Many marketers on Twitter are still relatively new to it, and like me have the challenge of needing to keep up-to-date across the whole of digital marketing.
So, I wrote this post at the start of 2009 to show who I think is really worthwhile following, i.e. there is a good signal to noise ratio focusing on insights which help me learn about the latest developments or best practice. I've updated it in 2010 to include others I now regularly follow.
My recommendations on who to follow are categorised across all the the different areas of online marketing shown in the diagram below based on who I have found useful to follow to keep me up-to-date, advance my knowledge. Generally I have just included real people rather than publishers or information sites that just push updates and don't interact.
I hope you find my tweets useful too! - I try to act as a filter for marketers who don't have so much time to spend in Twitter themselves to find the useful updates on digital marketing tips, tools, techniques and announcements. That's where I try to concentrate my Tweets.
In this latest update I have also included the relevant section in the Twitter user directory Wefollow - this will give you some ideas, but I find it 'hit and miss' - most of the Internet marketers I follow don't feature highly on these lists eventhough they are well known from books, blogs, conferences, etc. Maybe they are spending time working.
But I'm sure I'll be missing some useful specialists, so if you know someone you think will help me and others in keeping up-to-date, please let us know in the comments or through an @DaveChaffey message in Twitter. Alternatively check out this longer (100+) list of best digital marketers to follow on Twitter from Geno Prussakov
It's massive! The whole of marketing, online.
While many agencies and consultants operate in just one area, like search or email marketing, many client-side marketers and account managers at agencies need to know keep up-to-date across the whole of digital marketing
Since I consult, train or write across all of digital marketing, I also need to keep my life challenging by keeping up-to-date on all techniques in digital marketing that make a difference.
So there are lot's of specialists I like to keep up-to-date through about what's happening in search, email marketing, online PR, web design and conversion optimization, affiliate
Criteria for inclusion in my list
I follow a range of digital consultants, publications, agencies and vendors who tweet practical tips, examples and the latest developments.
That means I've missed many experts whose noise to signal ratio is too high for me, plus many publications who don't use Twitterfeed to syndicate their RSS - like many I spend a lot less time in my feed reader these days.
So finally, the list:
Of course, Seth Godin's blog is worth following for all marketers, but Seth doesn't "do Twitter".
Conversion optimization and customer engagement
I know this area well since you can't get anywhere with digital marketing unless you don't test, measure and optimize.
Jakob Nielsen of Useit.com isn't active on Twitter, but two of the main source I follow are:
These guys know a thing about online PR too - amongst the most popular on this list:
My friend and colleague Jonathan Gabay is also worth following via his Brand Forensics blog.
In my books we breakdown digital media to grow Reach and audience into six - these are the influencers in each:
1. Search Engine Marketing (SEO and PPC)
One of my specialist areas, so quite a few here:
So many, to chose from! Social media experts have been around on Twitter from the beginning. So I'll be selective
Thanks Phil at theredrocket.co.uk for recommending PR blogger's similar list for the UK PR industry
http://www.prblogger.com/2008/11/uk-pr-people-on-twitter/
"€¦which got loads of people asking to be added, so it morphed into a useful wiki on the subject
http://ukmediatweeple.pbwiki.com/FrontPage
3. Online partnership marketing (including affiliate marketing)
Not so active in affiliate marketing so thanks to @djbarker for recommendations. Have picked out those with the best signal for my preferences.
See also A4U Forum list of affiliate marketers to follow
Oops I'm missing anything here although I'm a member of IAB. Any thoughts?
Ogilvy have recommended their www.twitter.com/ogilvy which syndicates their blog postings across all media including advertising. WPP tweet next to nothing
5. Email marketing
Quite an active community here, another of my specialisms:
6. Viral marketing (and social media)
See Online PR.
By Dave Chaffey
Digital strategist Dr Dave Chaffey is co-founder and Content Director of online marketing training platform and publisher Smart Insights. 'Dr Dave' is known for his strategic, but practical, data-driven advice. He has trained and consulted with many business of all sizes in most sectors. These include large international B2B and B2C brands including 3M, BP, Barclaycard, Dell, Confused.com, HSBC, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, M&G Investment, Rentokil Initial, O2, Royal Canin (Mars Group) plus many smaller businesses. Dave is editor of the templates, guides and courses in our digital marketing resource library used by our Business members to plan, manage and optimize their marketing. Free members can access our free sample templates here. Dave is also keynote speaker, trainer and consultant who is author of 5 bestselling books on digital marketing including Digital Marketing Excellence and Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. In 2004 he was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as one of 50 marketing ‘gurus’ worldwide who have helped shape the future of marketing. My personal site, DaveChaffey.com, lists my latest Digital marketing and E-commerce books and support materials including a digital marketing glossary. Please connect on LinkedIn to receive updates or ask me a question.
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