I read an unhealthy number of blogs each day searching for tips and tactics to share with you. This post is a compilation of the most successful blogs and strategies you can use to build a community of raving fans (and the sweat equity required to make it all happen).
Here’s a kick ass list of what the most creative bloggers are doing Online to promote their brand:
1. Conversation Agent
Killer blog content ideas and step by step guides for starting conversations Online.
2. Andy Senrovitz’s Damn I Wish I’d Thought of That
Unusual ideas for smart marketers (and an eye-popping color scheme).
3. DeepDishCreative
Melding smart, usable design with search optimized blog templates.
(Disclosure: Lara designed Social Media Commando using the Thesis Theme)
4. CopyBlogger
‘Online Marketing Success’ blog that delivers writing tips to light a fire under your readers.
5. Shoemoney
‘Skills to Pay the Bills’ – if you need Online Marketing advice (F-R-E-E) visit Jeremy’s site.
6. Duct Tape Marketing
Who says you need millions of dollars to be marketing savvy? Perfect for small businesses.
7. Hitwise Blog
Data is the difference for businesses and people who rely on trends – and Hitwise has it!
8. Logic + Emotion
Data is terrific, but you can’t really use it until you understand it. L+E breaks data down.
9. Dan Zarrella
Ever heard of a ‘Social Media Scientist’? Dan’s posts are scientifically proven not to suck.
10. Get Elastic – The Ecommerce Blog
Check out how marketers sell you (and stiff you) on the Web. Use the good, beware the bad!
11. AdGoodness
The best and worst global advertising. The worst ads teach you the most about branding.
12. Marketing Pilgrim
Andy Beal’s blog is fun to read and well designed. Spot the calls to action in the blog footers?
13. Chris Brogan
Failing to mention the Master is sacrilege. Chris is a thought provoking SocMed Evangelist.
14. SEOmoz
Rand’s site is one of my daily stomping grounds for Optimization tips. Quality free content.
15. Social Media Explorer
Jason Falls is a stud when it comes to posts that ‘Get beyond the [Social Media] Buzzword’.
16. Search Engine Land
Breaking Online Search. My first pit stop each day to learn what’s new on the Interwebs.
17. TechCrunch
Arrington’s blog is one of the first to market with Tech news. Notice the writing nuances?
18. Mashable
A blog topic/resource goldmine. Full of guest bloggers with new perspectives.
19. Smashing Magazine
Design is critical to building successful personal brands. Suck up all the knowledge you can!
20. ReadWriteWeb
RWW is Tech without the Trumpets. You can learn a lot from their stories and style.
21. Official Google Blog
I read the Goog to figure out how the Spin Machine will alter their ‘Official’ message.
22. icanhascheezburger.com
What can a website about cat pics teach you? How about using humor to build an audience.
23. TreeHugger
Blogging doesn’t have to involve selling product. Learn about ’selling’ a cause here.
24. Bits
I’ve been addicted to this NY Times blog for some time. Creatively delicious.
25. ProBlogger
ProBlogger is for hobbyists and professionals too. You’ve got questions, Darren has answers.
26. FAIL Blog
If you can create a powerful niche centered around one word = WIN.
27. Talking Points Memo
Start reading sites like TPM to learn the art of impactful Headlines.
28. Jalopnik
More than a car blog – a manual for community building (editable comments section?).
29. A List Apart
‘For People who Build Websites’. How to frame all that tasty content.
30. Boing Boing
A Directory of Wonderful Things (simple, wildly creative).
31. Lifehacker
Awesome download site ‘for getting things done’. Learn to work smarter.
32. Engadget
So fresh and so clean. Keep up on the latest tech toys and dig their simple design.
33. Dosh Dosh
Internet Marketing with a Twist (usable tips and dynamite concept…read it to learn more).
34. 43 Folders
Get the most creative work for every unit of time spent. Plus, the writing rocks.
35. How to Change the World
Guy Kawasaki lives here. ‘Nuff said.
36. John Chow
Got to admire his pitch and passion. Can you entice people to give you their email?
37. Gaping Void
Cartoons on the back of business cards…and thoughtful posts too.
38. ars technica
Analyzing tech trends – so you don’t have to.
39. Online Marketing Blog
More tips and lists about search engine marketing.
40. Zen Habits
Simplicity is the Highest form of Elegance
41. Crooks and Liars
Learn about the blogging business behind political dirt (great headlines too).
42. AdFreak
Ideas…Ideas…Ideas…
43. PSFK
News and Trends with an Artistic Twist.
44. Beth’s Blog
SocMed for Non-Profits (This is you…until you make a dollar Online).
45. Search Engine Journal
Like Search Engine Land…but different.
46. Web Ink Now
David Meerman Scott lets you into the world of a Social Media speaker/writer.
47. AdRants
Take a critical look at their advertising potshots, then apply the findings to your blog.
48. Personal Branding Blog
Dan is a non-stop interviewer and advice giver (Use his tips… I do).
49. AdAge
I still pick up a printed copy now and then to supplement the glossy content on the blog.
50. Branding Strategy Insider
Derrick and Brad’s site may seem focused on businesses, but its useful for personal blogs too.
51. Web Strategy by Jeremiah
Forrester researcher Jeremiah Owyang digs into the science of Social Media.
52. Yoast – Tweaking Websites
Do you use WordPress? Joost de Valk gives away massive amounts of fantastic Plug-Ins.
53. Marketing Profs Daily Fix
Damn I love this blog! Great design and killer advice for running an accountable, kick ass site.
54. Reel SEO
Video optimization. Videos with good production and solid tags/titles rank highly.
55. Small Business Search Marketing
Focusing on search marketing on a limited ad budget (we all need to advertise somehow).
