Working in the digital marketing space is a double-edged sword. The constant change in the industry is what attracts many marketers. However, staying ahead of the curve can prove to be a significant challenge while balancing the day-to-day demands of your job.
Ive found that one major key to success is maintaining a tight reading list of blogs that address key areas in digital marketing " and today Im going to share my list with you. If I had 15 minutes a day to stay on top of whats happening in the industry, here are the top three places Id check.
1. Occam's Razor
Author: Avinash Kaushik, Digital Marketing Evangelist @ Google
Topics Covered: Analytics, Frameworks, Strategy, Career Advice
Why I Like It: Avinash is a clear communicator and does a great job of communicating concepts that range from executive-level strategy, down to in the weeds tips on reporting and communicating value. He isnt afraid to challenge the status quo, encourages readers to question mindsets and mentalities, and doesnt mince words about common pitfalls and mistakes made by digital marketers. As a plus, his posts also garner lots of discussion, and he often jumps back in to respond to specific questions.
Favourite Posts:
- Digital Marketing And Analytics: Two Ladders For Magnificent Success
- Multi-Channel Attribution: Definitions, Models and a Reality Check
- 7 Data Presentation Tips: Think, Focus, Simplify, Calibrate, Visualize++
2. Baekdal / PLUS
Author: Thomas Baekdal, Founder @ Baekdal Media
Topics Covered: Trends, Analysis, Insights
Why I Like It: While Baekdal Plus requires a subscription ($9/month), Ive found the content to be well worth the investment. Ive found that Thomas content is often ahead of the curve and in an industry where many claim to be thought leaders, Ive found that his content is on the leading edge of relevancy (which is a good thing!). Similar to Occams Razor, content on Baekdal Plus challenges the way I think as a digital marketer and often leads me to step back and consider the work I do in a new light.
The author is kind enough to allow subscribers to share links to the full posts, so the links below will allow you to get a true sense of the type of content that is published.
Favourite Posts (free to read):
- Measuring Results: Dont be Fooled By Math
- The Future of Customer Attribution Models
- Social Media Strategies in 2014
3. GrowthHackers
Author: User generated content
Topics Covered: Growth Hacking
Why I Like It: Growth hacking is definitely a buzzword, but I love the thought process " do a lot with a little by focusing on creativity, analytical thinking, iterative testing, and a fail fast mentality. I also love the Reddit-style community, with multiple contributors and the ability to upvote quality content.
Favourite Posts:
Because this site is a mix of third party links and user generated content, Id suggest you start on the Must Read tab and go from there! That being said, this article is an entertaining read about a fraternity member growth-hacking his way to better parties!
...And More...
While those are my go-to sources, there are plenty of other great sites. If you have more than 15 minutes a day, here are some additional resources you can check out!
- PPC Hero " Tips & best practices for optimizing PPC campaigns
- Search Engine Roundtable " SEO news (I like the daily forum recaps!)
- Inside AdWords " The Official Google AdWords Blog
- Google Analytics Blog " The Official Google Analytics Blog
- Tylers Digital Dose " News and content curated by SEPs VP of Client Strategy, Tyler Calder
Nice job Dan, love hearing what other folks are reading to keep in the know. A few resources in there I hadn’t heard of thanks!