Check Out These Don't Miss Marketing Blogs

EVAN CARMICHAEL

Why read a marketing blog when you have so many other resources for inspiration — and so much else to do?

There are several good reasons. Blogs are a quick and convenient way to stay on top of industry trends. With careful research, you can find the kind of information that you'd normally get only from professional consultants — without having to pay thousands in consultants' fees. Blogs get straight to the point, which is to give you the marketing tips and tools you need to move your business forward. As a bonus, they can make terrific links for your site's RSS feed.

Here are some of the top marketing blogs you should be keeping an eye on over the next year.

Duct Tape Marketing Blog
www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog

From marketing plans to podcasting to Facebook, veteran small business marketing coach John Jantsch covers a range of techniques, offering astoundingly practical advice, tips and tricks that entrepreneurs can implement today to see results tomorrow.

Seth Godin's Blog
www.sethgodin.typepad.com

Godin is author of 11 business books, including the most popular e-book ever, The Big Red Fez: How to Make any Web Site Better. His blog is a goldmine of advice on marketing techniques in the Internet age.

How to Change the World
www.blog.guykawasaki.com

Writing “a practical blog for impractical people,” venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki remains one of the most popular business bloggers out there. Kawasaki is tech-savvy and well connected, making his blog an interesting mix of inside news, technology trends and marketing behavior.

Marketing Sherpa
www.marketingsherpa.com/sherpablog.html

Using case study interviews with business executives, public surveys, lab tests and otherresources, Marketing Sherpa content director Anne Holland researches what works and what doesn't in all things marketing. The site is also home to many “best of” lists that do much of the work for the reader.

Marketing Profs
www.marketingprofs.com

What started in 2000 as a simple blog by marketing professor Allen Weiss has today turned into a fully staffed venture that provides marketing know-how and offers valuable B2B articles and event information.

Niche Marketing — Andy Beard
www.andybeard.eu

If you're running an online business, or are looking to start one, Andy Beard's blog will help you discover the tricks of the trade. He blogs on everything from Wordpress to niche marketing to affiliate marketing tips, and never without “loads of attitude.”

Copyblogger
www.copyblogger.com

Effective copywriting skills are often overlooked, but Brian Clark knows that they can make the difference between an online marketing campaign that bombs or one that soars. He's here to help you out.

Search Engine Roundtable
www.seroundtable.com

In this blog, edited by Barry Schwartz, a rotating roster of authors takes you through some of the most interesting and talked-about threads in search engine marketing forums. It's a fast way to keep up on some of the most anticipated trends and topics in search marketing.

Micro Persuasion
www.micropersuasion.com

Steve Rubel, a senior VP at one of the world's largest independent PR firms, takes you through some of the latest technologies and their transformative effect on marketing and communications.

Drew's Marketing Minute
www.drewsmarketingminute.com

With brief and to-the-point posts, Drew McLellan offers his practical marketing tips to help you understand and build a better brand for your business, and keep your customers coming back for more.