56. PMG Creative
PR working with environmentally responsible brands. Good PR. Good People. Good Cause.
57. Candleblog
Bill Simmon, audio/video production stud, and the art of pop culture.
58. Fractals of Change
Tom coordinates federal stimulus dollars for the state of Vermont. See how a big job gets done.
59. Performancing
‘Helping Bloggers Succeed’.
60. Blogtrepreneur
Lists, links, and advice.
61. Sugarrae
A foul mouthed beauty who knows the WordPress Thesis Theme cold.
62. Scobleizer
Robert Scoble breaks a lot of Tech News before Google knows the scoop.
63. BuzzMachine
Jeff Jarvis, author of ‘What Would Google Do?’ stirs the journalism debate.
64. SEO Book
Tools and blog posts from Aaron Wall, an SEO icon. Start Ranking!
65. TwiTip
Helpful tips for Twitter users you can implement in an instant.
66. Zadi Diaz
Personal musings (and damn smart writing) from the Epic Fu host.
67. Epic Fu
New way of thinking about pop culture: Entertainment is a two way street.
68. Seth’s Blog
Seth Godin. Clean Blog + Understandable Concepts.
69. Radian 6
Use this blog as a guide to social media marketing and case studies.
70. Brand Autopsy
I like to read their brand dissections to learn about my own brand and strategy.
71. Lies, Damned Lies
Question everything, including analytics methods for tracking your blog success.
72. Web Trends Blog
A counterpoint to Lies, Damned Lies.
73. ijustine
This is a savvy brand builder. Geek. Beauty. Hyper. WIN.
74. Reflections of a Newsosaur
Learn from the challenges facing the Newspaper business.
75. Huffington Post
Shameless, over-the-top-promotion. Steal all the tips you can.
(P.S. It’s 12:17am but damned if I am not going to finish this post for you)
76. Driving Sales
Don’t get stuck inside your industry. Here’s what the car dealers are networking about.
77. Entrepreneurs Journey
Yaro has done what most of us long to do: Built and sold online businesses.
78. Dooce
I learn more from an ounce of Heathers inspired, no bull writing than just about anything.
79. Brand Flakes for Breakfast
An intelligent agency blog (from Plaid).
80. Web Analytics Demystified
Check out the Web Analytics Wednesday Meetup in your town (great networking opportunities).
81. Church of the Customer
I’m a fan of the blog message that word of mouth effects customer loyalty.
82. How to Make My Blog
Design and functional questions you have about blogging can usually be answered here.
83. Shannon Paul’s Very Official Blog
Besides an awesome name, Shannon is a SocMed agency stud and strategy trendsetter.
84. The Onion
America’s Finest News Source
85. TwitTV
Leo Laporte is a digital commando. Must watch for your streaming web show.
86. The Art of Nonconformity
Can bloggers change the world? Why not try?
87. Matt Cutts
Matt writes about Google (and staying on its good side) along with SEO tips.
88. SEO Chat
Do you like some variety for your SEO tips and advice? Use the methods displayed here.
89. Tip’d
On your blog search, you might want to consider some financial recon.
90. Blogstorm
Google, Conversion rates, and more…
91. The Social Media Marketing Blog
Scott Monty heads up Social Media for Ford Motor Company (and Tweets a bit as well).
92. Twitter … the Blog
Yes, Twitter DOES have an official blog.
93. PRsarahevans
Sarah is Communications Director at Elgin Community College in IL (and a Tweeting dynamo!).
94. PitchEngine
One of my new favorites, a site where PR meets Social Media distribution!
95. Gizmodo
Not only are there some cool gadgets here, you can replicate a bunch of them yourself.
96. Social Media in the Real World
My home for the 5,100+ tweets I share (with links included) that build your knowledge base.
97. Screenwerk
Greg Sterling is the Local/SMB master. Check his updates for news small biz can use.
98. PaidContent.org
The economics of content.
99. Stuff White People Like
Christian started this blog after a conversation with work buddies. Now he has a book in print.
100. YOUR BLOG.
Tweet the URL to your little piece of the Online universe by clicking the ‘Tweet’ button below. That way the Commando can learn more Guerrilla Tactics that Win the War against Online Irrelevance. In the meantime, Follow the Commando on Twitter…
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Joe,
Thanks so much for recommending the Radian6 blog! We’ve got a fresh new look coming this summer as well as tons more content, so please stay tuned.
Best,
Amber Naslund
Director of Community, Radian6
@ambercadabra
Thanks Amber,
Happy to recommend quality content from a good company.
Can’t wait to see the new look…
This is a must-read list, for sure Joe! Flattered to be in such good company. Looks like I have a LOT more reading to do…
Lara, you Rock!
What would SMC be without you?
Wow, I’m a stud? Cool. Good list. There are some winners in there.
Bill, of course you are a stud! Thanks for the comment man, I dig your writing and find nuggets of inspiration in your Tweets and video blogging.
Anybody who wants to learn the art and science of A/V needs to check out your blog pronto!
Commando, Great stuff. Do you think twitter is good for generating potential traffic or just hype? I noticed you have Twitter Blog. I will have to try it. BTW, I also agree with # 99. Take care.
Lorenzo Wallace
Hi Lorenzo,
Thanks for your comment. I know Twitter is great for generating traffic, but there’s a question you need to ask yourself before jumping in:
What are your goals for using the site? Do you want to ‘generate traffic’ or is there a more specific goal you want to achieve, like learning more about a new topic, making new friends, or starting conversations?
Make sure you use Twitter as a two-way conversation tool and you’ll be amazed at how powerful the site is for building traffic to your Online corner of the Universe.
Cheers,
Joe