Whatever your thoughts on Twitter, it’s a remarkably useful resource for mining game-changing information about nearly anything. For our purposes, it hosts a vast array of people talking about small businesses. If you’re on Twitter and you’re anything like me, you probably follow too many people, and wind up drowning out a lot of the most useful information.
We’re here to help you find the signal in the noise.
Add these 16 small business influencers to a Twitter list and check your list whenever you want to check out what’s happening in the world of business.
Chris Brogan
- Writer, marketer, thinker
- https://twitter.com/chrisbrogan
Chris Brogan’s advice veers from the practical — what to do on LinkedIn — to the fundamental — a gentle reminder that, as small business owners, we can’t always do it alone.
SBA.gov
- The US Small Business Association
- https://twitter.com/SBAgov
Surprising or not, the US Small Business Association’s Twitter feed and blog is a treasure trove of easy to understand, engaging info relevant to all small business owners.
Bryan Kramer
- CEO of Pure Matter & Social Media Evangelist
- https://twitter.com/bryankramer
Bryan Kramer shares a mixture of motivational content, links to interesting SMB-related articles, tips and tricks related to social media, and thoughtful content for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs.
Gene Marks
- Reporter
- https://twitter.com/genemarks
Gene Marks’ Washington Post column On Main Street is an essential read, covering every aspect of the SMB world. His Twitter feed is like his column on steroids… If it matters, he’s probably talking about it.
Gary Vaynerchuk
- CEO of VaynerMedia
- https://twitter.com/garyvee
Gary Vaynerchuk is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on all things social media, but his wisdom extends to many other areas of business as well. If you want the definitive take on something in social, he’s probably got it for you.
Entrepreneur Magazine
- Magazine/Website
- https://twitter.com/Entrepreneur
It’s extremely likely that you’re already familiar with Entrepreneur magazine, but given the breadth and volume of their coverage, following them on Twitter is a good way to keep up with their output.
Jay Baer
- Founder of Convince and Convert, Digital Marketer
- https://twitter.com/jaybaer
Jay Baer claims to be the most retweeted digital marketer in the world. That’s probably because the information that he shares is so useful. If you’re doing anything online, you need to follow Baer’s lead.
Eric Ries
- Author, Entrepreneur
- https://twitter.com/ericries
Eric Ries’ book, The Lean Startup, set off a revolution in the business world. He popularized many methods that data-smart companies now use to measure their success. You don’t have to be a tech company to measure your own data.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
- Harvard Business School Professor
- https://twitter.com/RosabethKanter
Rosabeth Moss Kanter tweets prolifically about everything from organizational optimization to building your company culture. She’s savvy and a good source for anyone looking to be a smarter manager at their own company.
Tim Ferriss
- Author, Investor, Podcaster
- https://twitter.com/tferriss
Tim Ferriss is a bit of a renaissance man. His timeline is full of tips about productivity, diet, exercise, technology, business and seemingly anything else you can possibly think of. His wide ranging interests usually result in content that serves up a unique perspective.
Small Biz Trends
Anita Campbell’s Small Biz Trends website is a must read for SMB owners. It covers everything from business trends, technology, leadership, management to regulation and beyond. The twitter feed is an excellent digest that’s easy to keep up with.
Sean Ellis
- Growth Hacker
- https://twitter.com/SeanEllis
For better or worse, Sean Ellis invented the term ‘growth hacking’ — a new type of marketing that leans on data in order to generate rapid growth. His perspective on marketing is worth looking into, even for businesses that are not strictly web-facing.
Maria Popova
- Blogger, Autodidact, Curator
- https://twitter.com/brainpicker
Maria Popova’s Brain Pickings blog is one of the most incredible sites on the web. How she manages to deliver such high-quality content from an encyclopedic range of topics is mind-boggling. Follow her for frequent creative inspiration.
Adam Grant
- Wharton Professor, Author
- https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant
Grant’s recent book about how genius emerges is interesting enough to merit a follow, but his perceptive shares shine a light on surprising aspects of human psychology, creativity and business — making him a can’t miss.
James Altucher
- Writer, Podcaster, Entrepreneur
- https://twitter.com/jaltucher
James Altucher is sort of the thinking man’s Get-Rich-Quick schemer. He’s always devising alternative models and perspectives that push the boundaries of taste in what’s acceptable in modern business. His knowledge and business savvy make his contrarianism a welcome breath of fresh air.
Susan McPherson
McPherson posts about business news and events from the broader world that have unconsidered reverberations in the business world. She brings much needed attention to issues related to workplace sexism, how to raise girls the right way for the future, empathetic workplaces, dealing with work stress and more.
Becoming Legit: How to Get Verified on Twitter
Did you notice that little blue check on each of the accounts above? Our friends at Contactually created an infographic to show you how to get a Twitter badge of your very own. See below to learn how to get your small business verified: