60 Men whose praise must be sung

A lot of times in the online world, you see “best of” lists for women. And that’s cool. I think that in a lot of instances women are woefully underrated in comparison to men, still. However, this does not mean that we should not give a big round of applause to men who are working their butts off. While it’s important for women to support each other, and while it’s important for men to support each other, a little cross-pollination in the way of support could do wonders, methinks. Therefore, with the women having gone first on Monday, I now present 60 men whose praise must be sung.

1. Raul Colon (@rj_c)

I met Raul because we both tend to frequent the comments section over at Chris Brogan’s website. We started following each other, and the more I got to know Raul, the more I saw that in addition to being a bi-lingual business-savvy Puerto Rican, Raul also has a great sense of humor, a tender heart, and a desire to help everyone he knows.

2. Sean McGinnis (@SeanMcGinnis)

I would love to be able to tell you how I met Sean, but he seems to be everywhere, so it’s hard to remember in which place I first encountered him. Was it in a chat? Was it via the #usguys stream, perhaps? Or was it through one of the 5 million people Sean seems to know? Sean is one of those guys who you feel like you’ve known forever and a day a little after first meeting him. Warm, funny, smart as heck, and a not too shabby leader, too, Sean is a huge part of my online community.

3. Fred McClimans (@fredmcclimans)

I do know exactly how I met Fred. I met him during an #imcchat, and my first impression was “Holy cow, this guy is one of the smartest people I’ve met.” However, you shouldn’t let Fred’s brains (or brainz) intimidate you. He is passionate about his work, he’s a great thinker, and he is another guy who can also make me laugh out loud as I scan my Twitter stream (which can be embarrassing sometimes…hard to explain laughing at your computer screen).

4. Patrick Prothe (@pprothe)

I met Patrick in just about the exact same way I met Fred. We all were chatting away in #imcchat and I was thinking the whole time, “Don’t say anything to humiliate yourself, don’t say anything to humiliate yourself.” I ended up working with Patrick on my Social Media safety project. I discovered that he was a reliable friend, an endless stream of support, and again, another guy with a great sense of humor. Patrick is also a rather good photographer!

5. Chase Adams (@RealChaseAdams)

The first time I met Chase online, I thought, “This guy is going to become a superstar.” He has an energy about him that is instantaneously infectious (in a good way). He has recently started his own company, which is showing a great deal of promise. Of course, one of the crowning achievements in this man’s time online is that he is one of the co-founders of that #usguys tribe you’ve been hearing so much about. Watch out for this guy – his star is only beginning to rise!

6. Stanford Smith (@pushingsocial)

One of the great moments I can recollect in my online career is the time when I thought Stan and I were in the same boat. I thought, “Yeah, this guy is pretty new just like me, and we can battle it out.” Well, little did i know the kind of superstar I had met. Through his blog, his posts that appear elsewhere (including sites like SocialMediaToday, Copyblogger, and ProBlogger), and his general presence, Stan is already one of the top men in the online world. And he’s only (really) 2 years old! This man is bound for amazing things. I can’t wait to see where he ends up!

7. Jason Sokol (@jwsokol)

You’ve seen Jason Sokol post on this site, and I’ve sung his praises quite a bit. Just in case you missed it – you don’t want to miss out on getting to know this guy. His approach to blogging is one of the most innovative out there. His book reviews are to die for. His willingness to learn new things and meet with new people is a delight, and his support seemingly has no end to it. What are you waiting for??

Tommy Walker (@tommyismyname)

I met Tommy back when MarketingProfs started their first chat. I began by arguing with him, and about 10 minutes later I knew that I was going to be talking to this guy for a long time. What I didn’t know is that Tommy is a Facebook master, so much so that Chris Brogan defers to him for Facebook advice! He is always coming up with great products for his customers and audience, his blog posts are elegant and articulate, and he is one of the sweeter guys you can get to know online.

8. Ian Rountree (@ianmrountree)

I first encountered Ian through his review of Trust Agents. He wasn’t just offering a review but he was also offering a way to really connect and engage with his readers, which I thought was pretty darned impressive. Then I found his round-ups of #blogchat and I thought, “Goodness, I need to get to know this guy.” As it turns out, in addition to being a great thinker and a heckuva smart dude, Ian is also a great friend, endlessly patient, and rather hilarious.

9. Nic Wirtz (@nicwirtz)

OK, as you might have guessed, that’s not really Nic’s face, but it is really his avatar. Try as I may, I can’t get him to use his picture 🙂 So, I met Nic via Ian Rountree at a blogchat. Then I saw him in just about every chat I visited and tons of others I didn’t. Nic is wicked smart and brings to my world an ornery sense of humor that could only be attributed to his British origin. What Nic probably doesn’t want me to tell you is that he is a great thinker, an excellent writer (now that we’ve gotten him to write at HardRefresh.net), and yes, he’s a darned good friend to have in your corner. Sorry Nic. I had to let the secret out!

10. Jan Wong (@jwongjk)

I was introduced to this fellow by Suzanne Vara, and shortly thereafter, Jan started coming to #tweetdiner. This is very gracious of him because while #tweetdiner is a Saturday night event for me, for Jan it’s a Sunday morning event! What you discover shortly after meeting this guy is that he is a fantastic mix of warmth, intelligence, friendliness, and brilliance. A wonderful mix to be sure. Get to know this man, please!

11. Jeff Wilson (@jeffthesensei)

Jeff is another person I met because we both were frequenting a lot of the same chats. Then Jeff wrote a post that is still one of the best posts I’ve seen in my time online. It was detailed, highly intelligent, yet also distinctly engaging. And darn it all, you’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer guy. Jeff has teamed up recently with Brandie McCallum and Sam Fiorella, two other great minds. I can’t wait to see what they all accomplish together!

12. Sam Beamond (@sambeamond)

Sam I met via Sandy Hubbard, and I couldn’t be happier that it is so. Sam is a truly wonderful person, full of warmth and care, and he writes excellent blog posts as well. While he may not be loud and obnoxious on Twitter the way, say, I am, Sam is a strong member of my online community, and I highly recommend you bring him into your community as well!

13. Joe Sorge (@joesorge or @ajbombers)

You’ve heard me sing this guy’s praises a lot lately, but darn it, I just can’t help myself. Next to the word “energy” in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure you will find this exact picture. Joe is perpetually as calm as a cool spring and yet as busy as a chicken with its head cut off. I can’t figure out how he does it all while also remaining friendly to every stinkin person he meets. I am studying this phenomenon and will keep you posted. In the meantime, follow this guy and get to know him!

14. Rufus the Dog (@dogwalkblog)

Okay, okay. His name isn’t really Rufus and he isn’t *really* a dog, but I think I’d be killed if I gave up his real identity 🙂 I met Rufus, again, via Chris Brogan’s blog (by now you should see why I’m passionate about commenting on peoples’ blogs regularly AND Twitter chats) and was immediately drawn to this guy’s dry sense of humor. I have, admittedly, a weak spot for sarcasm married to high intelligence, and that’s what you get when you follow Rufus. Oh, and like any good pup, you also get a great friend 🙂

15. Tom Moradpour (@tommoradpour)

When I first started doing my #30Thursday posts, I noticed that this guy Tom kept replying to them. I always appreciate such things, so I went to see more about this guy. “International marketing director, Pepsi.” Hmm, well that’s interesting! I am so glad that Tom found me because what I discovered is a guy who loves marketing, is passionate about making the world a better place, and a truly kind-hearted person. Get to know him and you will not be sorry 🙂

16. Mike Davenport (@stickfiguresimp)

As you might be able to tell from the avatar and from the Twitter handle, Mike is quite the visual communicator. I met Mike via Third Tribe and I found him to be one of the warmest, most supportive people in a very warm and supportive community. His capacity to communicate via seemingly simple stick figures is truly amazing to see. Understated but awesome, Mike is someone you should definitely get to know.

17. Brandon Duncan (@brandonpduncan)

I met Brandon during a #blogchat. He asked if I could take a look at his site and we got to talking from there. Brandon is an army guy, a dad, a fantastic writer, a great friend, and an extremely valuable part of my community. He always seems to have something to say that brings a smile to my face, but if he perceives you need his support, he is all business. This guy is bound for great things. Get to know him!

18. Bob James (@mightycopy)

Bob James primarily dwells in the “more than 140 characters” world, but I’d still like him to tweet more so that more people can see how awesome he is. Bob is, as you might guess, a fabulous writer, but to me he has also been a constant supporter of my blog, even when I really didn’t know what in the heck I was doing (not that I do now, but I at least have some longevity on my side). Bob is a great person to know in this era of content. Follow him, won’t you?

19. Tristan Bishop (@knowledgebishop)

How can I talk about Tristan without going on and on? I met this guy in the #custserv chat and was struck by his engagement and his smarts. Tristan is so engaging, in fact, that he can actually pull off quotes on Twitter without seeming like a cheeseball, which is pretty remarkable. Add to that the fact that he is a great friend, a great leader, and that he does a mean imitation of Donkey and Shrek and you can start to see why this guy is one of my favoritest people in my online world 🙂

20. Roy Atkinson (@royatkinson)

Roy, or as he prefers to be called, “His Royal Hello-ness,” is one of the most engaging people I know in Twitter-land. Roy could have just participated regularly in #custserv, but that wasn’t quite enough. Instead, Roy has become the official greeter for the ever-growing #custserv chat. Somehow, he keeps track of everyone who comes in and in turn makes everyone feel welcome. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Roy display anything other than kindness and humor, so turn the tables and say hello to him!

21. Danny Garcia (@dannybuntu)

Danny was one of my very first followers on Twitter and also one of my very first supporters here at ye olde blog. Remarkably, he is still around! Danny is a fantastic writer, a super hard worker, and a great friend. I don’t get to talk to him nearly enough. Those darned time zones!

22. Brian Rice (@briansrice)

Brian Rice is part of the oomph behind business2community.com, a fantastic resource for the Social Media industry. Brian and I sort of took chances on each other when we were both pretty new to the early world. Brian invited me to have my posts syndicated to his site and I agreed early on. I think it’s turned out okay for all parties involved 🙂 Brian is a smart guy, full of innovation, and a good friend to have on your team.

23. Michael Brenner (@brennermichael)

Michael co-founded the business2community…community with Brian Rice and also blogs at b2bmktginsider. Michael is always active in the community. He is a great thinker and a great writer who offers a common sense approach to the B2B world of marketing. Get to know this fella!

24. Jon Morrow (@jonmorrow)

Almost anywhere you go in the blogosphere, you feel the presence of Jon Morrow. Associate editor for Copyblogger, Jon may not get as much attention as Brian Clark does, but he certainly has inspired many, many people I know. A brilliant writer and a brilliant thinker, Jon is a person you need to familiarize yourself with if you want to get along in the online world.

25. Joseph Ruiz (@SMSJoe)

I’ve told you about Joe Ruiz before, but I never, frankly, get tired of talking about this guy. Joe is another guy I got to know because he seemed to be in every chat I was in. Every time he began tweeting, everyone welcomed him. Joe always has great insights but I think what I appreciate most is his immensely kind heart, which you can just see taking over the world. You can only benefit by bringing Joe into your community.

26. Arie Moyal (@amoyal)

I met Arie during #imcchat (there are some frighteningly smart people in that chat now that I think about it). After talking to Arie over the last several months, I’ve been convinced of 3 things. First, he will tell it like it is, which can sometimes be uncomfortable. Second, he is most happy when he is driving me nuts. And third, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more supportive member of your community. Sorry Arie, you’re another one I have to out – you’re actually a nice dude.

27. Taariq Lewis (@taariqlewis)

Founder of Stanzar and a pretty darned tootin sweet guy, Taariq Lewis is a fellow I met via the #usguys hashtag. In addition to being very engaging, wickedly funny, and horribly smart, Taariq is also a constant supporter once you get him in your corner (which I highly recommend you do). Oh, and keep your eyes on this guy. His star is only going to rise.

28. Stéphane Poirier (@exopoirier)

When I first met Stéphane, I thought that he was a pretty darned smart guy. Bi-lingual as he hails from Montreal, Stéphane seems to gain respect no matter what language he speaks or where he is speaking it. A devilishly charming sense of humor, I was delighted when I found out that he was also a speaker at last year’s unGeeked Toronto. Stéphane has great ideas about where business can go in the years to come, and he is a kind person to boot!

29. Lou Imbriano (@louimbriano)

Lou is another person I could probably write an entire post about (and perhaps I shall someday). You might wonder what a guy who used to work for the New England Patriots and who is still entrenched in the sports would could offer you if you’re not in that world yourself. How about hilarious tweets, pictures of drool-inducing desserts, motivational/inspirational blog posts, and insightful contributions to chats? Yeah, head on over and friend this gentleman.

30. Marc Pittman (@marcapitman)

I first met Marc during my brief stint at 501missionplace.com. I was taken by his warmth and charm, then discovered that he is a man with a deep-seated faith that extends beyond words into real action. These days, there aren’t, in my mind, many higher compliments I can pay a person. Look for Marc’s ever-present bowtie in your Twitter stream and say hi!

31. Kenny Rose (@Grit08)

I’ve known Kenny since his very early days on Twitter. He was still pretty new when I saw him come to #tweetdiner one night. He seemed to think he’d never get the hang of Twitter, but by the end of the chat I could already tell he would be a star. Kenny is what I like to call a mad chatter. He always has a pleasant word for, well, everyone, and he offers warm support and strength to all he knows. He’s a jewel.

32. Paul Flanigan (@paulflanigan)

I met Paul thanks to Chris Brogan tweeting out one of my posts. Paul graciously came over to my blog and introduced himself and then did the same on Twitter. If you’re a regular reader here, you might recall Paul’s post on this very site early this year about resolutions. He is a great writer, very gifted, and is a great person to get to know.

33. Mark Robertson (@markosul)

Mark I met because he would pop by my blog quite often, and then I also ran into him in the #usguys stream. Mark is a great lover of literature and knowledge and therefore is a very fun person to talk to. He’s also quite smart, but always willing to learn more. That’s a great combo in my book!

34. David McGraw (@davidmcgraw)

I first told you about David McGraw on this site back in the fall of 2010 where I highlighted him in “Good people doing good things.” See, 1 day of Thanksgiving didn’t seem like quite enough for David. He believed we should consciously be thankful everyday, and he wanted everyone to join him in posting something to be grateful for every day in November. That’s pretty much the spirit of David in a nutshell. He is caring, engaging, smart, and a great addition to any online community.

35. Steven Pofcher (@spofcher)

Steven is a constant supporter not just for me but for many people in the Twitter stream. When he steps into #tweetdiner (a chat I run on Saturday nights) he engages so thoroughly with everyone and always has something great to contribute. You won’t regret getting to know him!

36. Steven Parker (@sparker9)

Steven Parker is a gentle soul with a steel-sharpened brain. He is not flashy and in your face, but he just keeps working hard, making great contributions, and making himself a rock solid part of the online world. As a fellow B2B comrade, Steven and I are often on the same page, but even if we weren’t, I’d have all of the respect in the world for him 🙂

37. Ken Rosen (@ken_rosen)

Ken Rosen is another B2B peer. He is very, very smart, often participates in chats in ways that fly right over my head, but he has also been a great supporter to me and I know to a lot of other people. He is another calm, gentle guy who just does his thing and does it well.

38. Cristian Gonzales (@galactic)

Cristian is another person I met from doing my #30thursday post round-ups. He submitted a couple of posts for inclusion that absolutely knocked my socks off, and then he continued to knock my socks off by perpetually recommending 3-4 other posts by other people every week. I soon came to learn that that is just the way this guy is. Cristian is one of the founding members of #usguys, and while he isn’t around on Twitter as much as he used to be, you need to tackle him and follow him when you have the chance 🙂

39. Joseph Olewitz (@jolewitz)

I’ve gotten to know Joseph best through our interactions at #tweetdiner. Joseph is a thoughtful man who always has something kind and supportive to say. He always makes excellent contributions to our chats and I think it’s safe to say that everyone has a bit of a better time when Joseph is able to make it.

39. Bernard Martin (@bernardmartin)

I started following Bernard Martin because we had some overlapping interests – Bernard is involved in manufacturing and a lot of our clients also live in that world. What I discovered is a man who somehow manages to tweet via 3 different accounts, is brilliant (getting tired of hearing that yet?) and who never seems to get involved in any kind of debate that would end up with anyone having bitter feelings. This guy is another great resource to have in your community.

40. Bill Boorman (@billboorman)

If you have ever participated in a Twitter chat, you’ve probably met Bill Boorman. Although he is in England, he seems to be awake and active at any given moment when there’s a chat to be had. More than just participating, Bill offers very perceptive contributions, doesn’t sugar coat things he believes to be wrong or incorrect, and to top it all off, he often provides statistics at the end of the chats in which he participates to show who the biggest contributors were. I don’t know how he does all that he does, but he does!

41. Mack Collier (@mackcollier)

Speaking of chats, you have probably heard me sing this guy’s praise plenty of times. Mack Collier founded #blogchat, which has since become the most popular Twitter chat. Blogchat is what showed me what Twitter really could be used for, and Mack Collier is at the heart of it all. Of course, none of this is quite enough for Mack. You’ll also see him innovating new ways to do chats and participating in lots of other chats. And when he’s not doing that he is cranking out awesome blog posts. Oh, and he’s nice, which doesn’t hurt either. Sheesh!

42. Geoff Livingston (@geoffliving)

So, if you see Geoff Livingston on Twitter, you will see that his avatar is actually his beautiful baby girl – for reference I thought I’d put in a photo that is more…him! Geoff, co-founder of Zoetica, lives in the more journalistic and not-for-profit intersections of Social Media. As such, he is able to observe some of the more silly aspects of Social Media while also being alert as to how Social Media can help make the world a better place. Geoff’s latest book, Welcome to the Fifth Estate, recently was launched out into the world and I highly recommend purchasing and reading it!

43. Mark Schaefer (@markwschaefer)

What can I say about Mark Schaefer? I started reading his blog last year and the more I read, the more I wanted to keep coming back. Then I read his book, The Tao of Twitter, and I was surprised at how many beliefs about the online world we had in common. Then I started interacting with his blog community and started interacting with him on Twitter, and I have come to the conclusion that he is the real deal. Simple words with big meaning. You need to get to know this guy.

44. Danny Brown (@dannybrown)

Danny Brown is one of those people who seems able to do everything. He has a mammoth blog, a very strong Twitter presence, everyone who meets him seems to adore him, he does a lot of charity work, and he seems to me to be a genuinely nice human being. I met Danny when I was working on my Social Media Safety project. He graciously helped me connect with an organization that helps keeps teenagers safe on Facebook, and he and a representative of that organization joined one of our chats. That is the kind of guy this is. Although he sometimes writes posts that I don’t agree with 100%, he always inspires great conversation, and that’s what really matters!

45. Sam Fiorella (@samfiorella)

For as long as I’ve known Sam, his star has just continued to rise and rise and rise. I first met Sam via the #usguys stream. Then I started seeing him participate in a lot of the chats I was in. Then I started seeing him lead chats I was in. Then I heard that he was helping put together the Chicago unGeeked event, and now he is working with Jeff Wilson as part of Sensei Marketing and will be helping host a live #blogchat at the MarketingProfs B2B Forum. Add to all of that the fact that Sam is a darned likable guy, and you can see why I would have him on this list!

46. Jason Mikula (@mikulaja)

I met Jason at one of the 17 chats we used to participate in together. Was it #IMCChat or #MMchat where we started talking? I have no idea. What I do know is that wherever I saw Jason, he was making excellent contributions. He was also warm and friendly with quick mind. Jason is another co-founder of #usguys and as you get to know him, you also see his passion for charitable work and general work towards bettering humanity. Who could have a problem with that, anyway?

47. Allan MacDonald (@the_golf_geek)

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure how I met Allan. He doesn’t participate in a lot of chats. I don’t run into him on Twitter a lot. I’m not a golfer, so we don’t have that in common. But what I can tell you about this guy is that whenever I put out a tweet that sounds remotely like I’m having a bad day, Allan checks to make sure I’m okay. On dreary days, I always know that this guy is out there and cares. And that is pretty darned priceless. So check him out, even if you have no intention of ever golfing (just don’t tell him that!).

48. Dan Perez (@danperezfilms)

Now why would I include someone on this list whom I often refer to as “Meaney Head?” It might be a good question if it was in regards to anyone other than Dan. Here’s the thing about Dan that I like. He doesn’t offer any candy coating as so many people do, I think, in the online world. If he really likes what you’re doing, he’ll tell you. If he really hates what you’re doing, he’ll tell you. Sometimes this can be uncomfortable. Sometimes he flirts with offensive, even. But Dan sticks out because he remains true to himself in a world where the pressure is to be true to some idealized version of humanity. I value Dan’s honesty, and for all of the disagreements we have, when he pays me or other folks a compliment, I know it comes from his heart (which, by the way, is a good one).

49. Peter Pollock (@peterpollock)

A few months after moving to my self-hosted blog site, I decided it was time to add some design elements. This was before I bought Genesis, so I had to learn how to FTP this and upload that. It was dreadfully confusing to me because hey, I’m not a web designer. So like any sane person, I made a Twitter cry for help, and Molly Campbell introduced me to this fellow. Though he didn’t know me, Peter helped me out for a good hour, and I’ve never forgotten that. As you start reading his blog posts, this event, it becomes clear, is right in context with his life’s work. See about getting to know this guy!

50. Jim Mitchem (@jmitchem)

Jim Mitchem one of the best writers working in the blogosphere right now. If you haven’t checked out his blog posts, your life is not yet complete. In addition to that? Hmm. Well, he’s a great family man, hilarious, and a wonderful addition to any online community. Get to know this guy, please!

51. Rob Hatch (@robhatch)

If you’ve floated around any of Chris Brogan’s work, you probably know who this hardworking hero is. Steeped in charitable work, Rob seems to embody endless patience and good humor while working hard to keep a bunch of people on the same page and organized. He’s a delight to talk to, and I’m glad I know him. You should get to know him too.

52. Clay Forsberg (@clayforsberg)

Clay is another no-nonsense kind of guy, so when you hear something nice from him you know that he’s not “just saying that.” Clay backs up this no-nonsense kind of approach via his own tweets and via his blog posts, all of which I think you will find quite interesting. Check it all out!

53. Josepf Haslam (@josepf)

Josepf might be one of the most nice people you could encounter on Twitter. I met him through the #usguys stream and various other chats, where it seemed like he either knew everyone or wanted to get to know everyone. These are the things I say about him first, but behind that is also a brain that is super sharp and an energy that is inspirational.

54. Kyle Thill (@toyotaequipment)

I’m not sure how I got so lucky, but I met Kyle because he started visiting my blog and leaving some of the best comments I’ve gotten here. He is always insightful and straightforward with his thoughts – a great combination of characteristics for the online world. Kyle also is one of those people who always seems to have a kind word. A good solid Minnesotan fella. 🙂

55. Mark Dykeman (@markdykeman)

I first got to know Mark via Third Tribe, where I always found him to be at the forefront with astute observations and helpful suggestions. Then I had the opportunity to read Mark’s book thought-maps, and I was blown away. This is one smart cookie, but he is another fellow who can also make you crack up while scanning your Facebook or Twitter stream. Also be sure to check out Mark’s blog at thoughtwrestling.com!

56. Terry St. Marie (@starbucker)

Terry is the other great mind behind SOBCon, with Liz Strauss. You only ever hear great things about this guy. He embodies everything he talks about in regards to leadership by leading that way himself. He is amiable, super smart, and seems somehow to stay above the craziest parts of Social Media to keep true to his own personal ideas of strength and leading.

57. Steve Woodruff (@swoodruff)

I met Steve via Lisa Petrilli and the chat they co-host – #leadershipchat. Per the name, Steve is quite the leader, and yet he also seems capable of tracking everyone who joins in and greeting them with a warm welcome. Steve is super smart yet always gracious, and he is not afraid to have some fun online, too. You should get to know him.

58. Michael Stelzner (@mike_stelzner)

I actually learned about this gentleman before I signed up for Twitter. I was doing some research on white papers and found out about Michael’s great work on that subject. Only when I joined the world of Social Media did I find out everything else this guy does. It seems like he has a new great idea every day, from virtual webinars with fantastic line-ups to a constant stream of mind-blowing posts at SocialMediaExaminer.com. Michael was ahead of the curve on bringing education to the online world, and he shows no signs of stopping.

59. Sumner Musolf (@sumnermusolf)

I once again can’t explain how I got so lucky, but I met Sumner because he started leaving comments here on my blog site. I ended up meeting him on Twitter too and saw him interact with people in ways that revealed that he wasn’t just being nice to me – he’s nice to everybody. Sumner is a smart guy who always looks out for people he cares about. He is hilarious, loyal, dedicated to quality work, and is a great asset to any online community you could throw at him. Throw him yours!

John Jantsch (@ducttape)

John Jantsch is the kind of person who makes me think, “Gosh, I hope I can end up being that awesome someday.” From his Duct Tape Marketing book through his Referral Engine book, from his blog to the many interviews he does with people throughout the online world, John embodies incredible work, incredible dedication, great success – and yet no one seems to have a darned negative thing to say about him. Rather, everyone is pretty glad he’s successful because he’s too nice for us to think otherwise. I’ve found John to be accessible, gracious, and always thinking about the people around him in the online world. Who could ask for more?

So that’s it. Those are 60 men whose praise must be sung. I know that there are some names that you probably are surprised aren’t here, like Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, Darren Rouse, Jason Falls, and Jay Baer. I have the utmost respect for all of those men, but you hear a lot about them. I wanted to use this opportunity to shine the light on some guys you might not hear about as often.

Who did I miss from your corner of the online world?

81 Comments

  1. Sean McGinnis on June 10, 2011 at 8:12 am

    Hahaha!

    True story Margie…I was following you long before we interacted. I blame you personally for piquing my interest in #UsGuys…but I’m pretty sure we didn’t actually “meet” or interact until at some time within that stream.

    But I’m so grateful that we did.

    I’m honored to be included in this incredible list. I know so many of these gents, and without a doubt, each of them is worthy of a follow and a “let’s get to know each other” discussion…well, except maybe that Dan Perez fellow 😉

    Two buddies immediately come to mind as being worthy of inclusion in this list:

    @DanielNewmanUV is my partner in our newly launched group blog called 12 Most (http://12Most.com) – Dan is the CEO of a small business here in Chicago, and a gem of a guy focused on leadership and networking. Like me, Dan is fairly new to Social Media. He’s an amazing networker.

    @TAMcDonald – Tim McDonald is a staple of the Chicago social media scene. He is director of communications for Chicago Social Media Club and he is also founder of Lake County Social Networking group where 30+ people come together for monthly learning and networking opportunities. He’s fantastic, and one of the most social guys I know (in all the right ways).

    Thanks again for including me Margie. I look forward to meeting in face to face one of these days….

    • Tim McDonald on June 10, 2011 at 9:09 am

      Sean,
      You are too kind! Thanks for opportunity to meet Margie and others on this list I wasn’t following. Looks like a great group!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:15 am

      Sean, you just keep perpetuating tales of your awesomeness. Thank you for this fabulous comment 🙂

    • Dan Newman on June 11, 2011 at 11:38 am

      Sean – Honord you feel I belong here.

      Margie – Great list, I personally interact daily with many of these folks and I couldn’t agree more. Great job on the list. I can only imagine the amount of time it to put this together.

      My respect goes out to you and many whom you named here.

      Dan

  2. Gabriella O'Rourke (@GabyORourke) on June 10, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Once again, an incredible list which speaks volumes about you, Margie, and your incredible ability to connect authentically with the people you ‘meet’ online. I love each of the very personalised notes and I can relate to so many of them. Many of the gents on this list are absolute role models and rock stars when it comes to demonstrating the art of building relationships. I don’t think twitter makes you more social, but it is a powerful tool for amplifying great personalities. Love the list, love many of the fab guys in it and now have a few more excellent people to keep an eye on! Thanks 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:17 am

      That’s very kind of you Gaby. This is why I never see getting more people to interact with as a burden or as a “problem” that needs to be worked on. When I say I have a community, I mean that the folks I interact with online are a neighborhood of sorts. A really really good neighborhood 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the list!

  3. Nancy Davis on June 10, 2011 at 8:50 am

    This is another great list for me to bookmark, and will be following the men I do not follow already. This is a great list, and I could single out several of them.

    This is like a gigantic Follow Friday, so I am adding to my follow list right now!

    Thanks for putting together such a great list Margie.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:17 am

      Not a problem, Nancy. It was quite fun 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!

  4. Raul Colon on June 10, 2011 at 8:55 am

    Margie,

    Reading this first thing in the morning after following the advice of our mutual Friend Joe Sorge of doing morning pages just brightened my day.

    I really enjoy reading your blog and I have to agree that you keep a good balance of cross pollinating and uniting us all. I appreciate many of the conversations I have had with you and I am really grateful to have your friendship. I can wait till I meet you in person to in a very Puerto Rican way give you a big HUG.

    It is great that you have Sean from US Guys. Chase Adams, the awesome and great Tommy Walker (he should have been first on the list), Mr Joe Sorge (who I admire and is always helping me out), Rufus the Dog (some representation from our four legged male friends which makes me laugh), Jason Mikula, Rob Hatch, Josephm, and John Janstch who wrote that awesome book Referral Engine.

    Thank you for including me it really brought a big smile to my face!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:18 am

      So glad to hear it, Raul. You’re an amazing fellow. Listing you here was easy as pie 🙂

  5. Alex Levine on June 10, 2011 at 9:33 am

    What a great list of quality people to follow and engage with. I couldn’t agree more about Raul Colón. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on some web development projects (read: I send him an e-mail with a crazy idea for a website/web-related need and he deciphers what I mean and enhances it). He is as talented as he is funny. I’m a vegan-wannabe and so his blog VegLatino is one of my favorites.

    I also got to meet Jason Mikula at the last Social Media Club Chicago event; he seemed like a great, super hard-working guy. Very nice as well of course!

    I’ll be sure to follow the rest of the guys you talk about. Great article!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:19 am

      Alex, I’m very jealous that you’ve gotten to work so closely with Raul and that you got to meet Jason. I’m not surprised at all that they are as great as they seem.

      Thank you very much for your note! 🙂

  6. Joe Sorge on June 10, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Margie,
    What a great list! Not only am I honored to be on it, but I can’t wait to read about every single one of them. I’m not sure I know a better curator of goodness than you. See what I did there? If that’s not a new title, I don’t know what is! 🙂

    Margie Clayman: Curator of goodness

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:19 am

      You clever fellow, you. That’s a title I could live with and aspire to 🙂

      Thank you!

  7. David McGraw on June 10, 2011 at 10:14 am

    What an honor and privilege to be included on this list. While I interact with many of these folks, there are plenty of new faces to meet. I look forward to new friendships and interactions.

    Margie,

    You are what makes SM great. Genuine, caring, curious, passionate, and engaging. Watching you blossom over the last 9-10 months makes me smile. I see a person who wants to be greater than them self. A person who wants to create big changes in their world. A person who knows what is important in life. A person who makes a difference.

    Thank you!

    In Gratitude, David

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:20 am

      Right back at you sir. You are a real breath of fresh and optimistic air in the online world:)

  8. Brandon on June 10, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Margie, you are simply incredible. I thank you so much for helping me when I have needed it and introducing me to so many fantastic people (many on this list, that’s for sure.) Being included here among some of these giants is humbling and exciting all at the same time.

    I’m looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship. Much love for you, girlie, much love. 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:21 am

      Very glad to hear you’re happy, Brandon. You deserve credit for all you’re doing (and all you’re going to do!). *smush*

      • Brandon on June 11, 2011 at 2:23 pm

        I deserve credit? Where you find the time to put all of these kinds of things together, I will never understand. Your generosity overwhelms me sometimes.

        You are the one deserving of the credit. 😉

        And *smush* back at ya. 🙂

  9. Chase Adams on June 10, 2011 at 11:54 am

    Thanks Margie!

    I don’t know how you make time to do everything you do in life, but it really amazes me that you keep pushing out content that is always top notch.

    Being on a 60 list is huge for me…made my day when I saw that I made it!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:21 am

      I meant what I said up there. I knew you were a superstar as soon as I started talking to you. I know you’ll never prove me wrong 🙂

  10. Paul Biedermann on June 10, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    Wow! Such a great list, Margie, and I’m proud to call many of them “friends”. Thanks for pointing me to those I don’t know, as well — I’ll have to do something about that 😉

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:22 am

      You should! You should! 🙂

  11. Susan Giurleo on June 10, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Wow, what a great list! I’m happy that I know many of these wonderful men and looking forward to getting to know more..Thanks so much for putting these lists together- @JoeSorge is right – you are a curator of goodness! : )

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:22 am

      I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by goodness, so that makes the curating pretty easy 🙂 Thanks, Susan!

  12. Joseph Olewitz on June 10, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Margie,

    Once again your ability to make a contribution to the space while simultaneously providing an acknowledgment of individuals is a massive, unusual, and powerful skill. You are very generous and after meeting you online then looking forward to your communications, I am not the least bit surprised. You are smart, witty, devoted, unselfish and a pretty damned good writer too.

    These people you call out are extremely powerful and many whom I know indirectly because of you. The others will soon be followed by me, for sure. You know: “…any friend of Margie’s is worthy of being a friend of mine!” 🙂 I am both surprised and honored to be included on the list – thank you.

    I think you are correct that we first “met” at Tweet Diner and frankly, it was because of you that I felt at home there and then elsewhere, too.

    Thank you, thank you, for all you do.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

      You’re so very kind, Joseph. I’m happy and delighted that I’ve been able to make you feel comfortable on twitter and that I’ve helped introduce you to good people (and visey versa too!) 🙂 Keep being your great self!

  13. Sam Beamond on June 10, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Awesome stuff Margie, certainly glad to have connected with you. Good resource of other peeps to connect with. Thanks for that.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

      Thank YOU Sam! 🙂

  14. Nic Wirtz on June 10, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    9 is my favourite number Margie, so that was a particularly nice touch, although psst, you might have not numbered a couple 🙂 Honoured to be here and pleasantly surprised at how many people I know but also have many I don’t.

    What are you doing to my reputation as internet troll/grump? Dan’s too. Oh what Arie’s here? Bah.

    My mother was a librarian, so I always knew we’d get on once you revealed your major. Not many 8 year-olds know the Dewey system 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:24 am

      Drat. Numbers have never been my strong suit!

      I do apologize for ruining your crotchety reputation, but sometimes these things have to be done for the good of the people. I know you’ll understand eventually 😉

      • Josepf J Haslam on June 11, 2011 at 10:55 am

        Nick,

        you just blew your cover about not wanting anything measured! Gotcha! And now Margie (whom we all equally adore and believe as Curator of Goodness) attests that you’re a nice guy! Well change that avi and jump back in to the stream 🙂

        Josepf

  15. Judy Helfand on June 10, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    Margie,
    Every day I learn a little something from you. I love this list. It includes many men that I recognize and already follow.
    But, the best thing I learned from you today is Terry St. Marie (@starbucker) real name! I thought his name was Terry Starbucker. LOL…I even met him and attended a Blogworld 2010 session with Liz Strauss and Carol Roth, and still didn’t get his real last name. In fact, I just checked the BWE10 Conference Program and they call him Terry Starbucker. You will see I talk about Terry in this post http://blog.webconsuls.com/2010/10/bwe10-chief-listening-officers-wanted.html

    I am going to update my post to use his REAL name!

    Thanks again.

    Judy

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:25 am

      I think you are most certainly not alone in thinking that, Judy. I did too, for example 😀

      You are wonderful. Thanks for your great comment, as always!

  16. Steven H. Parker on June 10, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Wow, Margie, I am really flattered and humbled to be on this list! As David McGraw said you are “Genuine, caring, curious, passionate, and engaging.” You are the kind of person who, by your actions, constantly introduces people, so it’s no surprise you’ve created these great lists. It’s not always easy to get to know people in social media, but have the knack. I only know about a third of the men and I haven’t even seen the women’s list yet. I better get busy. 😉

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:26 am

      Absolutely, Steven! I know that everyone here will think you are super, just as I’m pretty darned sure you’ll like those folks you haven’t met yet.

      Thank you for being such a great part of my community!

  17. @samfiorella on June 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Margie, I’m so glad you made this a list of 60 and not 59 so that I was able to squeeze in! Thanks for the kind words and inclusion amongst these fine gentlemen (for the most part!). 😉 Although after reading your note I’m feeling a little bit like a stalker! 🙂

    Much love.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:26 am

      haha 🙂 Well, that was not quite my intent, but I’ll take the bonus 🙂 You’ve done great stuff, Sam. Keep it up!

  18. Joseph Ruiz on June 10, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    Margie,
    Humbled to be included in this list. In addition to being kind, generous, engaging and passionate you are one of the most connected people i know. Although i know most of these gentlemen i’ll add the rest to my follow list. Sam what do you mean “for the most part” we think you are a gentleman. 😉

    All the best
    Joe

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:27 am

      Thanks, Joe. You are one of my role models. I mean that most sincerely! *smush*

      • Josepf J Haslam on June 11, 2011 at 10:59 am

        Margie?
        have you met Joe in person yet? He, like Stan Phelps @9inchmarketing ,have great “personal presence”. I followed Stan around at #SxSW just to bask in his Aura. If you have not tried that yet please add it to your list. 🙂

        Josepf

  19. Ian M Rountree on June 10, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    With secret bonuses, John Jansch and Tommy Walker! This is actually 62 men!

    What a group, Margie! Wow, and thanks!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:27 am

      Well, making these lists is not the easiest thing in the world….:) Counting hard. Reading good!

      Thanks, Ian 🙂

  20. Dan Perez on June 10, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    Does this mean I’m no longer a “Meaney Head”? AND that I’m not a heartless SOB? I don’t think you’d get @samfiorella to agree with that but like Aesop said, “Please all, and you will please none.” 😉
    Thank you, my dear, for the kind words – much appreciated. Hugs.

    • Brandon on June 10, 2011 at 7:44 pm

      Ouch, you got the ‘meaney head’ treatment? Sorry man. 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:28 am

      You still may be a meaney head, but you are one with purpose, Dan. And I know you have a gooey heart in there 🙂

    • Dan Newman on June 11, 2011 at 11:40 am

      I don’t think your a meany head – just perhaps misunderstood LOL

  21. Geoff Livingston on June 10, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Thanks for the shout out, Marjorie. I like the way you are blogging these days. Nice work!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:28 am

      Thanks, Geoff. I appreciate that!

  22. Brian Rice on June 10, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    Margie,

    Not sure where to begin so I will start with “Thanks”. It has been such a pleasure getting to know you. Your creative writing style pushes me to demand more from my own. I have learned a lot from you as well as many of the folks on this list. Your list introduced me to a bunch of new people that I look forward to connecting with. Thanks again for taking a chance with contributing and syndicating at Business 2 Community, I certainly welcome others to follow in your footsteps.

    All the best,
    Brian

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:28 am

      Back at you, Brian. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next! 🙂

  23. Nicole Fende on June 10, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Let’s hear it for the boys! Thanks for doing a top 60 on guys, as Nancy says above it’s like a giant Friday Follow list (although I know a few people already). Have a great weekend Margie.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:29 am

      Thanks, Nicole. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

  24. Ken Rosen on June 11, 2011 at 12:42 am

    Hi Margie,
    Thank you for both including me and guiding me to people I’ll want to know better. I’ve come to know…at least a bit…many on this list and they are folks I’ve come to look forward to seeing (yes, even Dan…ok, sometimes especially Dan). So I can only assume those I do not yet know should be future friends.

    And I still cannot figure out why I met you early in my dive into the social media waters via chats, yet seem to cross paths with you too rarely lately. I’ll have to work on that…

    Cheers, Ken

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:30 am

      Thanks, Ken 🙂

      Back in February I started having a lot of trouble with my arm – cartillage damage and pinched nerves in my neck and shoulder, apparently. With my job being primarily computer-oriented, blogging, and Twitter, typing became something that was uh, not helping 🙂 So I’ve tried to cut back a bit, though it pains me to do so.

      I’m still around though. We do need to chat more!

  25. Steve Woodruff on June 11, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Very sweet of you to include me in this list of stellar gents, Margie. I appreciate your very regular engagement on-line!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 9:30 am

      Sure thing, Steve, and back at you 🙂

  26. […] engagement and sincere responsiveness just exude from others. Just look at the amazing list of 60 men and 60 women on twitter that the wonderful Margie Clayman has put together and you’ll see […]

  27. Karen E. Lund on June 11, 2011 at 10:48 am

    Wow! I’ve met six of them IRL and they’re all terrific. I’m familiar with some of the others through Twitter chats and the #UsGuys tribe.

    Margie, you are so on-target with the ones I know that I have to look up the ones I don’t know and start following them!

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 2:45 pm

      I’m officially very very jealous of you right now, Karen. And I’m jealous of the guys for getting to meet you!

  28. Josepf J Haslam on June 11, 2011 at 11:13 am

    So Margie,

    were your ears burning last night? Sean McGinnis and I brought you up a couple of times on a Skype chat we were having. We both admire your amazing body of work and that you are a role model for how to be a prolific blogger. You are one of the top “must meet” people that I have yet to meet. 🙁 As Karen E Lund says above, meeting IRL is terrific. I had the pleasure of meeting Karen twice, once in Philly and once in what Paul Biedermann calls “the city” (really?! doesn’t it have a name?).

    Paul, Dave McGraw, Lewis Poretz, Robin Davidson and I were Video chatting last night! And sadly I missed an IRL meeting with Patrick Prothe this past Tuesday. 🙁 Lots of other great examples like meeting Sam “mutual bro-mance” Fiorella and Deborah “she’s so much more amazing in person” Weinstein at #UsGuysEH in Toronto.

    So how about we have a “Meet Margie” conference? Seriously. I kind of picture it like a Barnes & Noble book reading where we’re all sitting at your feet whilst you discuss your blog and how you go about things. Who’s in????

    best and warmest regards,

    Josepf

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 2:45 pm

      You’re sweet. I’m not sure that would be the most interactive conference ever, but on the plus side, we could call it Margaroo 🙂

  29. Kyle Thill on June 11, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Wow Margie imagine my surprise to be listed! Thanks for that, but most of all thanks for your input and insights here. It is just wonderful to run across firm ground when mucking about out here in the often swampy world of social media.

    • Margie Clayman on June 11, 2011 at 2:48 pm

      You shouldn’t be surprised, sir. But I’m glad you’re happy 🙂

  30. Kenny Rose on June 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Margie,

    A recommendation from you is special. I was surprised and delighted. The Mad Chatter label. I love it.. I tweet crazy and try to create a stream of consciousness that reflects my personality, business and beliefs. I remember the early days when I had no followers and no idea why I was using Twitter. I nearly stopped.

    People like you are one of the main reasons why I stayed and persisted. I have met some fantastic people. I had no idea the people I have met online would come to mean so much more to me than being about business.

    Reading through all the great comments about you and your commitment to blogging and tweeting really is testament to how everybody in your network feels about you. Your a star a genuine diamond and you shine.

    Honored to know you and call you a friend.

    Best.

    Kenny

  31. michael brenner on June 11, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    Margie,

    I am so honored to be included with these amazing men. