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Most Powerful Twitter Women at the Moment

“Who should I follow on twitter?” is one of the most frequently asked questions I get during twitter trainings. Here’s a short answer to that question: find a relevant list of people to follow. Then if the list is a list, keep in mind that the people, places and things on it may change from moment to moment. And, the person, search engine, algorithm or community that ranked the list probably has different set of selection criteria than you do. So, their list may not be your list.


TwitterGrader.com
is one place to find lists like the top twitter users by city, the most powerful women on twitter. I found out about this list yesterday when I checked the lists of twitter followers that include @wiredprworks.

The 100 Most Powerful Women On Twitter
These are the most powerful women on twitter (based on their Twitter Grade). Their power and reach in the twitter community is a whole lot of awesome. Source: Twittergrader.com

Here’s how Hubspot’s Twitter Grader calculates twitter rankings. What’s your definition of “powerful” or “elite”?

While I was ever so honored [and surprised] to be the 56th most powerful woman on twitter, [at least as of 7:37am today], I’m reacting like I do with most of these lists. At first I’m somewhere between mildly amused and unusually ecstatic – depending on the moment and the list.

Reality quickly sets in, especially when numbers compute rankings. I start looking for who’s not on the list. To me, most lists are too short. I can always add more people, places and things.

Then, there’s the way things change. For example when I wrote this post, Mari Smith was not on the list – at all. Today Mari, and many other women, truly twitter powerhouses who aren’t on the original list, are.

Where is my ranking?

I’m now number 77. I do have the screenshot and the date for my digital visibility highlights scrapbook. I’ll add that one to the day this blog was the blog of the minute way back in the early days when I was on wordpress.com.

UPDATE August 4, 2010 at 8:08pm CST
No super surprises here, but this now list includes 100 women other than me. That’s okay. In a way, it’s kind of a relief. I can say that I was on the list for at least 18 hours that I know of. To check a global twittergrader ranking at any given moment, enter the twitter id. For example, the number one woman on twitter right now comes up at 26/7.5 million users while the number two woman comes up at number 253. I’m at 10,554 or in the top 01% – not quite the top 100 and way more accurate. Being at the top means being responsible and always on. I’m not ready to claim that kind of spot. It’s August, I have three kids at home and although I’m living inside way more than I should be on idyllic summer nights like these, I want my kids to know I’m there for them all the time and twitter when I want to be. Until I figure out how to be in more than one place at once and stay in touch with more followers than digits in my code, I’m happy with where I am.

How about you? Who are the most powerful women on twitter – according to you?

I’m posting the list as of August 5, from TwitterGrader for two reasons: to mark a moment and measure how a list changes over time.

Here’s a key to interpret the information.

Guide
Twitter Name
[Profile Name] Bio Score Number of Followers Number Following Location Twitter ID

1 alyssa_milano
(Alyssa Milano)
Alyssa.com ?, ?, and BASEBALL. This is my official page. I tweet a lot. Consider yourself forewarned. 100 968,143 11,052 Los Angeles [Tweet @alyssa_milano]

2 ijustine
(iJustine)
ijustine.com I am the internet! Apple fan, Youtuber, technology lover and avid twitter! Be my friend! 100 1,177,102 10,080 Los Angeles, CA [Tweet @ijustine]

3 veronica
(Veronica Belmont)
www.veronicab… Host of Tekzilla on Revision3.com and Qore on the PlayStation Network. 100 1,604,677 6,917 San Francisco [Tweet @veronica]

4 feliciaday
(Felicia Day)
www.feliciada… Actress, New Media Geek, Gamer, Misanthrope. I like to keep my Tweets real and not waste people’s time. 100 1,750,239 5,434 Los Angeles, CA [Tweet @feliciaday]

5 pistachio
(Laura Fitton)
oneforty.com/… CEO/Founder oneforty.com. Much excitement & geekiness about where this all leads. How YOU answer my tweets: http://14t.me/2Z2k DISCLOSURES: http://14t.me/pD9m 100 60,982 32,634 Boston, MA [Tweet @pistachio]

6 marketingprofs
(Ann Handley)
www.marketing… Head of content, editor, social media, marketing, great food, good wine, writer at www.annhandley.com. 100 66,349 16,657 Boston, Massachusetts [Tweet @marketingprofs]

7 kanter
(Beth Kanter)
www.bethkante… Social Media, Nonprofits, and Networks 100 350,666 19,486 [Tweet @kanter]

8 karaswisher
(Kara Swisher)
www.kara.allt… Columnist, BoomTown, AllThings D.com 100 689,926 9,505 San Francisco [Tweet @karaswisher]

9 lizstrauss
(Liz Strauss)
www.successfu… Founder of SOBCon, brand strategist, It’s only fun when it’s brilliant strategy, high return, AND connects customers in a meaningful way. 100 46,263 40,605 Chicago [Tweet @lizstrauss]

10 vallkiryaa
(Kristall )
escorregandon… I’m singer. I like to write poems and doing draws too. Love art and Nature. Love meet new people and find new friends!^^ 100 39,989 13,246 USA [Tweet @vallkiryaa]

11 juliaroy
(Julia Roy)
juliaroy.com Senior Manager of New Media at Coach, Inc., digital influencer and internet lover. Follow to see what I am reading, writing and doing. All tweets are mine. 100 44,536 9,464 NYC [Tweet @juliaroy]

12 missrogue
(Tara missrogue Hunt)
www.horsepigc… CoFounder/Shwowp, Author/The Whuffie Factor, Owner/Citizen Space, Mom/@taquitotadito & @ridley 100 33,813 31,425 Montreal, QC [Tweet @missrogue]

13 sarahlane
(Sarah Lane)
sarahlane.com I am a small, treacherous ball of steel (She-Ra, Princess of Power). Interests: web, tech, tea, music, kitties… 100 37,120 3,822 Global [Tweet @sarahlane]

14 missmya
(MYA )
WWW.MYSPACE.C… www.tmatf.org, www.myamya.com, www.beautyandthestreets.net 100 118,258 3,181 In My Skin [Tweet @missmya]

15 charleneli
(Charlene Li)
www.altimeter… Founder, Altimeter Group. Author, Open Leadership. Co-author, Groundswell. Spouse, mom, daughter, brother. 100 38,497 2,099 ÜT: 37.534608,-122.319218 [Tweet @charleneli]

16 bethharte
(Beth Harte)
serengeticomm… Client Srvcs Director, Serengeti Communications. Digs Integrated Marcom. Fan of books, beer, cowgirl boots and brilliance #IMCchat Mod (8pmET Wed) 100 20,294 29,186 Philadelphia [Tweet @bethharte]

17 maryse0uellet
(MARYSE OUELLET )
www.frenchkis… The Sexiest of Sexy; if i wasnt MARYSE i would want to be … 100 65,752 1,686 Los Angeles, CA [Tweet @maryse0uellet]

18 tamar
(Tamar Weinberg)
www.techipedi… proud mommy. author of The New Community Rules. social media consultant. blogger. community @ mashable. feel free to email me: tamarATmashable 100 17,326 4,494 NYC [Tweet @tamar]

19 mediaphyter
(Jennifer Leggio)
blogs.zdnet.c… ZDNet social business blogger + Quick’n'Dirty Podcast co-host + strategic communications director + Security Twits herder emeritus + hockey fan 100 16,706 30,441 San Jose, CA [Tweet @mediaphyter]

20 silkcharm
(Laurel Papworth)
laurelpapwort… 20 yrs of online community management, Goddess of the social media workshop, World of Warcraft player, laurel@laurelpapworth.com 0432684992 100 23,085 22,998 Sydney Australia [Tweet @silkcharm]

21 emom
(Wendy Piersall)
www.WooJr.com Serial entrepreneur. Web 2.0 geek. Unmanageably right-brained. River rat. Imperfect mom of 3. And a lover of pretty things & tacky vintage stuff. 100 40,515 6,294 Chicago Area [Tweet @emom]

22 missusp
(Christine Perkett)
fcinf.com/v/d… CEO @PerkettPR (tech, healthcare, biz, consumer), Board: @StyleCoalition @DialogueSM @NVNA @BMABoston; Mom; Blogger; Marathoner ? Tech|Fashion|Ocean|RedSox 100 19,497 15,404 Boston [Tweet @missusp]

23 jbruin
(Jenn Van Grove)
jbruin.com/ Mashable Editor, NBC SD correspondent, #sdtweetup organizer, web geek, iPhone lover, Apple fan girl, and almost web famous. ;) 100 11,933 13,204 San Diego, CA [Tweet @jbruin]

24 mollydotcom
(Molly E. Holzschlag)
molly.com/ Open Web, Open Standards, Opera Software developer-relations gal. 100 15,080 13,584 top shelf, leaning left. [Tweet @mollydotcom]

25 imkristenbell
(Kristen Bell )
5’1 is the new 6’2 100 154,640 395 Los Angeles, California [Tweet @imkristenbell]

26 sarabareilles
(Sara Bareilles)
twitter.com/S… 100 1,881,898 365 Everywhere [Tweet @sarabareilles]

27 caterina
(Caterina)
www.caterina.… Cofounder of Flickr and Hunch 100 19,322 1,237 37.775201,-122.432742 [Tweet @caterina]

28 christinelu
(Christine Lu)
www.christine… building a Chinese luxury travel & lifestyle network. 100 14,161 37,067 LAX / SFO / PVG / HNL [Tweet @christinelu]

29 pamslim
(Pamela Slim)
www.escapefro… I am a business coach and author of Escape from Cubicle Nation. Pam is my name, freedom is my game. 100 14,803 17,576 mesa, az [Tweet @pamslim]

30 popcandy
(Whitney Matheson)
popcandy.usat… I am a pale, curious, sneaker-wearing writer. 100 16,417 4,032 New York, NY [Tweet @popcandy]

31 seosmarty
(Ann Smarty)
myblogguest.c… Love to guest blog? Looking for guest bloggers? Check out MyBlogGuest.com 100 10,920 3,918 [Tweet @seosmarty]

32 nwjerseyliz
(Liz Pullen)
spiral-scratc… Sociologist, Ethnographer & What the Trend Twitter Trend Analyst (http://whatthetrend.com) 100 9,737 47,942 New Jersey [Tweet @nwjerseyliz]

33 thereallraye
(LisaRaye )
lisaraye.com/ Actress, spokesmodel, mother, business woman…and FIRST LADY!!! 100 50,084 6,952 right here [Tweet @thereallraye]

34 x_tinaaa08
(Kristina Elan )
myspace.com/c… PURE COMEDY #TT Killer . Ridiculous Roaster . Hell Of A Shit Talker . Expose Lame Fuckers All Day . Oh Yeah I Stay Locked Up In Twitter Jail 100 10,693 39,606 atlantaaaaa,GA [Tweet @x_tinaaa08]

35 caroline
(caroline)
flickr.com/ph… twittering away since july 14, 2006. doing what i *love* to do. ???*???*??? 100 319,929 3,219 san francisco [Tweet @caroline]

36 leahculver
(Leah Culver)
leahculver.com pith pith pith 100 17,109 1,131 San Francisco, California [Tweet @leahculver]

37 delamori
(Barbara Mori )
Todavia no te… Cuando el poder del amor sobrepase al amor por el poder…el mundo conocera la paz!! 100 66,944 784 Mexico City [Tweet @delamori]

38 cbensen
(Connie Bensen)
conniebensen.… Community Strategist, Alterian SM2 (Techrigy) Named on Forbes.com as one of 20 top Women Social Media & Marketing Bloggers 100 9,615 7,347 Minneapolis, MN [Tweet @cbensen]

39 michellem
(Michelle MacPhearson)
www.michellem… SEOcial media marketing, Web 2.0, getting traffic and selling stuff like mad. 100 10,717 4,056 Petaluma, CA [Tweet @michellem]

40 sugarrae
(Rae Hoffman)
www.sugarrae.… Entrepreneur, CEO, White-Collar Redneck, Proud Jersey girl, Internet marketing chick… ‘Who do I trust? Me.’ – Scarface 100 7,970 30,315 Guelph, ON [Tweet @sugarrae]

41 maggie
(Maggie Mason)
www.mightygoo… Author of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch, publisher of Mighty Girl, Mighty Goods, Mighty Haus, Mighty Junior. 100 19,982 1,482 San Francisco [Tweet @maggie]

42 lisawrite
(Lisa I follow back )
Shopping, Dance Music, Fashion, Online Dating, Internet Marketing 100 15,056 2,019 Canada [Tweet @lisawrite]

