5 Social Media Blogs on My Required Reading List

This week a colleague asked me what social media blogs she should be reading. She knows I strongly recommend reading and commenting on other blogs in your niche for a number of reasons. I had to think about it.

I don't read blogs that are specifically about social media and social marketing. Or at least I read very few that are ONLY about social media. The exception I think is Social Media Examiner.

I subscribe to and read a lot of blogs about online business and many address social media in the bigger context of doing business on the web. That includes blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email marketing, ecommerce, search engine optimization, and on and on. I follow many blogs on diverse topics by my colleagues and clients.

I decided to dive into my email and Google reader and see what social media blogs I'm subscribed to. I read a lot of stuff and decided to pick a few to recommend. Remember, this is just a few of the blogs I read. I HIGHLY recommend you do your own research and find those that resonate for YOU. While I'm happy to be a filter, you may prefer different emphasis on subjects, content and different writing styles. So, don't rely solely on me. Create your own recommended reading list as well.

5 Blogs I Recommend That Focus on Social Media and Online Marketing

Social Media Examiner - I'm a contributing author and this is one of the few blogs I read EVERY DAY. The quality of content is top notch and varied across the social media landscape.

Kikolani - I really enjoy Kristi Hines' style. She goes deep in her posts and shares a lot of useful tips and tutorials.

Problogger - No surprise here. Darren Rowse is among the very best and brightest and original when it comes to educating readers about blogging.

Paul Chaney (formerly The Social Media Handyman) - always insightful, Paul was an early inspiration for me when I first started blogging.

SocialMouths - published by Francisco Rosales, this blog offers common sense advice and tips about how to use social media.

As I prefaced, this is just a small glimpse at the blogs I read. There are so, so many more. To find a plethora of social media blogs and start your own recommended reading list, use AllTop to sort through by subject. Start here for social media blogs.

What's on your recommended reading list for social media blogs? I love to find new sources so please share links and why you like the blog in the comments.

Image by Shutterstock.

Comments

[Torrey]

I am a huge fan of Viperchill.com. The post aren't very frequent but are very comprehensive. I highly recommend it.

[Carol Roy]

Definately have to include Chris Garrett and Chris Brogan on this list. Guy Kawasaki and Mari Smith are also top favorites of mine. But you're right Denise, I never miss Social Media Examiner!

[Erno Hannink]

Thank you Kikolani and Paul Chaney were new to me and I was reminded again of SocialMouths.
There no blogs that I read daily anymore. I listen to the tips via Facebook and Twitter and read individual posts.

[larry melbourne]

Hi there, this is my first time visiting your site as i am new to all this blogging the info you give here is very useful and will defo return back cheers.

[Alease]

Thank you so much for the wonderful content. I bookmarked them all.

Thanks again,
Alease

[Jane Schneider]

Hi, Denise. Thanks for the recommendations. I will check them out. I was interested in the larger perspective you gave on the blogs you read. I am naturally more drawn to the major internet marketers blogs and read and comment there regularly. I have had two of them contact me back, which lead to my getting a product launch to a list of "10K very responsive" fans. I would describe this guy as having fans because he is so high profile. I also subscribe to Social Media Examiner, so read that every day. Thanks for the post! It helped me in more ways than one. Jane

[Geno]

Excellent list, Denise.

I'd also add Mashable there.

[Francisco Rosales]

Thank you very much Denise, it means a lot not just because you're including me in such good list but also because it's coming from you.

I also gotta say that your contribution on SME is in MY required list.

Have a great week!

[Elizabeth H. Cottrell]

Social Media Examiner and Problogger were already on my list, along with your blog, but I'm glad to know about the others. I really like Michael Martine's Remarkablogger site and everything by Laura Roeder, including her Dash email newsletter.

[Kristi]

Thanks for including me in this list! I'm a big fan of Francisco of Social Mouths and all of the authors on SME - especially loved your post about 19 ways to drive blog traffic a few months ago. Just found it again last night and was reminded of a few things I need to get going again on my own site. Paul is new to me, so I'm going to check out his site next.