It’s that time of year again. Time to decide which industry analysts called the shots, gave the answers, and made the time often enough to earn an IT research and advisory contract for 2007. My advice to analysts this year: publish proof points showing your accuracy, timeliness, objectivity, engagement. Put forward some well researched — not just well rehearsed — reasons for us to believe.

Analyst bashups, in general, are nothing new. Historically, the most damage was done by competitive sales teams and word of mouth — the kind of thing you find in any industry. A few journalists would take the time to sleuth planned budgets or controversial practices, and that was pretty much the extent of it.

Blogs have changed the old analyst bashups. More people than ever are publishing anecdotes about smart and not-so-smart analyst opinions, research, forecasts.
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One of the top ten Google results for “industry analyst” is a Wikipedia page. The Wikipedia entry is something that you’ll want to watch, if you’re an analyst or an analyst relations professional. Per Steve Rubel’s background on AdAge, “This is your brand, this is your brand on Wikipedia …” Or in this case, your brand and your profession on Wikipedia…

I added quite a bit of content to the Industry Analyst page, which you can un-do, of course. My adds include a section on “integrity and transparency issues”, in keeping with my interpretation of Wikipedia neutrality (both sides of the story).

If you want to contribute to the industry analyst or analyst relations pages, here are the direct links: Industry analyst, analyst relations. Plus there’s another page containing a mixed list of research/advisory/consulting companies.

Over at the Tekrati analyst firms directory, you can use a 5-star system to rate industry analyst companies. Give 4 or 5 stars to firms that rock, and fewer stars to those that do not. No registration required. Just roll and click.

In case you’re wondering, I have not rated any firms. Tempted, though. Very tempted.

Let me know what you think.