43 debbieweil
(Debbie Weil)
debbieweil.co… author | speaker | corporate social media consultant | kinda cool | 2010 updated e-book ed. of THE CORPORATE BLOGGING BOOK on Kindle, Android, iPhone, BB, iPad. 100 9,066 6,297 Washington DC [Tweet @debbieweil]

44 alizasherman
(Aliza Sherman)
alizasherman.… Strategist, Futurist, Speaker. Co-founder Conversify (social media marketing agency). Founded Cybergrrl/Webgrrls. Alaska-based World Traveler. 100 8,049 22,348 99507 [Tweet @alizasherman]

45 rhappe
(Rachel Happe)
community-rou… Connector of ideas and people. Fascinated by social dynamics. Principal at The Community Roundtable – @TheCR 100 6,131 14,376 Boston [Tweet @rhappe]

46 arielwaldman
(Ariel Waldman)
arielwaldman.… Digital Anthropologist + Cybernetic UX Designer. Founder of Spacehack.org, a directory of ways to participate in space exploration. CupcakeCamp creator. 99.7 12,058 10,480 San Francisco [Tweet @arielwaldman]

47 stephagresta
(Stephanie Agresta)
www.stephanie… Stephanie Agresta is EVP, Global Director of Digital Strategy & Social Media at Porter Novelli. Blog is InternetGeekGirl.com; Co-Founded the TechSet. 99.7 15,161 10,684 Red Bank, NJ and NYC [Tweet @stephagresta]

48 herbadmother
(Catherine Connors)
www.herbadmot… Bad is the new good. www.herbadmother.com and www.thebadmomsclub.com 99.7 7,760 17,510 Toronto, Ontario, Canada [Tweet @herbadmother]

49 maggiefox
(maggie fox)
www.socialmed… Founder and CEO of Social Media Group.com, one of the world’s largest independent social media agencies. Ford’s social media agency since 2007. 99.7 8,201 6,805 Toronto, Ontario [Tweet @maggiefox]

50 jillfoster
(Jill Foster)
LiveYourTalk.… Entrepreneur. Joy advocate. Co-founder of DC Media Makers. Founding editor of WomenGrowBusiness.com. Favorite reminder: public speech is public power. 99.7 6,795 12,813 Washington, DC [Tweet @jillfoster]

51 shefinds
(Michelle Madhok )
shefinds.com Online Shopping Expert and CEO of SheFinds Media: shefinds.com, momfinds.com 99.7 10,296 7,408 NY, NY [Tweet @shefinds]

52 kamichat
(Kami Huyse)
overtonecomm.… On the PR treadmill of life…COO of Zoetica Media (bit.ly/kamiwork) 99.7 7,261 10,906 Houston, TX [Tweet @kamichat]

53 ticiaevans
(Patricia Evans )
www.sanidader… logy? Hmm. Yes, I like it. Official Twitter – Artist – professional singer, actress, poet. Also a singing teacher. 99.7 40,468 7,278 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [Tweet @ticiaevans]

54 jackiehuba
(Jackie Huba)
www.churchoft… Co-author, Creating Customer Evangelists, Citizen Marketers, Church of the Customer blog. Principal, Ant’s Eye View. Pittsburgh Steelers fanatic 99.7 5,760 2,999 Austin, Texas [Tweet @jackiehuba]

55 tvamy
(Amy Wood WSPA TV CW)
bbltwt.com/ap… www.TheRibbit.com – South Carolina based Interactive Anchor WSPA News Channel 7 & WYCW’s News Channel 7 at 10 with LIVE CHAT Facebook MySpace & Twitter comments 99.7 13,460 27,073 Greenville Spartanburg SC [Tweet @tvamy]

56 wiredprworks
(Barbara Rozgonyi)
thetwittergui… Wired Writer | Photographer | Social Media Marketing PR Maven |SMC Chicago Founder |Publisher, wiredPRworks |Hungarian | Kids:20~17~15 | Cat=tabby 99.7 7,301 9,100 Chicago [Tweet @wiredprworks]

57 kathy_johnson
(Kathy Johnson)
www.consortpa… Co-founder of tech PR firm Consort Partners. Co-founded Blinkx.tv in 2004. Runner, artist/painter, hospice volunteer, fost/adopt, handicapped dog owner 99.7 21,629 2,901 ÜT: 51.501737,-0.163309 [Tweet @kathy_johnson]

58 sarahintampa
(Sarah Perez)
www.sarahinta… Writer for tech news site ReadWriteWeb.com and Microsoft’s Channel 10, syndicated by NYT 99.7 8,674 8,373 Tampa, FL [Tweet @sarahintampa]

59 ericabiz
(Erica Douglass)
erica.biz/ Made first million at 26; now rockin’ out as a startup CEO, speaker, & blogger. Follow me for business tips & money/investing advice! 99.7 18,275 7,003 San Diego, CA [Tweet @ericabiz]

60 serena
(Serena Ehrlich)
www.startupar… Startups, travel, investor relations, social media in public companies, marketing. Presenting at TechMUNCH at SXSW, NIRI national, PRSA West. Conf, 140Conf LA 99.7 4,278 10,994 Santa Monica, CA [Tweet @serena]

61 beckymccray
(Becky McCray)
www.beckymccr… Rural entrepreneur. Teaching new marketing with TourismCurrents.com. Learning from small town businesses about survival and community building. 99.7 8,006 29,717 Alva, Oklahoma [Tweet @beckymccray]

62 mzkagan
(Marta Kagan)
BonafideMarke… Managing Director, US for Espresso (integrated marketing agency) http://BrandInfiltration.com. Also a Bonafide Marketing Genius. Also very humble. 99.7 3,887 2,638 iPhone: 42.309690,-71.318269 [Tweet @mzkagan]

63 yeagerhood
(Kris Yeager )
yeagerhood.com Lifetime Disc Jockey, promoter,M.C. 99.7 10,610 132,467 Oklahoma City Oklahoma [Tweet @yeagerhood]

64 creativesage
(Cathryn Hrudicka)
www.creatives… Creative Sage™ lives a passionate personal mission to cause the spontaneous combustion of creativity, innovation, and compassionate intelligence everywhere. 99.7 9,322 19,934 San Francisco, Berkeley, Mendo [Tweet @creativesage]

