Chapter 05Thought leaders

Digital PR for thought leaders with a message worth spreading

Ace Branding builds its digital PR packages for impact driven thought leaders first, then for the entrepreneurs and businesses they often lead.

Ace Branding's mission is to serve those who serve others by amplifying the voices of impact driven thought leaders. For a thought leader, credibility is checked online before anyone books a talk, hires a consultant or buys a program. Press features, podcast tours and TV appearances give those searches something credible to find.

Last updated: November 2026Published by Ace Branding

Why should a thought leader invest in digital PR?

Because people research you before they trust you. Ace Branding cites an Ad Week figure that 81% of consumers conduct online research before making buying decisions.

Media features act as third party validation of your expertise, and approved drafts mean that validation says what you want it to say.

Panel 01Numbers

Founder proof point

Largest audience Luke Hessler has spoken to: 10,000
Outlets named in his coverageForbes, Yahoo Finance, IBTimes: 3

From Ace Branding's founder biography, as of November 2026.

Panel 02 / Definition

What does thought leadership PR mean?

Panel 02Definition

Thought leadership PR at Ace Branding

Thought leadership PR is digital PR focused on a person's ideas and expertise rather than a product launch. At Ace Branding it starts with the Blueprint, defining your core message, who your ideal audience is and how you will capture their attention. Then press features, podcast tours and TV appearances carry that message to new audiences, and Reputation to Revenue Consulting helps turn the attention into opportunities.

Panel 03Founder

A product of the product

Ace Branding's founder and CEO, Luke Hessler, started his first online business at 19 with a $600 loan and built a personal brand on social media. His story has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance and IBTimes, and he has shared stages with Gary Vee, Robert Kiyosaki and Grant Cardone. The firm describes him as a product of its product.

Goals

What thought leaders typically want from a digital PR package

To be known. More awareness brings more speaking invitations, leads and people helped.
To be trusted. Ace Branding links credibility to a shorter sales cycle and standing out from competitors.
To control the narrative. Approved press features and a managed Google reputation shape what people see when they search your name.
To turn reputation into revenue.That is the purpose of Ace Branding's Reputation to Revenue Consulting.

Entrepreneurs and businesses use the same services. A business may lean on regional TV for local markets, while a thought leader often starts with press features and a podcast tour. See the digital PR packages overview for how they combine.

Panel 04 / Case notes

What have Ace Branding clients reported after their features?

Rabu Gary
Individual
27full features
Outlets included
Forbes, USA Today, LA Times, Success Magazine
Reported outcome
Qualified him for social media verification and helped grow his business by over 200%.
UIGISC
Community
30full features
Outlets included
Forbes, USA Today, Nasdaq, Maxim
Reported outcome
Helped the group grow from 100,000 members to over 300,000 members globally.
Good Ranchers
Business
19full features
Outlets included
Forbes, USA Today, Men’s Journal, Success Magazine
Reported outcome
Featured in 19 major media outlets.

Case notes summarize case studies published by Ace Branding on acebranding.com/case-studies. Results are Ace Branding's own reported figures, not an independent audit.

Field notes

Thought leader PR: quick answers

Why should a thought leader invest in digital PR?: Because credibility is usually checked online before anyone books you, hires you or buys from you. In one Ace Branding case study, Rabu Gary was featured in 27 outlets including Forbes, USA Today and the LA Times, which helped qualify him for social media verification and grow his business by over 200%.
Who are Ace Branding’s PR packages for?: They are built for impact driven thought leaders first, along with entrepreneurs and businesses. Ace Branding’s mission is to serve those who serve others by amplifying their voices. Typical goals include becoming more known, building authority in an industry, shortening the sales cycle and controlling what appears when someone searches your name.
What topics will my press features cover?: Your articles cover the topics you want to discuss, built from your own story. Ace Branding states the goal is not simply to see your name in a headline; each article should provide value to the reader. Thought leaders often center features on their expertise, their mission and the lessons behind their work.
What is the Blueprint step in Ace Branding’s process?: Blueprint is the first of Ace Branding’s 3 B’s of Branding and means defining your core message. The firm compares it to building a house: before you build a strong brand, you need a clear strategy covering who you are, who your ideal audience is and how you will capture their attention.
What is Reputation to Revenue Consulting?: It is Ace Branding’s consulting service for turning credibility into business growth. Through strategic guidance and tailored solutions, the firm helps clients use their reputation to attract new opportunities, build customer loyalty and drive revenue. Ace Branding lists it as something traditional PR firms typically do not offer.
What is Ace Branding’s track record?: Ace Branding’s site states 12 years of experience, 1,523 clients served, 4,773 articles published and 100M+ podcast reach, as of November 2026. Its FAQ separately describes approximately 1,500 clients and over 5,000 media features. Its founder, Luke Hessler, has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance and IBTimes.
Can Ace Branding provide references?: Yes. Ace Branding states it is happy to provide references from previous clients, with before and after examples and detailed case studies. Companies it lists as served include Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Haimov Jewelers, Good Ranchers, Family First Life, UIGI Social Club, Ozzy Tyres and The Founders Law.

Read all 47 answers in the digital PR FAQ

A thought leader with a story to tell?

Contact Ace Branding to book a free, no obligation 15 minute discovery call. You will talk through your goals and which mix of press features, podcast tours and regional TV fits your message.

Contact Ace Branding