We recently started our new annual blog awards series where we recognize our favorite blogs from a variety of categories. There are a lot of really great blogs out there that we at YoungEntrepreneur.com read and learn from on a regular basis, and our goal is to highlight these blogs so you too can enjoy and benefit from them.
This week, we’re recognizing the top 10 blogs in the Social Media category. Social media marketing spending has increased at astronomical rates the past few years, and all indications are that it will continue to become a popular way for brands of all sizes to connect with customers. Is social media marketing the way of the future? We don’t know. But it’s best to be prepared.
Our selection process
In case you missed our previous round of awards, let’s quickly recap how it works.
When we came up with the idea for distributing YoungEntrepreneur.com Top Blog Awards badges, we wanted to give these out to blogs we truly love. These awards aren’t about typical metrics (subscribers, comments, rankings, etc.), but instead, they’re about exposing the blogs we believe have the highest quality content and provide the best overall experience for readers.
Is this scientific? No. Subjective? Of course. But do we carefully scrutinize every option to ensure all award-winning blogs are truly special? You bet.
So, let us give you a quick rundown of the categories we used to judge these blogs.
- Visual Aesthetics—Let’s face it: It’s hard to get into a blog that still uses the default WordPress theme. Design matters, and it’s important for making new visitors feel comfortable. We looked for blogs that were easy on the eyes.
- Quality & Consistent Content—Our favorite blogs are the ones that produce great content on a regular basis, rather than one good post to several filler posts.
- Overall Experience—The overall experience includes everything from how the author interacts in the comments to how well posts are categorized so you can easily find the content you’re looking for.
*Please note these blogs are not listed in any particular order. All 10 blogs are YoungEntrepreneur.com Top Blog Award winners and thus are equal.
And the awards go to…
Mashable – Without a doubt, Mashable is the leading source for all things social media. This massive blog contains everything from the latest social media news to how to and guide books for getting more from social media. The blog was even named a Top 25 Blog of 2009 by Time Magazine. Twitter: @mashable
Chris Brogan – Chris Brogan is the founder of a new media marketing agency that helps large and mid-sized companies connect with consumers online through the use of social media and other tools. On his blog, Brogan shares his tips and observations with readers on a daily basis, and we always come away from his blog feeling like we’ve learned something new. Twitter: @chrisbrogan
Twitip – Take a wild guess what this blog covers? Twitip is devoted to helping readers get more out of Twitter. We love this blog because it’s one of the few sources that actually offers insightful, specific tips for using Twitter effectively, rather than the generic, vague tips (e.g. “Join the conversation!”) you find on so many other blogs. Read this blog daily! Twitter: @problogger
Social Media Explorer – One thing that makes this blog different is that it’s backed by a PR guy. As a result, the posts tend to come from a public relations point of view, educating companies on how to engage customers correctly online. Twitter: @JasonFalls
ChrisG – ChrisG.com offers daily advice on the business of social media and online marketing. According to the author, the site’s goal is “to teach you ways you can create compelling resources, provide your audience more value, build trust and loyalty, and generate more rewards for yourself.” The posts on here are very in-depth and detail-rich, offering valuable information you can’t find anywhere else. Twitter: @chrisgarrett
Gary Vaynerchuk – Gary gained notoriety by launching a daily video blog about wine. This landed him TV appearances on several popular network talk shows. On this personal video blog, Gary offers business advice and commentary on social media marketing and other emerging technologies. Twitter: @garyvee
Social Media Today – This blog teaches you how to develop your business and get quality leads through social media. You’ll find everything from discussion over the intricacies of social media etiquette to common mistakes you might be making with your social media campaign. Once again, we love this blog because it offers specific strategies and information for those interested in social media marketing. Twitter: @socialmedia2day
Social Web Tools – There are so many apps, social networking tools, widgets, and extensions out there, that it can be almost impossible to know which ones work and which ones you can use to improve your social media efforts. That’s why we just had to include this blog on our top 10 list. Social Web Tools reviews all of these different applications to let you know which ones are worth your time. Twitter: @socialwebtools
Social Media Influence – This is a great resource for learning about social media best practices so you don’t sabotage your social media marketing efforts. You’ll also get insight into measuring campaigns properly and engaging your audience on a deeper level. Twitter: @socialinfluence
BlueGlass – BlueGlass is backed by some of the brightest minds in social media marketing. The blog offers news and expert insight from several names you may recognize, including Brent Csutoras and Dave Snyder to name just a couple. Twitter: @blueglassinc
What other social media blogs would you like to see get a Top Blog Award next year?