65 worleygirl
(Amy Worley)
www.linkedin.… The personal musings of Amy Worley: The bubbly one with a real job. VP of marketing at Andrews McMeel Publishing, wife & mommy to sweetest boy ever. 99.7 6,728 6,903 Kansas City, MO [Tweet @worleygirl]

66 newspapergrl
(Janet Thaeler)
www.newspaper… Author of I Need a Killer Press Release, Now What?? about online PR. Also see www.OnlinePRBook.com 99.7 8,279 7,239 Utah [Tweet @newspapergrl]

67 tikilala
(Lara)
www.tikibartv… protector of childhood, poetess, actress Beatrice Fastwater’s other self as seen on Tiki Bar TV 99.7 9,424 1,070 trees + seas [Tweet @tikilala]

68 sara
(sara )
saramorishige… 99.7 21,011 1,743 ÜT: 37.794653,-122.393264 [Tweet @sara]

69 conniecrosby
(Connie Crosby)
conniecrosby.… New media social networking info diva. Guerrilla librarian, geek girl and book lover. Blog fueled by grande non-fat caramel macchiatos. See also: @crosbygroup 99.7 5,833 23,440 Toronto, ON [Tweet @conniecrosby]

70 sarahspain
(Sarah Spain )
sports.espn.g… Sportscenter Anchor at ESPN1000, reporter for ESPNChicago.com, Chicago gal, sarcastic smartass. 99.7 5,655 8,246 Sweet Home Chicago [Tweet @sarahspain]

71 conniereece
(Connie Reece)
conniereece.com Writer. Speaker. Communicator. Social Media. Creative. Funny. Smart. Twitter old-timer. Owned by a cat. Favorite Beatle: Paul. 99.7 6,888 26,479 Austin, TX [Tweet @conniereece]

72 mickipedia
(Micki Krimmel)
neighborgoods… Founder of NeighborGoods.net and skater with LA Derby Dolls. 99.7 12,242 10,289 Los Angeles [Tweet @mickipedia]

73 megfowler
(Meg Fowler)
megfowler.com PR & BizDev @Sametz + writer everywhere else. If hand talking was a job I’d be at the top of my field 99.7 6,212 49,298 Boston [Tweet @megfowler]

74 laniar
(Lani Rosales)
bit.ly/8Wwc2V perpetual student and teacher of social networking business practices. speaker, writer, social media marketing consultant, ut football watcher, SILLYpersonality 99.7 5,102 30,656 Austin, TX [Tweet @laniar]

75 amyrsward
(Amy Sample Ward)
www.amysample… connecting social change/benefit groups to social media tools for listening, conversations, and more effective real change; @amysampleward for links, blog posts 99.7 5,018 8,185 London, UK (Portland, OR, too) [Tweet @amyrsward]

76 itsinsider
(Susan Scrupski)
itsinsider.co… founder- @20adoption council, girl geek poseur, advisor, wise cracker, connector, newbie activist, NYU mom, Jersey shore girl in TX, DG gramma 99.7 6,149 16,363 Austin, TX [Tweet @itsinsider]

77 poshy
(Lynn)
www.microcana… Single Momma-to-be. Front End Developer at Particle. Coffee Lover. Culinary fangirl. Gamer. 99.7 7,593 9,373 San Francisco [Tweet @poshy]

78 sundry
(Linda )
www.sundrymou… Go! Go! Devil bunnies. 99.7 6,132 8,578 Seattle, WA [Tweet @sundry]

79 brit
(Brittany Bohnet)
www.brittanyb… Live what you love. 99.7 10,317 2,609 San Francisco [Tweet @brit]

80 communicatrix
(Colleen Wainwright)
www.communica… Pushing the c*cksucking boulder up the motherf*cking hill. 99.7 5,164 3,507 Los Angeles, CA [Tweet @communicatrix]

81 sarah_hyland
(Sarah Hyland )
Judge me. I’m Sarah. Deal with it. = p 99.7 8,790 1,784 LA [Tweet @sarah_hyland]

82 citymama
(Stefania P. Butler)
www.clevergir… Principal+Founder, Clever Girls Collective, LLC. One of Forbes’ 10 Mommy ‘Hood Gurus. (Their word, not mine.) Noodle seeker. Risk taker. Karaoke queen. 99.7 5,120 21,917 ÜT: 40.763434,-73.984402 [Tweet @citymama]

83 melanie_putria
(Melanieputria )
null ?Happy go lucky me! ? 99.7 46,031 8,440 ÜT: -6.183851,106.79007 [Tweet @melanie_putria]

84 sarahm
(Sarah Milstein)
sarahmilstein… Co-chair of Web2Expo + co-author of http://bit.ly/TheTwitterBook. Also: a fan of vegetables. sarah.milstein@gmail.com 99.7 11,218 7,637 SF Bay Area + NYC [Tweet @sarahm]

85 kristensteinart
(Kristen Stein )
StudioArtwork… I’m a Philadelphia Contemporary Artist offering originals, prints, ceramic tiles, handmade jewelry at StudioArtworks.com. Love Life, Friends, Coffee & Etsy. 99.7 3,458 6,527 Philadelphia, PA [Tweet @kristensteinart]

86 storyspinner
(Liana ‘Li’ Evans)
www.searchmar… Online Marketing Geek Girl who Loves All Things Social Media! Director of Social Media for Serengeti Communications. 99.7 5,012 10,659 ÜT: 40.075409,-76.349818 [Tweet @storyspinner]

87 hardaway
(francine hardaway)
wefollow.com/… Co-founder, Stealthmode Partners, helping entrepreneurs succeed 99.7 6,269 29,379 37.468019,-122.430062 [Tweet @hardaway]

88 suzemuse
(Susan Murphy)
www.suzemuse.… writer, speaker, tv producer, media creator, co-owner of www.jestercreative.com, teacher, singer, wizard, pet mom, #12for12k ‘er 99.7 5,575 39,185 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada [Tweet @suzemuse]

89 tara_thorntonbt
(Tara Thornton ™ )
hbo.com/true-… Why didn’t you just find it online & have it delivered to your house/Or were you looking for an excuse to wear them ugly ass clothes? TB RP 99.7 4,619 29,806 Bon Temps, LA [Tweet @tara_thorntonbt]

90 jfouts
(Janet Fouts)
ow.ly/FGX Social media speaker, coach, trainer, WordPress installer, web designer, Mac gurl. Not at all interested in having a million followers. 99.7 5,052 14,996 San Jose, Ca [Tweet @jfouts]

