I recently read a post that dubbed me a pioneer, something that made me uncomfortable as I have only been blogging now for three years (original photo taken this weekend at the Cherry Blossom Festival). There were many that came before me that are still doing it… True pioneers. Let’s highlight some of these bright communicators in what can only be called a very subjective list.
Toby Bloomberg (on Twitter): The Diva marketing blogger was the first major blogger to shed some light on this blog. She served as a blog mentor of sorts when I was getting started, and still delivers great content and insights five years into her effort.
Brian Solis (on Twitter): Brian is at the forefront of the PR 2.0 movement and can only be deemed an A-Lister these days. But back before he hit it big time, he helped me out with a great interview and Now Is Gone. Brian still writes great blog posts regularly!
Kami Huyse (on Twitter): A no nonsense communicator, Kami keeps it real, always focused on the profession of communicating, and then how these tools may impact us. Kami is one sharp cookie, and she’s a mom of three, and she practices, too. A true winner in my book (and a great friend), Kami started when I did, but was influential for me right out of the gate.
John Moore (on Twitter): I finally met Brand Autopsy author John Moore at SxSW. I’ve been reading him for years now, and he’s just darn brilliant. Always a good read, quirky, and definitely an old-school blogger. Lot’s of great insights and takes on marketing here.
Liz Strauss (on Twitter): Talk about an original blogger, does it get any more original than Liz Strauss, author of the Successful Outstanding Blog and founder of SOBCON. I think not. Again, another blogger who still stands and delivers, and in Liz’s case, more than most.
Richard Becker (on Twitter): This man is a great conversationalist, a great communicator, and quite frankly is not into the popularity game we see online. What I like about Richard is his challenging blog. He makes you think, he pushes the envelope, and like Kami, gets down to the business of communicating.
OK, there are many more, but you get the point. There are many great bloggers who have been around for a long time – some popular, some not – all of them great in their own right, pioneering and shaping this blogger’s mind and outlook. My thanks to all of them for shining in their own special ways.
Thanks for the list. Some cool people here who I haven’t heard of before. I’ll make sure to check them all out!
Geoff, thank you for everything. I hold you in the highest regard and look forward to rocking together again very soon!
Keep shaking things up!
I count as “many more”?! Sigh. Sooo close to victory! ;)
Geoff — count me as the lucky one to have discovered you before you became a social media icon ;-) Seriously, love what you’re doing in social media and looking forward to your next book. Thanks for your kind words.
An original, huh? Thank you! I’m working on getting there.
You inspire me to keep going. I’m lucky to know you. I’m watching how you do make the magic happen. I catch on quickly so hang on!!
“Stands and delivers” Wow! I so value those words.
@Todd I’m sorry, bro. I ran out of time this morning! You were in my thoughts.
No worries, my man. I’m gonna take it as a sign that I haven’t linked out to *your* most worthy & wunnerful blog lately!
Thanks for bringing in the ingredient that is often missing today: relevance.
Don’t just list a bunch of people. Tell me WHY they are important to you, and what you can learn from them.
This is my beef with FollowFriday on Twitter, which is really nothing more than the blogroll for a microblog without a sidebar. There’s no context. It’s nothing more than a shout-out, and often comes with unseen expectations for reciprocity. It’s blogrolling all over again, only now instead of “set it and forget it” you have to type the damned things each time!
to borrow a line from KRS-ONE … “Nobody is from the old school because blogging as a whole, isn’t all that old.”
(I jump at the chance to weave in hip-hop references from the 80s. Opportunities as such rarely pop up on my blog.)
Thanks for the shout-out Geoff. Nice meeting ya as well at SXSWi.
Geoff,
I may have started a few years earlier, but it was your enthusiasm that encouraged me to lend some real thought to the subject. I’m grateful. I ought to have you keep drilling on me to write a book or something (just not on social media).
You’re still one to watch.
All my best,
Rich
@Tdefren – I’ll put you on my list, how’s that?
Those cherry blossoms remind me of the small town of Vignola, where we’d go to see the trees adorn the hills – spring!
Hey, I’ve been blogging since 2006 too! I guess I’m the in the “some not” category.
Good luck.