Top 50 Social Media Blogs of 2011

By Evan Carmichael on August 30th, 2011

Social media is not just about setting up a page for your company on Facebook, or creating a personal profile on LinkedIn. Social media is reshaping business as usual, and determining new ways of reaching out to consumers that were never possible before.

The marketing and advertising industry has already been turned on its head by social media. If you want your company to ride this wave into the future, you need to get into the surf now!

Check out these Top 50 Social Media Blogs of 2011 and learn from the best in the field the tips and tricks you need to make sure your company is making its presence known.

You can see last year’s list here.

Social Media and Technology

Zee Kane, The Next Web

1) The Next Web

http://thenextweb.com/- In January 2008, The Next Web blog launched as a spin-off to the Next Web Conference in 2008. Over the last few years this site has grown into one of the world’s leading technology blogs. Led by Editor in Chief Zee Kane, the blog is currently ranked in the top 10 most influential blogs in the world according to Technorati.

2) ReadWriteWeb

http://www.readwriteweb.com/ - ReadWriteWeb is one of the most popular technology blogs in the world, known for offering insightful analysis about each day’s Internet industry news. Their readers are smart, tech savvy, engaged, decision makers; 46% have “significant input” or “make final information technology purchase decisions.”

3) Web Strategy

http://www.web-strategist.com/blog - As a Web Strategist, Jeremiah Owyang strives to deliver insight on disruptive technologies and their impact on how companies communicate with their customers. Since starting this blog in 2006, it has become recognized as a top analyst blog within the industry by Edelman’s Technobabble.

4) Enbeeone3

http://enbeeone3.com/- Enbeeone3.com is Nirajan Bom Malla’s personal blog , where he shares about technology related posts. Here you can find the latest reviews of websites/gadgets , Tips, Resources and How to’s on topics related to technology and business.

5) The Sociable

http://sociable.com/- Founded in September 2010, The Sociable is a progressive online publication focusing on technology news and analysis, as well as covering other topics such as social media.

6) Chris Brogan

http://chrisbrogan.com/- Chris Brogan consults and speaks professionally with Fortune 100 and 500 companies like PepsiCo, General Motors, Microsoft, and more, on the future of business communications, and social software technologies. His blog offers tips from his over 11 years experience in online community, social media, and related technologies.

Social Media 101

Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner

7) Social Media Examiner

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ - Social Media Examiner, the world’s largest online social media magazine, is designed to help businesses discover how to best use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn to connect with customers, generate more brand awareness and increase sales.

8) Social Media Explorer

http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/- Social Media Explorer is a leading platform for insights, opinion and learning around the world of social media marketing, online communications, conversational marketing, digital marketing, public relations, community building and branding. It is owned, co-authored and edited by Jason Falls, a leading educator, public speaker and thinker in the world of digital marketing and social media.

9) Brian Solis

http://www.briansolis.com/- Brian Solis is globally recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, Solis has studied and influenced the effects of emerging media on business, marketing, publishing, and culture. His blog is a good industry reference guide for businesses to build and measure success in the social web.

10) SocialMedia.Biz

http://www.socialmedia.biz/- Socialmedia.biz provides consulting, creates social media strategies and runs campaigns for major brands and mid-size companies. Since 2004, their world-class team of experts has been helping companies become social businesses. Get all of their tips here!

11) Soshable

http://soshable.com/- According to the folks behind Soshable, every day another innovative use or important application emerges that can change lives from the most minute detail up to influencing the events of the world. Their goal is to analyze these things and offer a fresh insight into the structures and people that drive the engagements.

12) Smedio

http://smedio.com/- Founded in January 2010, Smedio is the new media and social web guide for businesses and marketers. Their aim is to continuously define the business value of new media and the social web by equiping you with the needed insight and innovative ideas to help your business grow even more, using technology, new media, and the social web by bringing you useful breaking news, latest trends and techniques that you can use immediately.

13) We Are Social

http://wearesocial.net/- We Are Social is a new kind of agency, but conversations between people are nothing new. Neither is the idea that ‘markets are conversations’. They help brands to listen, understand and engage in conversations in social media.

14) Convince & Convert

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/- Blogger Jay Baer is a hype-free social media and content strategist and speaker. His company – Convince & Convert – works with companies to build integrated, measurable social and content programs. He’s worked with more than 700 brands since 1994. Follow his blog to let him help you too!

15) Chris Pirillo

http://chris.pirillo.com/- Chris Pirillo is a self-proclaimed Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Chris Pirillo has been participating in Internet conversations since 1992. See everything that he’s learned here!

