Best Social Media and Tech Sources: Beyond Mashable

If you read Mashable—and, I hope, me—for your social media fix, you’re off to a good start. But there’s a lot going on in this world, and many other people have excellent info to offer. So I’m going to let you in behind the curtain of the sources I rely on for social media/technology news and commentary.

This isn’t an exhaustive list; I’m sure there are many important people I’ve missed. (Additional ones I didn’t include below appear on my now-public Social Media Twitter list.) But I’ve tried to include a lot of the big hitters along with some other folks you may not have heard of. Please feel free to add comments with suggestions of fresh voices offering unique ideas and perspectives.

Why are all these links to Twitter feeds? Because, as I’ve mentioned recently, I’m cheating on my Google Reader with Twitter.  I feel too overwhelmed, and guilty, when blog posts build up. But with Twitter, I can see links to posts when I’m online and don’t worry about what I miss when I’m not.

Number One

• The Atlantic gang. Where’s the best technology coverage on the web? I’d argue it’s here, where these folks are really digging deep and looking at what it all means. They also manage to have fun with it. Follow Alexis Madrigal, Jared Keller, Nicholas Jackson, and The Atlantic/Tech feed.

Tip-Top

• Alexandra Samuel. Social media blogger for Oprah.com and the Harvard Business Review (love that combo!). Can always be counted on for good information.

• Beth Kanter. If you liked my social media for social good parts one and two (and even if you didn’t), then you definitely should be following this expert in social media and nonprofits.

• Brian Solis. Marketing executive who writes and speaks smartly about the convergence between traditional and social media.

• Chris Brogan. The source for how businesses should communicate in the social age. More than 11 years of experience in building communities, social media, etc.

• Danah Boyd. Oft-quoted social media scholar who backs up her writing and speaking with actual research.

• Darin Hartley. Interested in learning and social media? Business and social media? A former co-worker of mine is a learning and performance specialist and the author of 10 Steps to Social Networking for Business.

• Darren Rowse. This guy literally wrote the book on blogging. Also launched a blog on blogging and one on Twitter.

• Evan Williams. The Twitter co-founder is so cool his Twitter username is only two letters.

• Facebook. Not following Facebook on Twitter? Well, duh. Get news and stories of the week from the social media powerhouse.

• Jeremiah Owyang. An industry analyst providing can’t-beat social media and web marketing info.

• Jolie O’Dell. This Mashable writer is a bad-ass tech female and provider of excellent content in her own right.

• Kara Swisher. Writer for the Wall Street Journal’s All Things D(igital) blog, which “provides, news, analysis, and opinion about the digital revolution,” she’s a known expert for the right reasons. Follow the blog’s Twitter feed as well.

• Laura Fitton, aka Pistachio. Twitter very early adopter, co-author of Twitter for Dummies, and now founder of social business site OneForty.

• Marcia Conner is a Fast Company columnist and co-author of The New Social Learning: A Guide to Transforming Organizations Through Social Media. The book on harnessing new technologies for workplace learning has been getting good buzz, and she’s extremely knowledgeable.

• The New York Times technology gang. Including David Pogue, Jenna Wortham, Nick Bilton, and the paper’s Bits blog Twitter feed.

• ReadWriteWeb. News, analysis, and conversation in social media, tech, and the web. Love the conversation starters on their Facebook account.

• Robert Scoble. He seems to know everyone and everything in the tech world, and he exemplifies the concept of personal branding.

• SmartBrief on SocialMedia. Targeted at marketers who need info on social networking trends. Their email newsletter provides good links daily.

• Socialistic. This social software and content provider does a good job of sorting through the noise and posting the best links, as well as original content.

• SocialMedia411. Links, links, and more links—but good ones.

• Soren Gordhamer. The founder of Wisdom 2.0, a conference that explores “living with awareness, wisdom, and compassion in the technology age.” Some day I really, really must go.

• Tamar Weinberg. Social media consultant and trainer who also manages community support and advertising for Mashable.

• TechCrunch. Technology news and opinions—a good place to keep on top of all the important stuff people are talking about.

• TEDTalks. “Ideas worth spreading,” ie, the future of everything.

• 10,000Words. Where journalism and technology meet. Started by Mark Luckie, now National Innovations Editor for The Washington Post (Watch for my interview with him).

Honorable Mentions

• Anti-Social Media. Social media snark and humor. Great fun.

• Susan Orlean. Yes, that Susan Orlean, writer extraordinaire. She’s also a tech geek—tweeting frequently, blogging for The New Yorker, and often writing about technology in her tweets and blog posts.

• Twitter Media. I just discovered this Twitter account, “tracking cool, meaningful uses of tweets in media and journalism,” today. Looks like good info.

And, if you don’t follow my tweets yet, you can do so @evakl.