their message,
build trust with investors and employees, &;
position themselves for speaking, board, & consulting opportunities.

Still have questions?

Schedule a 30-minute call & we can get right into the nitty-gritty of your thought leadership campaign strategy.