16) Kyle Lacy

http://kylelacy.com/- Kyle Lacy has quickly built a reputation for an excellent in-depth understanding of the application of social and digital media for businesses and organizations. Recognized both locally and globally for his knowledge of social media, he has currently trained over 175 companies and organizations across the world. This is his personal blog.

17) Social Media Influence

http://socialmediainfluence.com/- Social Media Influence provides intelligence and analysis for business professionals looking to understand and navigate the ever-evolving world of online communication. Social Media Influence runs one of the longest-established social media conferences, publishes industry reports and best practice white papers for social media practitioners as well as providing social media training and consultancy.

18) Social Media Club

http://www.socialmediaclub.org/- Chris Heuer and Kristie Wells started Social Media Club in March 2006 to host conversations around the globe that explore key issues facing our society as technologies transform the way we connect, communicate, collaborate and relate to each other. Social Media Club’s primary mission is to expand digital media literacy, promote standard technologies, encourage ethical behavior and share best practices.

19) Social Media Blog

http://www.britopian.com/- This Social Media Blog offers insights into social business and real time community engagement. Blogger Michael Brito believes that marketing can be evil at times; but if done right, it can drive customer loyalty and brand advocacy. He also believes that marketers and communication professionals need to spend more time listening and taking action – less time talking. Listen in here!

20) Stowe Boyd

http://www.stoweboyd.com/- Stowe Boyd is an internationally recognized authority on social tools and their impact on media, business, and society. He is best known for his commentary on the social revolution at www.stoweboyd.com, and his public speaking on his research on work media, social business, the social web, publicy, social cognition, and networked identity.

21) Develop Socially

http://www.developsocially.com/- There is a lot of talk about the ‘theory’ of social media and if it’s going to stick around. Samantha Collier and Justin Brackett are in the school of thought that it’s already main stream and that it’s not going anywhere. They created this website with the hopes of it becoming one central place to discuss how real people and businesses are using social media. They want to give you the tools necessary to actually start using social media instead of convincing you it’s necessary.

22) Brendan Cooper

http://brendancooper.com/- Brendan Cooper is a social media strategist who helps clients win business, win awards and talk to people through compelling, direct, dynamic copy and social media strategy. He has been helping people to communicate, online and offline, for over fifteen years. His personal blogs offers his lessons and advice from those years of experience.

23) Socialize Me

http://www.lbenitez.com/- Luis Benitez is a Social Software Product Manager at IBM and an Social Business/Enterprise 2.0 enthusiast who simply loves the whole concept of innovating. He helps companies understand and implement Enterprise 2.0/Social Business solutions all over the world.

Industry Insights

Daniel Roth, The LinkedIn Blog

24) The LinkedIn Blog

http://blog.linkedin.com/- Editor Daniel Roth manages this blog that offers industry insights from one of the biggest social media players around, LinkedIn.

25) Conversation Agent

http://www.conversationagent.com/- Business strategist and blogger Valeria Maltoni is an in-demand speaker at conferences and organizations. Valeria interacts with audiences on business topics: From the fundamentals of building long-lasting customer relationships and influence, to the latest trends in using social media.

26) Neville Hobson

http://www.nevillehobson.com/- NevilleHobson.com is at the intersection of business, communication and technology. Sometimes, it’s a collision. Neville is a communicator, blogger and podcaster based in the UK, who is also an entrepreneur, early adopter (and leaver) and experimenter with digital technologies; and an occasional test pilot of shiny new objects.

Social Media and Marketing

Danny Brown

27) Danny Brown

http://dannybrown.me/ – This blog talks about everything from social media, PR and marketing to making the most of the various online tools and communities. It’s aimed at everyone.

28) TopRank Blog

http://www.toprankblog.com/- TopRank Online Marketing is a digital marketing agency founded by Lee Odden and Susan Misukanis that helps companies increase sales, brand visibility online and develop better customer engagement. They specialize in content based customer acquisition and relationship programs that emphasize social media marketing, search engine optimization and email marketing. Get all of their tips here!

29) Buzzom

http://buzzom.com/ – Buzzom is a platform to explore and share the what, why and how of social media marketing. Get insight into latest social media trends, get tips on using social media tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and learn from experts about what it takes to build a buzz around your brand.

30) SmartBlog on Social Media

http://smartblogs.com/socialmedia- This SmartBlog on Social Media offers best practices and case studies on social media marketing for businesses.