91 heartbiebz
(Sarah Bieber )
www.formsprin… Heey all!!!?? ????????? ??? ????? ? ?????!:)??? @TheCodySimpson @liltwist @kekeinaction are followin 99.7 2,217 7,522 ?? ?? ??? ??¢? ???? ?? ?????!! [Tweet @heartbiebz]

92 dina
(Dina Mehta)
dinamehta.com/ Looking outside. Researcher, Ethnographer, Social media observer. http://mosoci.com/ 99.7 6,782 3,447 Mumbai, India [Tweet @dina]

93 nicolejordan
(Nicole Jordan)
www.kickingsa… Communications & Marketing Pro in LA. Occasionally I have an opinion. 99.7 4,725 8,445 Venice [Tweet @nicolejordan]

94 christine
(Christine Herron)
christine.net Early-stage investor at First Round Capital. Tribal kitchen goddess. 99.7 5,936 2,187 San Francisco, CA [Tweet @christine]

95 irinaslutsky
(irina slutsky)
geekentertain… queen of the ….. 99.7 6,329 21,515 San Francisco [Tweet @irinaslutsky]

96 nicole
(Nicole Lee)
www.nicolelee… Tech writer, gadget lover, overall nerd. Also a pretty nice person, but don’t take my word for it. I star tweets. I hope you do too. 99.7 4,665 3,342 San Francisco, CA [Tweet @nicole]

97 ourordinarylife
(Kristin Ruiz )
www.ourordina… Social Media Mom, marketing major and brand promoter. Nielsen Power Mom 09′ also on diaper duty. 99.7 5,916 17,664 Portland, Oregon [Tweet @ourordinarylife]

98 amandachapel
(Amanda Chapel)
strumpette.com See Strumpette.com or contact me directly at chapel@strumpette.com 99.7 9,386 21,240 Chicago [Tweet @amandachapel]

99 hacool
(Heidi Cool)
www.heidicool… Web designer/strategist, social media and Web standards advocate with a penchant for writing & photography. Also visit: welcometosocialmedia.com 99.7 3,803 16,815 Cleveland, OH, USA [Tweet @hacool]

100 geekygirldawn
(Dawn Foster)
fastwonderblo… Community Manager, BarCamp/Ignite Organizer, Blogger, RSS Junkie and Tech Enthusiast. 99.7 3,654 8,795 Portland, OR [Tweet @geekygirldawn]

Curious about how you rank at the moment? Check our your twitter grader score.

25 Largest Chicago Public Relations Firms

Recently someone moving to Chicago asked me for a who’s who guide to Chicago PR firms. Thanks to Crains Chicago Business, I’m posting this list of the 25 Largest Chicago PR Firms.

Need help with Public Relations Consulting in Chicago or elsewhere?

Click here to schedule a complimentary social media marketing or PR consultation.

Or, call 630.207.7530 to talk about your project.

As a strategic marketing and social media consultant for all types of companies, including PR firms, I advise companies to keep a watch on their competition as well form collaborative ventures to refer business that doesn’t fit and to partner up when a broader team makes sense.

My Personal Observations about Chicago’s Largest Public Relations Firms

Edelman folks seem to turn up in more places than any other firm on this list, including David Armano and Blagica Bottigliero and Archana Ramachandran and back to Leah Jones, no longer there, but the first Edelman person I met.

Adam Keats and his team at Weber Shandwick brought in their client, Oscar Mayer, to sponsor a Social Media Club Chicago event.

GolinHarris invited me to the Elysian Hotel opening, which I wrote about as a how to stage a twitter PR campaign. Interacting with their team at the event with members including Len Kendall, was engaging. It’s going to be interesting to watch GolinHarris now that Amber Porter Cox is on board as a VP of digital, dialogue team.

One of managing partners for one of these firms headed up a division at a place where I once consulted. Ketchum and CoryWest Media partnered up on a PR project for clients we had in common.

Disclosure: I am biased. I really admire those mentioned in this post.

It only takes 16 people and nine clients to make the list. Revenue ranges from $3.2 to $435 million. How do these companies stack up in social media? What do you think? That’s not on the chart.

One last thought . . . It’s interesting, to me, that I know more PR people from around the world than I know from Chicago . . .

Thanks for participating in the poll!

Top Chicago PR Firms

1. Daniel J. Edelman Inc.
200 E. Randolph St., 63rd floor, Chicago 60601
(312) 240-2600; www.edelman.com

2. Weber Shandwick
676 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 1000, Chicago 60611
(312) 988-2400; www.webershandwick.com

3. GolinHarris
111 E. Wacker Drive, 11th floor, Chicago 60601
(312) 729-4000; www.golinharris.com

4. Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3300, Chicago 60611
(312) 751-8878; www.fleishman.com

5. Burson-Marsteller
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza., 250, Chicago 60654
(312) 596-3400; www.bm.com

6. Porter Novelli Inc.
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1935, Chicago 60601
(312) 856-8888; www.porternovelli.com

7. LipmanHearne
200 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600, Chicago 60604
(312) 356-8000; www.lipmanhearne.com

8. Jasculca/Terman & Associates
730 N. Franklin St., Suite 510, Chicago 60654
(312) 337-7400; www.jtpr.com

9. Ketchum Inc.
200 E. Randolph St., 36th floor, Chicago 60601
(312) 228-6800; www.ketchum.com

10. Public Communications Inc
1 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2450, Chicago 60601
(312) 558-1770; www.pcipr.com

11. S&S Public Relations Inc.
2700 Patriot Blvd., Suite 430, Glenview 60026
(847) 955-0700; www.sspr.com

12. Dig Communications
549 W. Randolph St, Suite 201, Chicago 60661
(312) 577-1754; www.digcommunications.com

13. Ruder Finn
211 E. Ontario St., Suite 1600, Chicago 60611
(312) 329-3900; www.ruderfinn.com

14. Hill & Knowlton
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 275, Chicago 60654
(312) 255-1200; www.hillandknowlton.com

15. Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
350 W. Mart Center Drive, 11th floor, Chicago 60654
(312) 397-6000; www.ogilvypr.com

16. Cramer-Krasselt
225 N. Michigan Ave., 25th Floor, Chicago 60601
(312) 616-9600; www.c-k.com

17. L.C. Williams & Associates
150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3800, Chicago 60601
(312) 565-3900; www.lcwa.com

18. KemperLesnik
500 Skokie Blvd., 4th Floor, Northbrook 60062
(312) 755-3500; www.kemperlesnik.com

19. Gibbs & Soell PR
2800 W. Higgins Road, Suite 730, Hoffman Estates 60169
(847) 519-9150; www.gibbs-soell.com

20. Margie Korshak Inc.
875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1535, Chicago 60611
(312) 751-2121; www.korshak.com

21. MS&LGroup
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 4-150, Chicago 60654
(312) 861-5200; www.mslworldwide.com

22. Res Publica Group LLC
444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3600, Chicago 60611
(312) 755-3535; www.respublicagroup.com

23. Zeno Group
200 E. Randolph St., Suite 5230, Chicago 60611
(312) 396-9700; www.zenogroup.com

24. Cushman/Amberg Communications
1 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 3750, Chicago 60601
(312) 263-2500; www.cushmanamberg.com

25. Tech Image
1130 Lake Cook Road, Suite 250, Buffalo Grove 60089
(847) 279-0022; www.techimage.com

Interview or Engage a Top Chicago PR Speaker and Blogger

And here’s our listing

CoryWest Media
435 Crescent, 158 Glen Ellyn, IL  60137
(630) 207-7530; www.wiredprworks.com

 

What other Chicago PR firms would you add to this list?

Need help with Public Relations Consulting in Chicago or elsewhere?

Click here to schedule a complimentary social media marketing or PR consultation.

Image: view from Michigan Avenue by Barbara Rozgonyi c2010 for www.thesociallens.com

Financial Advisors, Swimming, Sales and Social Media

Being really great at what you do doesn’t always translate to other skills. For example, how well do you know how to swim? Can you dog paddle, compete in a triathlon or watch the beach as a lifeguard [or a sun bather]?

Now, let’s think about business skills. What is the one skill you need to know to master to survive any economy?

Because PR is in this blog’s title, I’ll give you a few points for that. But, the only real answer is sales. Yes, content marketing is important as is customer relationships – but you can trace every business interaction back to sales.

Thanks to Annette Bau, I’m the sales and social media strategies presenter for the Financial Advisor’s Summit. Visit the event online at http://budurl.com/fasummit or read on to find out why I think sales education is a must for every business.

No matter what business you’re in, sales is a survival skill
. I know your time is valuable, that’s why I’m including the presenters’ bios here so you can make an informed decision to attend. By the way, Annette’s arranged for each speaker to provide a free bonus. It’s worth signing up just for that.

We’re living in challenging times: markets and marketing is constantly changing.

But, for people who don’t know how to sell, markets and marketing conditions don’t matter. You see, the more you know about how to create customer relationships and deliver value, the better your sales and your business will be.

How do I know? I’m a former corporate sales trainer for one of the largest health care systems in the country. Although I’m not a national sales manager anymore, I do incorporate what I learned into everything I do.

I know what it’s like to build the most successful regional health care insurance office in the country with competitive products and services. I left that position to become a sales rep in Indiana.

Six months later I resigned. With no sales coming in – who wouldn’t quit? I transferred to Chicago and within a year my new territory – and the one I left – were leading the company. Ten years later, the relationships in Indiana I thought must be stone cold were still warm when a friend of mine took over my territory for another company. She wound up being their sales leader.

Taking my learnings from highs to lows, I became a national sales trainer on a mission to increase sales – as much as 400%. How did we get such great results? Simple: personalization and customization. From classroom presentations to riding along on sales calls, I worked with sales reps to come together as one team to serve customers.

Today, helping businesses navigate change and grow is what my business is all about.

That’s why I wanted to let you know that I’m presenting at the FA Summit, which takes place next week on August 10-12.

It’s conducted over the internet so it’s free to attend.

I have to tell you that I don’t know any of the other presenters. Except for one, I’ve never heard them speak. And, I don’t get any compensation from speaking or promoting the event. So why did I agree to present?

Because I love talking to people who sell, which means everyone. And, I know that most businesses need more sales education.

One of my favorite creative projects was for the financial services market. A Fortune 50 company engaged my services to create the optimal marketing materials for a fictitious financial planning firm. I made up everything: the logo, the name, the address, the bios, the clients, the statements, the identity and fabric of the firm were formed in my imagination and brought to life in my writing and the designer’s graphics.

So when Annette Bau, asked me to be a social media strategies presenter for the FA Summit, I said yes. Annette is an accomplished financial planner, marketer and an author. We geared the call for beginners in social media and professionals in sales – quite a mix, right? It’s interesting, to me, how regulations set tight guidelines on what financial advisors can say and post on social networks.

Financial Advisors Summit Speakers

All content from FASummit.com . . . .

Sid Walker: Selling Without Wrestling – How to have a 90% closing ratio and an abundance of quality referrals without being pushy or controlling
Sid is a champion of the consultative, relationship-building style of selling and self-promotion. His battle-cry is: “Your main job today is to help the client make informed decisions that feel right to the client!” Sid has successfully coached over 2,500 financial services reps including hundreds of the top people in the business. Sid is the founder of the Selling Without Wrestling Society, author of six books on topics including: interviewing to get more client commitment, how to develop the confidence to prospect for bigger clients, overcoming call reluctance and the fear of self-promotion, and how to “get on a roll” and “stay on a roll” selling financial services.

Michael Beck: Hit Your Marketing Bull’s-eye with D.A.R.T.S. Deep-seated, Action Reflex Trigger Strategies
Michael Beck is a recruiting and marketing specialist and is the nation’s leading expert on recruiting independent sales agents. Having helped insurance and financial service professionals for many years, Michael provides new perspectives on how people behave and how to communicate more effectively. He is a regular contributor to many trade publications such as producer’s web, financial services journal, and advisor today. He is also the author of the upcoming book, Stand Apart or Stand Aside.

Annette Bau: The Fast Track to Double Your Income and Success
Annette Bau, CFP™, a Certified Financial Planner™, is the Managing Member of Estate & Retirement Strategies, LLC, A Registered Investment Advisor. She has been a financial planner for over 20 years working with extensively with affluent business owners and women. She is the founder of the MillionDollarMarketingPractices.com and MllionaireSeries.com. Annette has authored books and products including The MillionDollarMarketingSystem.com, The Affluent Women’s Marketing Guide, the 7 Principles for becoming a Millionaire for Life and her upcoming book Winning Clients for Life.

Marie Swift: Branding Your Firm from the Inside Out: What You Must Know and Do to Win Market Share Now
Marie Swift is the CEO of Impact Communications. Her firm boasts a long and illustrious list of industry thought leaders, celebrities, and highly-successful advisors-all gleaned effortlessly through attraction-based marketing and PR strategies. She’s one of the top PR experts in the country, as well as an expert in public relations and marketing communication. She is hailed as the ‘Marketing Guru’ by the editors at Investment Advisor Magazine.

Steve Moeller: Capture $10 to $20 Million Dollars in New Investments in 2010
Steve Moeller, president of American Business Visions and author of Effort-Less Marketing for Financial Professionals, is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most ingenious business consultants. His unique business-building process, defined as relationship-based niche marketing, has become known as the “Moeller Method.” This turnkey system enables advisors to identify and attract clients that are both profitable and fun to work with.

Bill Cates: How to Get Referrals Without Asking for Them
Bill Cates is a world-renowned referral expert and he has basically revolutionized the way financial service professionals generate referrals. He is the author of Unlimited Referrals, Get More Referrals Now and his newly released book (which I love the title), Don’t Keep Me a Secret. Bill is the President of Referral Coach International and the creator of Referral Advantage Program. This program has been featured in publications such as Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power and the Wall Street Journal, just to mention a few. His own business success has been featured in Money Magazine.

Bruce Wright: Affluent, discerning clients: How to attract them, serve them and retain them
Bruce R. Wright is Chairman and founder of The Wright Company. He is the author of The Wright Exit Strategy: Wealth, How to Create It, Keep It, and Use It and Macro Strategic Planning® Your Life and Business. For over 20 years, Mr. Wright has been meeting the macro life, business and wealth management needs of discerning, affluent individuals and families. From 1985 through 1989, Mr. Wright was a managing partner for a registered investment advisory firm. Later, as founder of Macro Strategic Design Inc., he began consulting with discerning clients in their individual and family Macro Strategic Planning® needs strictly on a ‘uniquely value added’ fee only basis.

Maribeth Kuzmeski: The New Normal for Financial Advisor Business Growth
Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA is author of The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley, September 2009). Creating strong business relationships has been the focus of Kuzmeski’s business and career. Her book, The Connectors, is packed full of tools and techniques aimed at helping readers develop better, more profitable connections—tools and techniques proven effective by some of the world’s most successful professionals.

Richard Weylman: Understanding the Affluent Mind
He is a highly sought after marketing consultant, he draws from his lifetime of experience to help others understand this unique marketplace, overcome obstacles, and grow a profitable business. He is the author of the best selling book, Opening Closed Doors- Keys to Reaching Hard to Reach People. Richards is the found of The Weylman Center for Excellence in Practice Management, an online university for financial professionals and staff to elevate their success in working with the affluent.

Wendy Weiss: Recession Prospecting: How to Build a Strong Sales Pipeline in a Weak Economy
Wendy Weiss, The Queen of Cold Calling™ is an author, speaker, sales trainer, and sales coach. She is recognized as one of the leading authorities on lead generation, cold calling and new business development and she helps clients speed up their sales cycle, reach more prospects directly and generate more sales revenue. Wendy has been featured in the New York Times, BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power, Sales & Marketing Management and various other business and sales publications. She is the author of various books and programs including Cold Calling Women and Getting Past the Palace Guard.

Ken Varga: Power Methods For Generating Prospects and Referrals
Ken Varga is a businessman who has built 35 successful, profitable businesses in his career of 38 years. One of Ken’s off-line businesses had over 460,000 ongoing customers. Ken is the author of over 300 information products, including the bestselling book, “How to Get Customers to Call, Buy and Beg for More!” All of his works are based on his experiences of developing hundreds of thousands of customers through expert marketing. He has an eye for what works and a way of conveying his knowledge and intuition to his listeners so that they will profit from it immediately…and for years to come.

Mitch Axelrod: Success Secrets of World Class Producers
Mitch Axelrod is the author of The NEW Game of Business™, The NEW Game of Selling™, Sales Alchem™, and more than 50 training programs. He is founder and CEO – Chief Encouragement Officer – of The NEW Game Publishing and Media. Mitch has delivered 3,500 live appearances, radio, television, teleconferences, webcasts, audio and video training to more than one million people from 35 countries. He has been changing the business game since 1978.

Mike Byrnes: How to Grow, Even when the Economy isn’t
Mike Byrnes, founder of Byrnes Consulting, provides business planning and marketing strategy consulting services to help advisors become even more successful. His areas of expertise range from creating business plans that bring results, to the use of social media to market your business. Mike breaks the conventional consulting and coaching model, transcending those traditional relationships by partnering with his clients to develop customized business solutions. Mike has written several articles and is currently providing regular content for www.RIABiz.com.

Barabara Rozgonyi: Savvy Social Media: How to Leverage Social Network Connections into Profitable Business Relationships
Barbara Rozgonyi is a speaker, author and leader of CoryWest Media, LLC,a strategic marketing consultancy firm. As publisher of www.wiredPRworks.com, listed on Alltop and in AdAge’s Power 150, Barbara reports on ways to grow business, build brands, and connect communities. The founder of Chicago’s Social Media Club chapter, Barbara is a frequent keynote speaker, an accomplished corporate trainer, and an experienced educator who’s developed programs for numerous companies, schools and organizations such like Office Depot’s Web Café and the International Social Media Association. As a recognized social media expert, Barbara’s media mentions include inc.com, SOHO magazine, Chicago White Sox magazine, West Suburban Living, Liberty Suburban News, Risk Management Magazine, Nursing Spectrum, Successful-blog.com, to mention a few. She also contributed to the LinkedIn chapter of “Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars,” published by Entrepreneur Press in 2010. Named one of the top 30 PR twitter experts to follow by ereleases.com, Barbara’s digital brand is @wiredprworks, which also the name of her iPhone app.

Do you need help learning to swim in social media? This fall The Social Media Center will begin offering courses. To get on the announcement list, visit SavvySocialMedia.com.

What’s your biggest question about sales – or social media?

Thanks to Shutterstock.com for providing images in exchange for credit, which we are happy to give.

Baby Boomers Boast Big Social Media Market Potential

Can the 40 plus market be the pot of gold after the 20 and 30s rainbow?

