FOLLOW FRIDAY: 12 Social Media Blogs You Can’t Live Without

Well maybe you can live without them, but you definitely can’t stay ahead of the game without them!  Here at BrandYourself we love pointing out other bloggers that have influenced us and who we think will bring value to our blog and to our readers.  Our recommendation: get an RSS aggregator (Google Reader, Net News Wire, etc.) add these guys to your subscription list, and READ.  When I get into work at 9 I usually try to spend about half an hour checking my RSS aggregator to see what’s going on in our industry and just to stay up to date.  Honestly, doing this has given me more relevant information than reading the newspaper!

So here are 12 blogs to start off your list: from making your first Twitter handle to developing a killer Facebook strategy, these 12 blogs will be invaluable resources.

1. Almost Savvy

If you truly have no idea where to begin with social media, reading this blog should be your first step. Irene Koehler will guide you through the world of social media with helpful tips and thorough advice pieces.

See: 8 Tips: How to Choose the Right Profile Photo

2. Brian Solis

Brian’s blog is part of the marketing niche, but he has strong social media ties and writes insightful articles on everything from musing pieces on generational issues to the best ways to win a customer for life.

See: @ is the Universal Sign of Engagement

3. Social Media Influence

Aside from consulting and conferences, this blog offers the most up-to-date changes in the world of social media, and how you can use them to your advantage. When new versions of Twitter or Facebook are released, you can count on Social Media Influence for all the info!

See: The Most Tricky of Conversions: Turning Facebook Fans into Customers

4. Danny Brown

Danny Brown is an experienced marketing expert, and his blog is all about the social side of marketing and PR. His articles are short but succinct, and his insights on the various social media outlets really get you thinking.

See: 9 Points on Why I’m Not a Social Media Expert

5. Windmill Networking

Neal Schaffer’s blog consists of mostly advice and opinion pieces, which are often tied into current events or other news developments in the social media world. His take on topics is truly eye-opening.

See: Why I Blog, and You (and Your Business) Should too!

6. Michael Durwin

Another seasoned social media expert, Michael Durwin provides interesting content on the newest and most innovative social marketing strategies. He can change your mind about things you thought you were concrete on in one short article!

See: If You’re Not on Page #1, You’re Nowhere: Google Users Don’t Click Next

7. Chris Brogan

Chris is a contributing columnist for Entrepreneur magazine and best-selling co-author. His acclaimed blog is anything and everything social media.

See: The Biggest Secret of Social Media

8. OneForty

Twitter is OneForty’s area of expertise- but their blog covers every aspect of social media in how-to’s reviews, advice, and new pieces. This blog is a must-see for anyone with an internet connection.

See: The New Social Media Revolution

9. Social Media Informer

The Social Media Informer is a blog that does all the hard work for you: they compile all the best social media content on the web into a neat, information-packed daily newsletter. If you’re looking for a compact round-up of all the social media news, SMI is your blog!

10.  Media Badger

Media Badger’s digital media consulting clients include government entities, NGO’s, and nonprofits. Their social media blog is resourceful, intriguing, and current.

See: The Painful Truths of Social Media

11. Social Media Today

One of the cool things about Social Media Today is that they allow you to contribute your own blog posts, and integrate yourself in their community. In addition to the usual articles concerning social media, SMT often posts about issues concerning social media users.

See: Facebook for People Who Hate Facebook

12. We Are Social

Based in the UK,  We Are Social’s blog takes the fundamentals of what makes us human and reflects it on all aspects of social media today. Their articles are original and often include helpful infographics.

See: Google’s Social Play: The Google+ Project

We hope you get as much enjoyment/information from these blogs as we have, don’t forget to let us know about any that we might have missed in the comment section below!