A year and a half ago I met Steve Rubel at a panel discussion I blogged about: Beyond the Hype – Roadmap for Social Media’s Future. Steve is the Director of Insights for Edelman Digital, a division of Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm — Steve is very, very influential.
He was considered an A-List Blogger at the time. I told him that he was my role model, and I, too, wanted to be an A-List Blogger. Steve suggested that, instead, I should aim to be an A-List INFLUENCER.
So I’ve started to study “influence.”
Here’s a definition from the Free Online Dictionary:
in·flu·ence (
n
fl
–
ns) n.
1. A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort: relaxed under the influence of the music; the influence of television on modern life.
2. Power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position: used her parent’s influence to get the job.
3.
a. A person who exerts influence: My parents considered my friend to be a bad influence on me.
b. An effect or change produced by influence.
4.
a. A determining factor believed by some to affect individual tendencies and characteristics understood to be caused by the positions of the stars and planets at the time of one’s birth.
b. Factors believed to be caused by the changing positions of the stars and planets in relation to their positions at the time of one’s birth.
[from the FreeOnlineDictionary]
I wrote two articles on the topic: What’s wrong with the LIKE buttons? for my own blog and Popularity and Influence as they are Manifested in Social Media for CompuKol Communications.
Here’s the conclusion for the CompuKol post:
In the discussion or controversy or strategic planning around the concepts of popularity and influence, especially in this new world of business and marketing, one factor needs to be abundantly clear, and that stems from the intention to offer people products and services that can truly help them lead better lives as well as enhancing their business lives.
How can you improve your influence?
The main reason for this post is an article I just read by Chris Brogan, a very popular, productive, and influential blogger and strategist. Chris discussed five ways to improve your influence. Here is the list in brief:
1 – Start with a Solid Platform — Be Helpful
2 – Get Seen — Connect and Communicate
3 – Share the Spotlight — Talk about other people
4 – Working the Numbers — Encourage subscribers
5 – Influence isn’t Handed Over — Leverage new opportunities
Chris’s Conclusion:
Work on learning how to be most helpful to those in your segment of the universe that will grow your reach.
Click here to read Chris’s entire post
Are there subject areas where you believe you are an influencer? Please share your expertise and maybe we’ll be able to help you increase your reach.
Interesting stuff Shari, and it’s notable that sales of books on influencing skills appear to be on the increase. We published a book on influencing called Have it your way (about 18 months ago I think) and it outperformed every other book in our business category (bar one) in the period. Small sample I know but an influencing book outselling a sales book is new in my experience, so something is happening. If anyone in the group would like a free ebook of Have it your way feel free to contact my colleagure, Tim Moore, at tim@infideas.com and he will happily send you one.
Shari..thanks for this and for signposting us to Chris Brogan’s blog..showing your true influence.
I couldn’t agree more with all the sentiments expressed. Influence is all about giving free info and insights within your sphere of excellence… I’m an ‘expert’ in PR. I can’t bear it that so many smaller companies live without it because they can’t afford an agency. That’s why I love showing companies and individuals how they can do their own PR and really put themselves on the map.
There are loads of free tips and advice to be had from my website..and I also run a very active group on Linkedin (as you know shari..thanks for being such an active member)..
Companies “living without” PR and Social Media . . . we’ve got a Huge Challenge to find ways to let “those who need us” to truly understand WHAT exactly they are missing!
we all have influence over others and we all choose when and where to allow others to influence us. Expertise is a personal perception and claims of being an expert should be tempered with the ability and willingness to learn from other experts as well as the masses.
So, Randy, what categories are you most expert in?