Lists… lists… lists. Everyone is making lists. And among the social media elite, it’s always nice to be mentioned on someone’s Top 10, Top 50, Top 100 or Top “whatever” list. After all, if someone else says we are influential, well we must be influential! Whether it’s Forbes annual Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers list (of which I have not appeared. Too bad, so sad) or the more recent Top 100 Digital Marketing Experts put out by Adspringrr (of which I was somehow listed as #2… go figure), we have a tendency to enjoy making lists. Let’s face it. Perception is reality. And when someone influential says YOU are influential (as the Denver Business Journal did of me earlier this year), it’s silly not to use it in your marketing going forward. If Forbes lists me in the future I’ll be sure to say “Look at me! Forbes thinks I’m awesome! Woot!” And then I’ll go back to being just me. In reality, it’s really all just blah-blah. If you take it seriously you might actually begin to believe your own press. We are all influential in our sphere and ranking us as somehow more influential than others is little more than a popularity contest. My answer to all the craziness is to provide the definitive list of the Top 50 Social Influencers in the World for 2014. Well, in MY world anyhow. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a list and thought, “who is THAT person? I’ve never heard of them.” Well, obviously they are influencing someone. But I wanted to put together a list of people who are influencing ME. Some influence me in business. Others inspire me. And others make me laugh. Some I’ve known a very long time. Others are new friends. Regardless, while I observe much of what comes across my news feed, these fifty tend to stand out. I recommend you follow, get to know, and engage with them. But before I start, let me just get this out there first. I know a LOT of people. Facebook has me connected directly to over 1500 people. There are over two hundred thousand people who follow me through Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, my Facebook fan page and other venues. It’s impossible to make a list and NOT hurt someone’s feelings. So, to those of you who feel left out, here’s a tissue. You are all wonderful people and if we are connected it is for a reason. Either we are family, friends or you owe me money. (Or more than one of those… you know who you are and you will not have a chance at my list until you pay me back.) There’s only so much bandwidth and I guarantee there are many more of you I would like to list. It’s just not going to happen with this particular list. So if it makes you feel any better, make a list of your own and exclude me. You can call it the “Top 50 Coolest People in the World and Notice that Joel Comm isn’t One of Them”. It’s sure to be a hit. Are they in a particular order? Maybe. Maybe not. I report, you decide. I have opted to link to Facebook pages for easy reference. Sheila Simkin For better or worse (mostly better), my mother has been very influential in my life. A free-spirit with a passion for adventure and travel, Mom wondered what led me to buy a computer at the age of sixteen. Now she knows the answer and has a blog of her own at TravelsWithSheila.com. Ted Rubin Ted is a guy who walks the walk… usually in colorful socks! A true social influencer, Ted gives talks (not TedTalks, but it is Ted talking. Confused? I know I am.) He teaches and lives relationship, coining the hashtag #RonR, which means “return on relationship”. Bryan Kramer There are some people that you connect with the instant you meet them. Bryan Kramer is like the kid brother I never had. Sometimes I want to play ball with him and other times I’d like to beat him silly with a nerf bat. Any way you slice it, you’ll be hard-pressed to meet a nicer guy. Oh, turns out he’s also kind of smart. Yeah, just a little. Robert Scoble Scoble. The name stirs images of a crazy dude wearing Google Glass in the shower. People either love him or hate him, but I can’t find a single reason to do the latter. A leviathon in the social and tech space, Scoble is just a regular guy who loves technology, people and having a good time. His wife is super-nice, too! Sam Levin Sammy is a more recent friend who does public relations for Harman JBL. I’ve gotten to know him and enjoy watching his shenanigans from the west coast. He’s also a stickler for spelling. Tim Washer Another new friend, I met Tim at Cisco Live 2014. He’s a comedy writer and social media guy. You might know him from his work with John Oliver. Most of all, I was struck by how down-to-earth and approachable he is. David Hancock I met David in 2005 when I signed with his publishing house, Morgan James Publishing, to bring The AdSense Code to print. I told him I would be his first New York Times Best-Seller. He laughed. I was, and we still laugh a lot when we get together. David and his company have proven a new model of publishing that puts the author first. I like that. E. Brian Rose With a background steeped in Internet business, EBR (as some call him) went on to co-found JVZoo.com, one of the fastest-growing affiliate networks on the web. A fascinating mix of authenticity, business savvy and controversy, I always count on him to stir the pot. Lori Ruff I was introduced to Lori at an event many years ago. After getting to know her, I once stated that […]
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