We live in an ever-increasingly connected world. A decade ago, smart home devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) seemed more like something from “The Jetsons” than a part of everyday life. But today smart home appliances and devices aren’t just a reality; they’re quickly becoming coveted items among consumers. Experts estimate that the Internet of Things and smart home market will grow to about $1.6 trillion by 2025, according to Statista.
That underscores the extremely competitive nature of this growing market. For brands to stand out, marketers need to embrace smart strategies. One of which is undoubtedly influencer marketing, an effective way to increase brand awareness, boost engagement among consumers and, ultimately, help drive sales. To get the most out of it, you need to partner with the right influencers for your brand. We’ve gathered a list of seven of the top smart home and IoT influencers to help get you started.
Smart Home and IoT Influencers
- Dean Anthony Gratton (@grattonboy)
- Evan Kirstel (@evankirstel)
- Alain Regnier (@altolabs)
- Stacey Higginbotham (@gigastacey)
- Andy Stanford-Clark (@andysc)
- Megan Wollerton (@meganwollerton)
- Carolina Rudinschi, Ph.D. (@CRudinschi)
This technology futurist has been a leader in the field, leading the charge for clearing up tech hype in favor of facts and authoritative information. Dean Anthony Gratton is a software engineer in addition to working as a columnist and influencer. He has created prototypes and products for the IoT, smart homes and smart cities. His tweets and social media posts cover a range of tech topics ranging from Big Data’s capability to predict the future to breaking tech news and more.
In 2018, Brand24 named Evan Kirstel the fourth “Most Engaging Digital Marketer.” He works in the business-to-business area, helping big technology brands increase their visibility, reach and engagement. He has a background in tech and telecom sales, giving him a unique voice in the IoT, smart home and technology arena. He specializes in topics like IoT, smart homes, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Alain Regnier is a French entrepreneur who spent more than 10 years working for established tech companies and startups in Silicon Valley. He co-wrote several Connected Devices and Web Service standards. He also founded Alto Labs, a company that provides consulting services, an Idea Laboratory, and research and development for high tech products. Alto Labs has the distinction of being France’s Google Glass specialist. It also works with varying connected devices.
Regnier and Alto Labs are in the center of what’s happening with smart home and IoT devices around the globe. He co-founded Google Developer Group (GDG) Paris and GDG Cloud Paris.
She’s been in the technology field for more than 18 years, writing for publications like PCMag, Gigaom, Worth and Fortune. Stacey Higginbotham has since branched out to start her IoT-centered blog, Stacey on IoT, along with a weekly podcast that attracts thousands of listeners. She’s among the few female influencers in the field. She extensively covers smart home topics ranging from consumer tech to home assistance integrations to setting up secure IoT networks and more.
With a long, robust history working with the IoT, Andy Stanford-Clark brings practical know-how to the mix. Not only is he the CTO for IBM in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but he also has more than 40 patents. Stanford-Clark is a Master Inventor and IBM Distinguished Engineer who regularly shares IoT and other technology-related news with his followers.
She doesn’t have a huge following, but she does have the credentials and cache of being a senior writer at CNET. And like Stacey Higginbotham, she’s one of the few female voices in the field. Megan Wollerton has been writing about technology since 2013. Much of her writing centers around smart home devices, which is particularly useful for anyone interested in smart home products.
When it comes to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), it’s tough to find someone more in-the-know than Dr. Carolina Rudinschi. She co-founded digital media outlet, IIOT World, and authored a digital media book and partners with influencer programs from companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard. Rudinschi also plays a role in Siemens AG’s influencer program, encouraging the company to engage a global community. She also has unique real-world insights into how companies can position themselves to enhance the visibility of their projects or products. That’s born of her own experience working with influencer marketing programs.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg. Whether you’re looking for influencers with clout that comes from big-brand authority or influencers that resonate with unique voices, you’ve got lots of options. Finding the right influencer (or influencer) is the challenge.
After all, there are tons of smart home and IoT influencers out there, many of whom specialize in one specific area. For example, Angel Piontek (@angelpiontek) zeroes in on selling connected homes while others paint with broader strokes, covering more general topics related to connectivity.
Are you looking for influencers like these to increase the visibility of your smart home or IoT brand? Check out the largest influencer discovery marketplace for the fastest, most seamless way to connect with the perfect partners.
