The best way to learn about any topic is to listen to the experts.
Naturally, that's true in digital marketing, where a number of professionals have established themselves as thought leaders. Their insights can help you both learn about general concepts, and use advanced tactics to take your efforts to the next level.
Here are 15 must-follow twitter accounts that can help you learn about social media marketing.
1) Sean Gardner
There is no better place to start this list than the person Forbes called the biggest social media influencer in the world. Gardner loves to share visual statistics that help you better understand the social media environment.
The photo and image sizes for the major social networks.https://t.co/pMl9GPEthi #SMW16 #SMWMumbai #SMWMiami pic.twitter.com/ZWk1cj5JFB
— Sean Gardner (@2morrowknight) August 24, 2016
2) Guy Kawasaki
A legend in the digital marketing world, the former Apple Chief Evangelist now shares a healthy mix of social media insights, pop culture highlights, and personal updates with his 1.5 million followers.
16 ways 2016 doesn’t totally suck https://t.co/IVhpro2hrp pic.twitter.com/uO3azjKdIZ
— Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki) August 25, 2016
3) Rand Fishkin
The 'Wizard of Moz' may focus many of his tweets of search engine optimization, but he continuously finds ways to integrate social media insights as well.
If SEO is "dead," how should we describe these other marketing channels?
— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) August 24, 2016
Just saying.
Via https://t.co/Peein0YAPs pic.twitter.com/j6Wy1jpj7d
4) Neil Patel
Like Fishkin, Patel is well-known for other digital marketing topics, but social media continues to be among his major points of emphasis. On his feed, can read anything from Pinterest tips to social media lessons learned from the presidential election.
10 Things We Can Learn about Social Media from the 2016 Presidential Campaign - https://t.co/N28xOONRfh pic.twitter.com/R5dh6KYGpq
— Neil Patel (@neilpatel) August 25, 2016
5) Ann Handley
If you haven't read her bestseller Everybody Writes, you will want to after reading her Twitter feed. The founder of MarketingProfs combines social media insights with a healthy dose of humor.
Six Essentials for Good Storytelling—and Great Content Marketing https://t.co/FYmXk812aS pic.twitter.com/6AeddW2Vl7
— Ann Handley (@MarketingProfs) August 18, 2016
6) Kevan Lee
Buffer's blog is known in the industry for its compelling social media insights, and the company's Director of Marketing successfully transports that identity to Twitter.
4 Techniques for Saving 6 Hours Per Week on Social Media: https://t.co/XwWhu2GV8a pic.twitter.com/nuc33L3Xos
— Kevan Lee (@kevanlee) August 24, 2016
7) Larry Kim
The founder of the PPC management agency WordStream is not confined to that topic on Twitter. Instead, he tweets about social media hacks and tips with a specific focus on Facebook.
#Facebook's algo is unhackable 🙅 These 5 tips will help you do what's said to be impossible → https://t.co/b3KteTk57y pic.twitter.com/HR2POim0lV
— Larry Kim (@larrykim) August 25, 2016
Perhaps no expert's Twitter feed is more informative about the increasing integration of social media into other marketing efforts. From Facebook ad spend tips to leveraging social media followers to grow your business, the advice comes fast and consistently.
Time for some tough love: Get your content house in order so you can make more money. https://t.co/hUazLeRmYd pic.twitter.com/xxRw5MC0BH
— Amy Porterfield (@AmyPorterfield) August 11, 2016
Most social media experts focus on actionable insights your brand can use right now. Scott's Twitter feed includes some of the same, but also offers a refreshing amount of forward-thinking, strategic insights that can help you succeed long-term.
Sales & Marketing Basics: Align With The Way People Buy https://t.co/OXNVmyIvR9 #BusinessMastery pic.twitter.com/7YHhM3mYzT
— David Meerman Scott (@dmscott) August 21, 2016
10) Jon Loomer
If you're looking for advanced Facebook tactics, Loomer is your guy. Multiple times per day, he shares updates on the platform as well as Power Editor tactics you never knew existed.
How to Run Instagram Ad Campaigns with Better Results (via @AgoraPulse): https://t.co/6CmtnZwcug
— Jon Loomer (@jonloomer) August 25, 2016
11) Jason Falls
Social media is more than just a marketing tool. It also a crucial part in your public relations effort, and Falls can help you account for the increasing importance of social equity with daily insights.
5 Trends That Will Transform Social Media in 2017 - Smarts over at SME: https://t.co/UxRbxAfJnL
— Jason Falls (@JasonFalls) August 25, 2016
12) Michael Stelzner
Any search for insight into how to build your social media marketing campaign inevitably leads you to Social Media Examiner. The website's founder uses Twitter for countless insights that can be condensed into 140 characters.
19 Tools to Create #SocialMedia Content https://t.co/2f4En2IRJ7 by @meetalexnavarro @SMExaminer pic.twitter.com/xd4u8XRugO
— Michael A. Stelzner (@Mike_Stelzner) August 26, 2016
13) Eve Mayer
Simply said, there is no better expert to follow if you want to learn about marketing your brand on LinkedIn. As an added bonus, you'll also get social media insights that cover all networks.
Instagram vs Snapchat: Which Story Is Better For Business? https://t.co/NbD1VBALml pic.twitter.com/CcB92sXByX
— Eve Mayer (@LinkedInQueen) August 24, 2016
14) Mark Schaefer
Anyone that literally explains the concept of social media in a bestselling book is worth a follow. Of course, Schaefer's Social Media, Explains only contains a small share of the countless insights that the marketing strategists shares on his Twitter timeline.
Batman, Pokemon, and an essential lesson from the heart of marketing https://t.co/KGq6256ZMm pic.twitter.com/tjbqc1eeAa
— Mark Schaefer (@markwschaefer) August 25, 2016
15) Mari Smith
Come for Facebook, stay for other networks. The entrepreneur has carved out her niche as a Facebook expert, but is not afraid to branch out for additional insights to share with her almost 500,000 followers.
60+ LinkedIn Profile Tips for Marketers https://t.co/I0w0dI8y5r via @CMIContent | Super helpful!
— Mari Smith Ⓜ️ (@MariSmith) August 24, 2016
Any of these experts shares a wealth of experience and insights that can benefit any brand looking to promote their value on social media. Following them enables you to gain a deeper understanding of the networks, helping you build a strategy that will actively improve your marketing efforts and grow your business.