Two weeks ago, I told you I planned to do a series of interviews with the 10 most influential people in social media I could find. Doing an interview with 10 people, even a relatively short/fun one, takes a lot more time than I thought. I’m really an unstructured data analyst during the day and just pretend to be a blogger at night; so, simply editing the content and paginating took some time.
In today’s post, I’ll briefly introduce the influencers to you and then over the next few days, I’ll follow up with their responses to various questions. First, a bit about how they were selected.
Method - Triangulation via these Criteria:
- Social Media Monitoring Tools - I used several tools from Klout to OdinText, to understand who had the largest networks. During this process, I was surprised to discover that Twitter was no longer the most important network for several influencers - thus I decided my first question to the influencers would be “Which social network is your current favorite?”
- Desk Research - ALL have been mentioned in several publication lists. Perhaps most notable of which are “Forbes’ Top - 10 Social Media Power Influencers” and/or “Forbes’ Most Influential Women in Social Media”.
- Social Crowd-Sourced Recommendations - I asked YOU on this blog, in the two research groups I moderate on LinkedIn, G+ followers, as well as the twitter sphere in general, who you listen to in terms of social media.
It’s very important to realize, when using any tools claiming to measure influence, what the data that you are looking at is, as well as what data is not included. One of the Top 10 influencers (Ted Coiné) has opted out of Klout. Others have a lower influence score than they deserve because their blog traffic is not counted, their tweets do not show up in the Twitter feed search stream etc. I’ve found that when using freely available tools or any tools meant to measure influence on the broad masses, while useful in aggregate, the likelihood is to underestimate the influence of those who are most influential.
When analyzing the various data sources, I included my own accounts in the mix, as Klout CEO Joe Fernandez recommends doing. I’ve also found it’s one of the best ways to check if the data/your algorithms make sense, as you will naturally be more familiar with your own data and others that you know well.
Without further ado, in case you don’t know them all yet, below are the top influencers I’ll be talking with this week through next week here on the blog. Some of them like Guy Kawasaki, Scott Monty and Jason Falls I’ve known for some time, several others like Ted Coiné and Eric T. Tung were new to me.
Come back each day as I ask them a few fun questions about themselves and social media.
Marketing, Entrepreneurial and Venture Capital Thought Leader and Author
Guy Kawasaki is Author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. Co-founder of Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the web, and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures. Former chief evangelist of Apple. Author of nine other books including Reality Check, The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
Specialties: Marketing, evangelism, new-product introduction, keynote speeches, and wrist shots
Current Favorite Social Network: “Google+” (Currently 1,220,692 followers on G+) [This was a surprise to me, as last time I had him on the blog it was Twitter]
Fun Fact: Loves to play hockey
What do you do when you’re not on the social web? I’m never not on the social web
Wants you to know… I am an introvert
You can find Guy on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Head of social media for Ford Motor Company
Scott Monty is a new media communications executive with deep experience in healthcare, life sciences, biotechnology and high tech industries. He’s worked with senior-level executives at a wide range of companies, from start-ups to large multinational organizations. He’s known for providing trustworthy advice and strategic counsel that address business issues wider than just marketing & communications.
Specialties: Social media marketing / new media, integrated marketing and communications strategy
Current Favorite Social Network: My favorite social network is Google+ (Currently 25,073 followers on G+)
What do you do when you’re not on the social web? Spend time in meetings, and with my family. But preferably not in family meetings
Wants you to know… I’m bombarded with emails, tweets, DMs, PMs, voicemails, tweets, Facebook posts, Google+ messages and that I’m not ignoring them, and I’m concentrating first and foremost on Ford initiatives
You can find Scott on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Author of “Content Rules,” Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs
Ann Handley conceptualizes, develops, and manages content for both B2B and consumer publications, particularly for the Web. She has a demonstrated ability to build community, develop a publication’s “voice,” and create teams of writers and editors who can execute on strategy. Ann has a strong interest in social media tools to further a publication’s connection with its audience.
Specialties: Marketing, online content, community
Current Favorite Social Network: Instagram. It used to be Twitter. Then I grokked the power of the visual story (Already has 2,339 followers on Instagram) [Note: Don't feel sorry for Ann, she also has about 120,000 followers on Twitter alone. While I'm just reporting followers of their current favorite SNS tool here, all of these influencers total unduplicated reach - across all channels - are about as large as they are hard to estimate]
Fun Fact: Her favorite cake is Red Velvet, her favorite season is summer and her favorite color is Yam
When Not Online: I’m on my iPhone. Which is pretty much the same thing… I walk my dogs in the woods. Hang out with my family. Embarrass my children. Make myself laugh. (My kids say I do this last one all the time….)
Wishes people realized… That your story can transform your business, if you only embrace it creatively, as a cornerstone of your marketing
You can find Ann on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Founder of Inside-Out Thinking & SOBCon
Liz Srauss is a social web strategist and community builder who focuses on growth through relationships, communication, and performance. She works with corporations, associations, and small business to integrate online and offline cultures and social media tools into their growth strategies.
According to EatonWeb, “Liz Strauss is perhaps the most influential relational blogger on the Internet.” Her blog -Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - has been called both a destination and an event. During her tenure as an international publisher, Liz was consistently hired to rebuild companies and reignite teams. Liz trained hundreds of employees to understand the needs of their market and the ways leaders move action through a company. She has worked with C-Suite executives and interdepartmental teams on four continents.
Specialties: Social media speaker, leadership speaker, motivational speaker, social media training
Current Favorite Social Network: Twitter. It’s cut my email stream by 70% (Currently 95,518 followers on Twitter)
Fun Fact: Loves Dark Chocolate
When Not Online she’s: At an event, with friends, reading a book or sleeping… Write emails like this one. Talk on the phone. Change people’s lives. (Not necessarily in that order.) heh heh
Wants you to know… That what happens on the Internet IS real life
You can find Liz on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Digital & Social Media Marketing, Attorney, Rutgers Adj Professor of Digital Marketing, Social Media Law, Crisis Coms
Glen Gilmore is an attorney, social media strategist and adjunct professor of Digital Marketing, Crisis Communications, and Social Media Law at Rutgers. He works with clients ranging from Fortune 100 to small businesses and non-profits. Gilmore has developed and provided customized training for J&J, Cisco, FedEx, and ETS. He regularly teaches executive-level programs for the Rutgers MBA marketing program.
Specialties: Social Media Law and Digital Marketing
Current Favorite Social Network: Twitter! (Currently 110,953 followers on Twitter)
When Not Online he’s: Most likely enjoying the company of family or friends…or walking my dog…or working in my garden…or teaching a class…or watching a movie or reading a book…or sound asleep. I’m an avid traveler, walker, movie watcher, foodie, gardener, reader…Though all these things are becoming more and more ‘social’.
Wants you to know… Small steps and successes usually lead to big steps and bigger successes. Social proof comes with time and sustained sharing and learning.
You can find Glen on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Business Heretic & unCEO at Catalyst Blog
Ted Coiné is Author of “Spoil ‘em Rotten!” and “Five-Star Customer Service”, Ted is an Inspirational speaker and ‘Bleeding Heart Capitalist’. His goal is to help business leaders embrace Capitalism 2.0 - the notion that doing the right thing pays. That includes treating employees, customers, and the community well. His research shows conclusively that those businesses that do these three things effectively are more profitable, hands down. His new blog is called Switchandshift.com
Specialties: Customer service, social media, leadership and company culture
Current Favorite Social Network: Twitter. By far! (Currently 112,656 followers on Twitter)
Fun Factoids: Not too fond of Klout… Likes animals, dogs and dolphins especially
When Not Online: I don’t remember. (Joking). Playing with my wife, kids, and dogs, or reading, or speaking… there’s a lot I do offline. I’m training for my second half-marathon soon
Wants you to know… The key to social media is in that first word, social. It isn’t about broadcasting. That’s traditional media, which is struggling right now. Why would you want to emulate that?
