How to Learn Social Media Marketing.

Are you blogging, Facebooking, tweeting, or pinning? If not, you’re missing out.

The Internet has become the primary means for prospective buyers to evaluate products or services. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest can take your marketing to the next level. However, many businesses aren’t using social media at all — they aren’t aware of what’s being said about them online and they don’t know how to start conversations with their target audience.

Of the brands that *are* using social media marketing, many of them don’t do much planning regarding their social media activities. They use what I call the Shotgun-Blast Approach — they have profiles on every social network under the sun, aimlessly push out links to their content in hopes that it will be discovered by thousands of people, and never engage with their followers.

It turns off people in droves and it isn’t a viable way to get results.

This post is Part 1 of a series I’m writing for social media beginners. Future posts will concentrate on videos, ebooks, podcasts, and more!

20 social media marketing blogs you should be reading in 2015

This is an unordered list — all of these blogs are packed with helpful information.

1. Buffer

Buffer’s blog is one of the best in the social media space. Its comprehensive content is helpful to beginners as well as advanced social media marketers.

2. Rebekah Radice

Rebekah Radice’s award-winning blog helps small business owners and entrepreneurs make radical shifts within social media and online marketing.

 

3. Simply Measured

The Simply Measured blog contains lots of well-written content, useful data, and many case studies that will help you succeed.

4. Social Time’s Facebook Blog (formerly AllFacebook)

Social Time’s Facebook Blog offers comprehensive coverage and analysis of everything going on in the Facebook marketing community, including best practices and case studies.

5. Ignite Social Media Marketing Blog

Ignite Social has helped some of the world’s top brands develop effective social media marketing campaigns and programs. Their blog covers current ideas and tried-and-true approaches you can add to your toolbox.

6. Quicksprout

Neil Patel’s Quicksprout blog posts rus the gamut from how social signals influence search engine rankings to how you can build your blog audience.

7. Gary Vaynerchuck

Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO and co-founder of Vayner Media, shares what has worked for himself and others when it comes to social media marketing and how you can put social media to work for you.

8. Social Media Examiner

Social Media Examiner, the world’s largest online social media magazine, helps millions of businesses discover how to best use social media, blogs, and podcasts to connect with customers, drive traffic, generate awareness, and increase sales.

9. Social Media Explorer

Social Media Explorer is a leading source for insights, opinion, and learning in the world of digital and social media marketing. Primarily authored by founder Jason Falls and social media specialist Nichole Kelly, it also features articles by thought leaders in the field.

10. Social Media B2B

Social Media B2B is a group blog about social media’s impact on B2B companies and how they can harness the power of social media marketing to achieve lasting results.

11. Danny Brown’s Blog

Danny Brown’s blog isn’t just another marketing blog that recycles content that marketers are talking about — his great perspectives on marketing trends, social media, and influence will help you succeed.

12. Convince and Convert

Convince and Convert by Jay Baer has been named the #1 content marketing blog in the world by the Content Marketing Institute and the #3 social media blog in the world by Social Media Examiner. It offers a wealth of information about social media marketing, from novice to more advanced topics.

13. Social Mouths

Social Mouths by Francisco Rosales has some of the best social media content and advice you’ll find on the Web. Packed with how-tos, helpful advice, and strategies, it’s a go-to resource for social media marketers at all levels of experience.

14. Social Fresh

Social Fresh is packed with articles from industry leaders on social media that will inform your social media marketing strategy.

15. Hubspot Marketing Blog

Hubspot’s Marketing Blog is a first-rate source for information about inbound and social media marketing, with thousands of tips and strategies for attracting visitors to your content.