Full disclosure: 2010 brings loads of celebrations for me: 25th wedding anniversary, 20th year as a home-based entrepreneur, our oldest son’s high school graduation [where this image was taken] and three children who turn 21, 18 and 16 – wow! life is good. Hey – companies – if you’re looking for a fabulous Boomer spokesperson, here I am.

In April 2009, I wrote about Boomers and social media stats. Because the post attracts a good bit of traffic every month, this tells me that there’s lots of interest out in Boomers and social media marketing.

As a Boomer, I know how much our generation spends. And, I know how much our purchasing decisions are influenced by not just our media habits, but also by others in our household.

[Hey, Old Spice Guy, who do you think is buying Fiji, Matterhorn and Denali? Moms with teenage boys who want them to work out like a gym rat, but smell like they don't sweat. Thanks for making if fun -seriously - to buy products that make my young men smell like awesome guys.]

Over 78 million people fall into the Boomer category born between 1946 and 1964.

If you’re looking for a reason to looking into this group, check this out. Nielsen recently released a report calledWhy Marketers Can’t Afford to Ignore Baby Boomers.

Mismatch: Boomer Buying Stats and Advertising Budgets

Boomers spend 38.5% of consumer product goods dollars BUT Less than 5% of ad dollars target adults 35-64
Most marketers target 18-39 year olds AND the influential and affluent 40+ market is largely ignored

Nielsen Marketing Facts about Boomers

* Dominate 1,023 out of 1,083 consumer packaged goods categories
* Watch the most video: 9:34 hours per day – really?
* Comprise 1/3 of all TV viewers, online users, social media users and Twitter users
* Time shift TV more than 18-24s (2:32 vs. 1:32)
* Are significantly more likely to own a DVD player
* More likely to have broadband Internet access at home

Top 10 Websites for 18-34 and Baby Boomers
Google, Yahoo, Bing, Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft, AOL, and Wikipedia all made both lists. Ask and Amazon rounded out the Baby Boomers list while Fox Interactive Media and Apple were on the 18-34 list. Hat tip to #commentz, produced by Sarah Evans, for the link to the Nielsen post.

Where do Boomers fit into your business?

How I Got Started in Social Media Marketing PR FAQs

Or . . . How Did you Get from Here to There

I don’t think of myself as a career counselor and mentor, but other people seem to. Lately I’m getting these questions a lot: How did you get there? How can I get a promotion? Should I quit my job? How can I start a consulting business? How did you get started in social media?

What does it mean when people start wanting to know what it takes to get what you got that you have?

Almost two years ago, I wrote two posts that I still recommend today:

Write from the Start . . . How to Launch a Creative Consultancy

Getting Started with New Media Consulting

I was thinking about writing a here to there post later, maybe in August when it’s closer to my company’s 20th anniversary [and I will write a longer one then – so stay tuned]. Since I’ve gotten several requests for career counseling, all from well-meaning folks, I decided to answer the frequently asked questions I get about who I am and what I do.

Let’s start out with a very illuminating insight . . .

Sitting in the back seat on a late night car ride home, two young ladies told me who they are. One said: I am a raconteur. The other said: I am a healer. I asked: What am I? They both said: Only you know.

So, you go first. Who are you and who do you want to be?

Not when you grow up, because hopefully you’ll always be a bit childlike, but right now, tomorrow and the next day.

If you contacted me and you’ve found your way here because of this link, my personal apologies for not letting you buy me lunch so you can “pick my brain” right away. Before we meet in person, I’ll save you time by answering questions. I’ll also ask you to think about what you need to know. I hope you find this helpful and that you achieve all of the success you deserve, both in your personal and professional lives.

Did you catch that? “Achieve all of the success you deserve.”

What does success mean to you? More money, free time, prestige, power, connections, travel? Take a minute to write down what success means to you.

For me, success is not about money – it was once, but it’s not now. Now it’s about reaching and teaching.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been in social media?

My fascination with technology and communications goes back to sixth grade when I was the audio-visual person for my school. The only reason I took the job was that I didn’t get picked to be a patrol girl and I wanted to have some responsibility. I found out I really liked A/V stuff. In high school, I led the radio club – early podcaster? Backing up a bit, at 10 I took my Brownie camera to Springfield and took pictures of a historic tree coming down at Abe Lincoln’s house – a photojournalist?. At 17, I wrote my first computer program as an accounting student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Three years later, as a senior marketing major, my business and technical writing professor offered to recommend for a position as a writer at a company in Chicago. I said no thanks, I want to be a sales rep.

Wait – the question is “How long have you been in social media?”

To me, social media is about technology, communications and relationships that mix online and in real life encounters bonded by a glue we call relationships. If you’re talking about two-way communication on social networks, I’ve been on LinkedIn since May 23, 2005 and on twitter since March 17, 2003. Facebook? At least three years. Blogging? Taught my first course in fall 2004 and started this blog in 2006.

How can I start a social media consultancy?

Yes, people do ask me to help them write their business plan over lunch. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. Read The E-Myth first. And, take a look at the links mentioned earlier in this post.

I want to do what you do.

Oh- are you talking about being a mom, photographer, entrepreneur, wife, blogger, volunteer, leader – what? What about what I do is attractive? Who do you want to be in three to five years?

Do you make megabucks?

How many is mega?

Will you share your plan?

Yes, watch what I do – it’s all out there.

Can I pick your brain?

No, you may not. Have you ever been through the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit at The Field Museum? Yes? Then, you know why it’s offensive to suggest that you do that to someone else.

Can I buy you lunch or a drink?

Yes, if we don’t talk about social media or work, we’re friends and we have something to celebrate together.

Can you help me get social media and PR speaking and consulting gigs?

Believe or not, people really do ask me to recommend them for the same kinds of business opportunities I’m after. Much better: be a peer and find out how can we refer each other. Would you think of asking your competitor to recommend you without knowing how to refer them?

Do you know lots of people?

Yes.

Should I start my own business or work for someone else?

Do you need more than one income besides yours to survive?

What should I do first?

Know three things: what kinds of work you love doing, what kinds of companies you want to work for and how you want to make your money.

Can you help me find a job?

That’s your job. But, if I do find a way to make a connection for you, I will.

How about you – how did you get hired or start your business? What other questions do you want me to answer?

Photo provided by Shutterstock.com in exchange for credit – thanks Shutterstock!