You can find Ted on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Founder and CEO DigitalCoCo
Paul Barron is a Webprenuer & Producer - Founder of Fast Casual.com - QSRweb.com, Fast Casual Magazine, The Fast Casual Executive Summit and The Fast Casual Alliance (now known as the Fast Casual Industry Council).
Specialties: Social Media, especially related to retail and restaurant industry
Current Favorite Social Network: Twitter - simple, short, powerful like any great brand vision (Apple = I rest my case) (Currently 78,049 followers on Twitter)
When Not Online: I Dream about ways that I can just think my next video or blog post to the CMS
Wants you to know… That the real power around social is neither Klout nor how many followers it’s the content that is the medium and the power of social
You can find Paul on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Social media speaker, consultant and resource
Jason Falls is one of the leading thinkers in the social media, public relations and communications industries. His online learning community, ExploringSocialMedia.com helps individuals and businesses understand and use social media and social media marketing. He is also a noted public speaker and social media keynote speaker.
Falls has the unique perspective of having lead a national advertising agency’s Interactive and social media efforts, worked with Fortune 100 brands as a social media strategist and served as an independent consultant in the social media industry. He has advised major, regional and niche brands including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, Humana, SHPS, Mighty Dog, Louisville Slugger, and The National Center for Family Literacy.
Specialties: Social Media speaking and training
Current Favorite Social Network: Twitter. It’s my default for fun and for business (Currently 50,995 followers on twitter)
When Not Online: Am probably playing with my kids. Writing or asleep. Otherwise, I’m online.
Wants you to know… “Rock stars” in social media are anything but. More than that, I wish the “rock stars” of social media realized they weren’t.
You can find Jason on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
CEO of Social Media Delivered - A.K.A “The LinkedIn Queen”
Eve Mayer Orsburn is CEO of Social Media Delivered, a social media company that leverages the power of LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and Facebook with proven strategies. Known as the @LinkedinQueen , Eve is one of the leading authorities worldwide on leveraging LinkedIn to grow sales and revenues for B2B organizations.
Her company is one of the largest focused solely on social media, based in Dallas, Texas and Paris, France with presence in the US, Canada and Europe. Eve is the author of the Social Media for the CEO and The Social Media Business Equation and speaks to corporations and Universities.
Specialties: Social Media, LinkedIn, Sales
Current Favorite Social Network: LinkedIn because I can see the ROI the fastest, followed closely by Twitter because the speed of building the relationship is like a bullet (Currently 500+?? followers on LinkedIn) [Note: On her second favorite network, Twitter, she has 61,025 followers on one of her primary account]
Fun Fact: For one hour each night I have a dirty little secret - I watch Young and the Restless
When Not Online: I’m speaking, working with clients or spending time with my husband and five year old daughter…
You can find Eve on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
Creative Marketing Writer at Insperity, Social Media Strategy Consultant and Speaker
Eric T. Tung was one of the first 200,000 Facebook users, is one of the Top-50 most followed people on Twitter in Houston, and is ranked as a top 5% expert in Social Media by ELance.
Specialties: Social Media, Marketing, Online Marketing, Internet Marketing, e-Marketing, Pay Per Click, Public Relations…
Current Favorite Social Network: Originally facebook, then foursquare, and now twitter. It may shift to Pinterest in the future! (Currently 12,090 followers on Twitter) [Note: Eric's over all network is very large. In regard to LinkedIn he is a ‘LION' (LinkedIn Open Networker), so may connect to you too if you ask nicely ;)]
Fun Fact: Loves motorcycles, especially his Harley
When Not Online: I always am! … Have 2 kids. When I am online, I have 2 kids, but when I’m not online, I can pay them some attention!
Wants you to know… Social is not necessarily a sales-generation tool!
You can find Eric on: Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter …
A big thanks to my influential guests today for taking the time out of their busy day. Come back tomorrow as I start out this series with a couple of questions on their views of Social Media Influence.
@TomHCAnderson
@OdinText
[Full Disclosure: Tom H. C. Anderson is Managing Partner of Anderson Analytics, developers of a brand new patented approach to text analytics. The text analytics software platform is called OdinText]
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