RECOMMENDED - links to very cool blogs

The concept was intriguing – The Shortest Marketing Conference Ever.

And the pitch was tight - 60 Speakers. 60 Seconds Each. 60 Ways to Increase Your Influence Online.

This terrific online event, presented by ThoughtLead, has an MP3 audio recording and accompanying transcript available here. The transcript has so much practical advice. So many divergent views. So many different insights, all in easily digestible bite-sized chunks.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an entrepreneur, a marketer or PR professional, corporate executive or an expert of some kind – if you want to learn how to extend your digital influence, this is the best thing you’ll read (or listen to) this year. Seriously.

Why? Because the views, hints, tips and advice are provided by 60 different experts, giving you a broad range of things to think about.

But if you’re REALLY SERIOUS about giving your brand the ‘edge’, then you’ll take things a step further!

If you want to better understand social media and how to connect more effectively in today’s networked marketplace…if you genuinely are interested in becoming a smarter marketer and influencer, then you must check out all of the featured experts, speakers and thought leaders individually.

You won’t be disappointed.

These digitally savvy men and women have got plenty to offer. Collectively they’re generous with their knowledge and regularly and openly share thoughts, opinions and ideas through their respective blogs, books, videos and podcasts.

Here are all the links – you have no excuses 

1. David Meerman Scott – author, The New Rules of Marketing & PR
2. Anne Holland – Which Test Won
3. Mike Volpe – VP of inbound marketing, HubSpot
4. Michael Port – author, Book Yourself Solid
5. Liz Strauss – Successful-Blog.com
6. Robert Scoble – veteran blogger, Scobleizer
7. Carol Roth – business strategist
8. Scott Porad – Cheezburger Network
9. Joe Pulizzi – Junta42 & Content Marketing Institute
10. Laurel Touby – Mediabistro.com
11. Hugh MacLeod – cartoonist, GapingVoid
12. Chris Guillebeau – The Art of Non-Conformity
13. Laura Roeder – social media marketing expert
14. Michael Margolis – GetStoried.com
15. Dave Navarro – LaunchCoach.com
16. Loren Feldman – 1938 Media
17. Ann Handley – MarketingProfs
18. Jim Kukral – author, This Book Will Make You Money
19. Joselin Mane – internet marketing consultant
20. John Jantsch – Duct Tape Marketing
21. Marshall Kirkpatrick – ReadWriteWeb.com
22. Shama Kabani – author, The Zen of Social Media Marketing
23. Terry Starbucker – SOBcon
24. Johnny B. Truant – blogger/entrepreneur
25. Jason Falls – PR & social media expert
26. Robbin Phillips – Brains on Fire
27. Yaro Starak – Entrepreneurs-Journey.com
28. Michael Stelzner – SocialMediaExaminer.com
29. Erica O’Grady – ReinventingErica.com
30. Gary Vaynerchuk – Wine Library TV, author of Crush It
31. Nathan Hangen – blogger + digital entrepreneur
32. Danielle LaPorte – strategic business adviser
33. Guy Kawasaki – author, entrepreneur, venture capitalist
34. David Bullock – profit engineer
35. Vanessa Fox – author, Marketing in the Age of Google
36. Lewis Howes – author, speaker, entrepreneur
37. Valeria Maltoni – Conversation Agent
38. Sergio Balegno – research director, Marketing Sherpa
39. Hank Wasiak – communications thinker, author, entrepreneur
40. Mitch Joel – blogger/author/podcaster, Six Pixels of Separation
41. Tamsen McMahon – communications + branding strategist
42. Justin Levy – author, Facebook Marketing
43. Chris Garrett – professional blogger + new media consultant
44. Cathy Brooks – founder, Other Than That
45. Todd Defren – blogger + principal, SHIFT Communications
46. Brian Clark – Copyblogger.com
47. Scott Belsky – founder/CEO, Behance.com
48. Wendy Piersall – new media entrepreneur + speaker
49. Mark Silver – founder, Heart of Business
50. Dan Schawbel – personal branding expert
51. Shashi Bellamkonda – social media  swami, Network Solutions
52. Gretchen Rubin – author, The Happiness Project
53. Muhammad Saleem – social media consultant
54. Aaron Kahlow – CEO, OnlineMarketingConnect.com
55. Alexandra Levit – career + workplace author/speaker
56. Steve Woodruff – social media marketer + networker
57. David Siteman Garlan – founder, The Rise to the Top
58. Amber Naslund – communications + business strategist
59. Julien Smith – consultant + co-author, Trust Agents
60. Brian Solis – new media thought leader + author, Engage

And here are some local PR blogs I dig:

Thought Leadership (Craig Badings) 

Public Relations & Managing Reputation (Craig Pearce) 

Communication AMMO (Sean Williams) 

Just Another PR Blog (Karalee Evans)