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The power of IoT Influencers

Francisco Maroto

When I started my venture in solitary four years ago as an independent Internet of Things (IoT) Advisor, one of the goals I set was to get a great reputation and personal brand in the IoT world and to become a reputed Influencer. I have worked very hard to achieve this, although it would have been much easier if I had chosen to work for a big company, reputed analyst firm or tech web journal.

This is part of a series of post:

I returned from the IoTSWC in Barcelona and it is three weeks since I attended the Hitachi Next event in Las Vegas. Although they are not comparable it called my attention the importance that Hitachi gave to the Influencers and the little value that Fira Barcelona and the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) gives them. Something to correct next year.

What is an IoT influencer?

Influencers are individuals who have the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of their (real or perceived) authority, knowledge, position, or relationship.

IoT Influencers share what’s in store for the Internet of Things. They keep you up to date with the latest IoT news and discussions and get interesting viewpoints and expert analysis on IoT developments. Unfortunately, not all IoT influencers are experts.

Who can be an IoT influencer

In principle, almost anyone with an important number of contacts or followers in social networks. IoT influencers come in many flavors, each wrestling with challenges unique to their own situation or company, and the imperatives of their particular industry.

IoT influencers have one thing in common:  They’re embracing social media to ask questions, engage in conversations, and share what interests them “ so you can do your job better. That means if you want to get inside the head of the people leading up efforts to create Smart connected IoT products and services– Taking a look at how we use social media is a great place to start.

Here are some examples that act as IoT influencers:

Lists and more Lists of IoT Influencers

In 2015, these were 10 Internet of Things Influencers You Need to Know . Also in 2015, Evan Escobedo in Internet of Things (IoT) Influencers Across Social Media identified influencers by running 224,710 IoT tweets through an algorithm built to specifically filter out tweets from non-influencers and businesses. Using their web analytics platform iWeSocial IQ, the research team collected data from individuals with over 1,000 Twitter followers plus having a high impact score. As a result, they identify 14,632 influential tweets about IoT from November 1st, 2014 to January 31st, 2015 that met these criteria. The results presented an opportunity and a challenge for the big players to fight for relevancy in the battle for IoT dominance

in 2016 these were 16 IoT Influencers You Need to Follow

in 2017, Onalytica  “ 2017 “ Top 100 IoT influencers and brands “ The company looked at all the individuals engaging on Twitter to bring us a list of the top 100 most influential individuals in the IoT landscape.

Altitude “ Leadtail  “ 257 IoT Thought Leaders And Who Influences Them

Relayr “ Top 30 IoT Influencers of 2017

GearBrain has launched the first IoT Influencer Network to address consumer needs and leverage the expertise of IoT experts to educate them, so they have the confidence to buy these new connected devices and services. These experts have many subscribers on YouTube and other social media outlets.

Postcapes “ IoT Top Blogs and Influencers ” The world’s top blogs and people creating and tracking the IoT.

However, these lists don’t mean necessarily that they are the most influential. To determine specific influence, many organizations have looked at companies, vendors, press, analysts and other individuals and applied various metrics to come up with top influencer lists

Who are the Top IoT Influencers I am reaching?

In the IoT market, sometimes it’s hard to identify exactly who you should try to engage in a relevant conversation. However, there are several individuals and companies rising to the top regarding IoT influencers to watch/talk/meet/follow.

I engage with several IoT Influencers whose opinions help me to gain a foothold in the IoT market. As you can imagine, I also have my list of influencers. But of course, I cannot reveal it here, because I’m sure it would displease more than one friend.

What is the power of IoT influencers?

By comparing IoT independent influencers with the critics of movies-tv-art-restoration, I wonder what we lack to acquire that recognition and earn that money for our work?. If I recommend an IoT product, a company or share the articles of IoT executives we are generating leads an opinion that is supposed to increase or reduce its sales, its stock market value or its prestige?

Companies adore us to get our Likes and Shares. Event organizers use us as a demand to increase the number of attendees. We make presentations, moderate panels, write articles all for the prestige and future opportunities and sometimes you get paid the flight and hotel expenses.  We have power, but how to use it and how to monetize it are different issues.

IoT influencers (Executives of big companies or successful startups or reputed Analyst firms) by dragging their co-workers. Their power is conditioned by the company reputation and role.

What if the influencers did not limit themselves to increasing their followers by publishing replays of news or personal blogs to evangelize for free while they find work? What would happen if we spread bad reviews of companies, products or executives? Could the power of our social networks cause companies to lower their stock market value or their product be retired or sacked their leading tyrants?

I think we are not aware of the power we have. It will be enough that one of us to cross the road and the impact of our experience, knowledge and relevance will become a reality.

What are IoT Influencers doing for a living?

The lucky ones who are employed receive their salary and perhaps promotions. But independent freelance consultants have to squeeze their brains to monetize their time and effort. We must answer tens of messages daily from thousands of followers, read articles, follow other influencers, follow companies. It is exhausting yet morally you are bound to do so. Because for that you are an IoT Influencer.

Despite the high self-esteem generated by being read by thousands of people, receiving hundreds of Likes and Shares, you must go down to earth and look for models that capitalize your value.

Key Takeaway

With the internet and especially with social networks appeared a new figure, the Influencers. The technological world did not escape this wave and with the hype of the Internet of Things “ the IoT Influencers emerged.

IoT influencers are not synonymous of IoT experts, but we all pursue the same goals prestige & recognition to monetize our social media influence.

Despite the high self-esteem what causes us being read and followed by thousands of people, of receiving hundreds of Likes and Shares, we have to go down to earth and look for models that capitalize our value.

We have power, maybe not super-power, but we need to learn how to use it to monetize our services as IoT influencers.

Thanks in advance for your Likes and Shares.

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