31) Pam Moore

http://www.pammarketingnut.com/ - Pam Moore is a social media and marketing speaker, author, coach, trainer and consultant. She helps business leaders find their passion and use it to inspire and connect with target audiences to nurture authentic customer relationships with relevant communications and innovative, integrated marketing tactics that fuel business growth and sustainability. This is her personal blog.

32) F.A.D.S.

http://www.spinsucks.com/ - The team at Arment Dietrich manages this blog to provide expert information and advice on current issues and trends surrounding marketing, communication, social media, entrepreneurship, search engine optimization, and advertising.

33) The Future Buzz

http://thefuturebuzz.com/ - The Future Buzz is a blog about web marketing/PR strategies, spreading buzz in the social web and building long-term visibility for your brand, business, and art in a fragmented media society. Bloggers, marketers, freelance writers, entrepreneurs, artists, small business owners and public relations professionals will all benefit from the content here.

34) Diva Marketing

http://bloombergmarketing.blogs.com/ - Diva Marketing offers an approach to marketing that’s fun, bold and savvy…but always strategically aligned with your brand’s perspective.

35) PR-Squared

http://pr-squared.com/- Blogger Todd Defren is recognized globally as a Social Media & Public Relations innovator, thinker and lecturer. PR-Squared is routinely among the top 20 blogs on AdAge’s Power150.

36) Progressive Media Concepts

http://progressivemediaconcepts.com/blog/- Progressive Media Concepts offers a wide variety of social media services for small to medium-sized businesses. PMC works with companies to design a social media campaigns that best fits their goals. Find all of their advice here!

37) Blog Cubed

http://www.smcubedconsulting.com/- SM Cubed consulting is a professional and experienced social media firm that focuses on building business through building relationships. Find all of their tips on maximizing your social media here.

Social Media News

Pete Cashmore, Mashable!

38) Mashable!

http://mashable.com/ - Mashable is the largest independent news source dedicated to covering digital culture, social media and technology. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world.

39) Social Times

http://www.socialtimes.com/ - Social Times offers all of the latest up to the minute social media news.

40) The FASTForward Blog

http://www.fastforwardblog.com/- The FASTForward Blog is an Enterprise 2.0 Blog. It offers news, coverage & commentary on all things social media.

41) Online Social Media

http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/- Online Social Media was started with the specific aim to provide readers with news focused exclusively on Social Media, and Web 2.0 technology. They report on new Social Media services and Web sites, publish breaking news and offer social media guides and resources.

42) Fastgush

http://fastgush.com/- Started in April 2010 with the sole purpose of providing readers with the social media news, Fastgush has emerged as one of the leading source of information on social media. The blog writes about social networking sites, social media startups, social media marketing and social media trends.

Social Media At Work

Jackie Cohen, All Facebook

43) All Facebook

http://www.allfacebook.com/ – AllFacebook.com launched in May, 2007. The blog covers Facebook and everyone who uses it, both individuals and companies; they provide advice, news and analysis.

44) Inside Facebook

http://www.insidefacebook.com/- Inside Facebook is the leading source of news and analysis on Facebook’s global growth, corporate developments, and product innovations. Inside Facebook provides daily news and analysis for developers, marketers, and investors.

Blogging For Business

Darren Rowse, ProBlogger

45) ProBlogger

http://www.problogger.net/ - Veteran Blogger Darren Rowse is the man behind ProBlogger, a blog that helps bloggers to add income streams to their blogs.

46) CopyBlogger

http://www.copyblogger.com/ - People want valuable online content, so compelling content becomes your advertising. Delivering quality online content is the smartest strategy for growing an authoritative website and your business, so it’s your copywriting and content marketing skills that will set you apart for success. Copyblogger is all about helping you do just that!

47) Shoutmeloud

http://www.shoutmeloud.com/ - Shoutmeloud is a community blog that primarily focuses on Blogging, Making Money Online, WordPress, Affiliate marketing, Web 2.0, Internet tools and Search Engine Optimization.

48) For Bloggers, By Bloggers

http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/ - At For Bloggers, By Bloggers you’ll find some of the best blogging tips online to help you with your blogging needs. It can be hard to stand out – and that’s why For Bloggers, By Bloggers and their own resource of blogging tips was born.

49) Blogging PRWeb

http://www.bloggingprweb.com/ – Blogging PRWeb is a service to help keep customers, partners and friends informed about the latest PRWeb developments. The focus of this blog is on new product features and services.

50) Kikolani

http://kikolani.com/ - Kikolani is about the art of blogging – blogging tips, social networking strategies, and other useful information to help bloggers become more successful in blogging.