9 inbound influencers you should be following

Staying competitive in the world of inbound marketing means constant refactoring and innovation. It’s an ever-developing methodology, so you’ve got to make sure you’re paying attention to the voices that matter. Jill Konrath, speaking at HubSpot’s Inbound conference in 2018, had this to say:

‘If you’re having trouble, it’s because you just don’t know how – yet!’

Keeping an eye on these inbound titans will ensure that you’re out of trouble and in the know.

1. Neil Patel (@neilpatel)

If you’ve spent any time in the digital marketing realm, you’ll know Neil Patel. The co-founder of extremely successful website optimiser CrazyEgg, WordPress plugin Hello Bar and insight-gatherer KISSmetrics is a fantastic resource for marketing tactics and industry news.

Patel’s Marketing School podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in boosting their SEO efforts, while his blog is another great resource for marketing-related insights. Patel’s work is endorsed by everyone from Microsoft to Expedia, making him one of the most respected names in digital marketing today.

2. Mark Schaefer (@markwschaefer)

Schaefer’s expertise lies in social media marketing, and you couldn’t find a more qualified practitioner if you tried. He’s worked with Adidas, Johnson & Johnson and even the US Air Force, amongst many others.

Schaefer’s blog, {grow}, ‘sits at the intersection of marketing, technology and humanity’, while his books are a great place to get in the know about social media’s role in the world of lead generation. Schaefer also has a podcast, covering topics like podcasting itself and even Schaefer’s own reading recommendations.

3. Guy Kawasaki (@guykawasaki)

Kawasaki is famed as one of the geniuses on Apple’s marketing team for the original MacIntosh computer. Now, he’s an internationally-respected authority on social media and innovation in the workplace.

While his blog is now seemingly inactive, Kawasaki’s Twitter is certainly worth keeping an eye on. His feed is an entertaining mix of helpful marketing-related links, personal opinions and a daily news roundup, affectionately known as ‘Guy’s Daily Paper’.

4. Matthew Stibbe (@mstibbe)

You didn’t think we’d leave out our in-house inbound guru, did you? As the founder of Articulate, HR automation client Turbine and wine distributor Vincarta, Matthew’s had a wealth of experience in creating and marketing smaller businesses that love to innovate in the workplace. 

Matthew’s Geek Boss blog is regularly updated with useful thoughts on leadership, effective management, client relations, productivity and all-around geekiness. To keep up with all things Articulate and Geek Boss, his Twitter is well worth a follow.

5 and 6. HubSpot (@HubSpot), Brian Halligan (@bhalligan) and Dharmesh Shah (@dharmesh)

If you want to keep up to date with the world of inbound marketing, you can’t ignore the heaviest hitters in the game. HubSpot’s Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah both have extremely active Twitter feeds that are stacked with news on HubSpot’s latest developments, as well as thoughts on leadership and the future of marketing and sales.

HubSpot’s own Twitter profile and blog are the go-to locales for news on exciting and unusual developments in marketing, technology reviews and advice on everything from productivity to Instagram mastery. Their annual ‘Ultimate Guides’ are a must-read for any inbound marketer, and the videos they’ve uploaded from their annual Inbound conference are required watching. 

7 and 8. Jason Fried (@jasonfried) and David Heinemeier Hansson (@dhh)

The tech wizards behind the wildly popular project management app Basecamp are also well-respected voices in the world of productivity and innovation for businesses of all sizes. While they may not deal directly with inbound marketing, they do have a lot to say about effective communication and the latest technological developments for the workplace, so are well worth a follow.

Their Signal v. Noise blog focuses on the future of work, healthy productivity and the benefits of rethinking traditional working practices, while their multiple best-selling books delve deeper on the same subjects. While they don’t address inbound marketing directly, they are some of the best influencers to follow for practical examples of how businesses can communicate with the world in a genuine, educational way.

9. Malcolm Gladwell (@gladwell)

If the Basecamp team provide examples of great communication in writing, Malcolm Gladwell offers inspiration in droves. The New Yorker columnist is a regular bestseller for his ability to translate complex theories into clear, attention-grabbing prose. His style is a great one to emulate, especially for tech companies looking to educate readers and turn them into leads.

Gladwell’s Twitter often links to his latest work for the New Yorker. And, his Revisionist History podcast is a masterclass in making sense of convoluted narratives. Check out his TED talk ‘Choice, happiness and spaghetti sauce’ to learn about how your audience might think when they’re looking for a product – his conclusions are unexpected. Look to Gladwell’s work to learn how you could be communicating more clearly with your audience.

10. Bonus resource: us!

You’ve already found your way to our own blog here at Articulate, which is chock full of inbound advice, thoughts on copywriting and design, optimisation guides, lessons to be learned from cats and how we work as a remote company. Subscribe or check out our Twitter feed to keep up to date with everything we’re up to. 

HubSpot’s Brian Halligan says:

‘People shop and learn in a whole new way compared to just a few years ago, so marketers need to adapt or risk extinction.’

Inbound is constantly doing just that: adapting to meet the challenges of an ever-changing marketing landscape. Content remains at the core of a convincing inbound strategy, but if you pay equal attention to the innovators, you’ll put yourself at the cutting edge. Broadening your radar will make the way you project yourself that much more dynamic.