Over the years I’ve become somewhat obsessed with everything-marketing. Although I do spend some time watching certain movies and shows on Netflix, I spend a lot more time consuming information related to online marketing. This might sound weird but watching and listening to materials that talk about business is actually my favorite form of entertainment. Since I’m a internet marketer myself I try to stay updated and I try to keep on educating myself. Knowledge is power.
When it comes to the consumption of information I use most of the available mediums; blog posts, podcasts, videos. However, I’ve also developed a list of MY favorite resources where I get that information fix.
In this post I will share a list of five most important (in my opinion) blogs to follow in 2015. These sites (and people who run them) will certainly impact your online business practices and they will help you grow. Let’s get started!
Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn
If I was to recommend a single resource in the “business/entrepreneurship” industry it would be, without a doubt, Pat Flynn and his Smart Passive Income (SPI) empire. I call it an empire because Pat isn’t only doing blog posts. SPI now features a great blog, three amazing podcasts (SPI podcast, AskPat podcast and the new 1 Day Business Breakthrough podcast with Chris Ducker) as well as a new video series. I can’t even explain how much I’ve learned from Pat over the past few years and I am so grateful for what he does for his audience.
I started following Pat’s works because of his transparency and honesty. I think Pat was one of the first (if not the first one) to offer income reports and reveal how much money he’s making online and how exactly he’s making it. After reading a few of his posts and listening to a few episodes of SPI podcast I was hooked. This dude’s information is simply priceless, although he gives it out for free!
Must check out: And They Said I Was Stupid.
Backlinko by Brian Dean
If you’re looking for amazing SEO tips and traffic generation strategies (don’t we all need that) then Backlinko is probably one of the best resources out there. What I enjoy the most about Brian’s post is the depth of his articles.
Backlinko is a great place if you’re looking for real-life case studies as Brian shares a ton of them. Although his posts are often long (2,000+ words) you wouldn’t notice the time passing by because the information Brian shares is that good. Grab a notebook, a pen and head to Brian Dean’s site to learn about SEO.
Must check out: 21 SEO Techniques You Can Use Today to Get More Search Engine Traffic
Gary Vaynerchuk
I’ve come across Gary V. many years ago and I got hooked on his charisma and of course his knowledge. Gary is an author, video blogger, wine connoisseur and most importantly he’s a social media genius. If you’re looking to grow your business vie Social Media Marketing then Gary is definitely your go-to-guy.
Last year I purchased Gary’s new book “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” and I’ve been completely blown away by its content. Most of us think that simply sharing our latest blog post all over the social networks is enough, Gary proves that it isn’t so. Each platform needs a very specific approach and you should understand how to tell a good story on each platform in order to get the best results.
Must check out: Storytelling in Fast-Paced world
Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss built a cult-like following over the years, mostly because his book, The 4-Hour Workweek. This book spent 4 years on The New York Times bestseller list and it’s been translated to 35 languages. Before you get all excited and order your copy I must warn you that it isn’t exactly about building a successful business by working only 4 hours a week.
Tim Ferriss is a life hacker and he often talks about working smarter instead of harder. Tim exposes strategies that allow you to be a lot more productive. For example his most famous book talks about investing a lot of effort and time into building your business. However, Tim also explains how you should set-up that business so eventually it becomes virtually independent of you (hence requiring only a few hours of your time). If you’re looking into outsourcing, efficiency and productivity than you should be reading Tim’s stuff!
Must check out: How to Travel to 20+ Countries…While Building a Massive Business in the Process
Marie Forleo
Marie Forleo is the most energetic and energizing person ever! I’ve discovered Marie through her MarieTV YouTube series in 2013 and I haven’t missed a single video from her since.
Marie will teach you how to create a business and life you love. Sounds like a huge promise but I can assure you this girl truly delivers. While most marketers talk about increasing conversion, doing proper search engine optimization or tweaking a server to make your online store faster Marie often concentrates on the human part of the business. How to overcome fears in business, how to build better relationships and simply how to be a better person are just a few topics covered by this awesome entrepreneur.
Marie’s also got some of the coolest video interviews with awesome people!
Must check out: What To Do When You Doubt Everything + Just Wanna Stay In Bed
I don’t limit myself to this top 5 and I get lots of information from other sources, however these five folks have made (and continue making) a big impact in my life and my business. Whenever I talk to others about online business I often catch myself recommending Pat, Brian, Gary, Tim or Marie and this is exactly the reason why I decided to share this information with my blog readers. I hope you’ve discovered something (someone) new today!
Where do you get your information? Who inspires you online? Share your comments in the comments below!
– Alex
