Of course you are probably going to read more than five blogs on a regular basis, most of us do. Let's face it. We are addicted to information. But, just reading a few blogs is not exactly going to make anyone an expert on any subject. If you really want to be an expert on anything, you have to be constantly learning, and be willing to accept new concepts and ideas. There are some blogs that you really should be reading every single day. Twice a day in fact. These are blogs that are awesome for anyone who wants to run an online business, or bring their brick-and-mortar business into the Internet age. There are five of these particularly important blogs, which are:
Mashable (http://wwwmashable.com): This is an excellent blog covering everything that is anything about social media. If it is on the Internet, and it involves social media, you will find it here. You will find all of the information you ever wanted to know about all of the social media websites, and it is put forward in a way that is easy to read, informative, and entertaining. This great website was founded in 2005 by Pete Cashmore, and has 15 million page views every month.
Chris Brogan (http://www.chrisbrogan.com): This man is a true social media expert, and if you are not following his blog, you may be left in the dark. You won't find any nonsense or gobbledygook on this blog. Chris Brogan gives it to you straight, and delivers honest information that he has learned from his own Internet experiences. Chris Brogan knows what does and doesn't work when it comes to social media, and by reading his blogs, you can to.
Jay Baer's Convince and Convert (http://www.convinceandconvert.com): What is the most important thing for any business: Profits, and the only way to get profits is to get customers. Business owners must use all of their skills in order to find customers, and they must do it in a way that is honest, not promising anything that they can not deliver. Things are a little bit different when you use social media though, and Jay Baer's blog has the information you need to stay on top. He has really done his research, and knows what he is talking about. When you read this blog, you will be getting the practical advice you need about social media.
Jeremiah Owyang – Web Strategy (http://www.web-strategist.com/blog): This is a man who knows what to tell marketers to help them use social media to their advantage. A self-titled web strategist, and a partner of customer strategy at strategic consulting firm the Altimeter Group, Owyang has been researching since 1996, and provides information that is forthright and to the point, no fluff to try and wade through.
Scott Monty (http://www.scottmonty.com): This man is the head of social media for Ford Motor Company, and you can bet that he really knows his stuff. In his blog, you will find his own personal views on social media, and he explains social media, and how to really use it, based on his own experiences. This is a man who has helped change the mindset of other social marketing gurus, giving them new thoughts to consider about social media marketing. What is really cool is that he actually provides information on his blog about the things he does for Ford, so you are getting the same advice that one of the biggest auto manufacturers in the world is using. What could be better than that?
These are just five of the umpteen dozen other terrific websites that will provide you with all of the information you need to take advantage of social media for marketing your business. There are also some great websites and white papers that are published by some of the best in the business, so you will always have access to all the information you need.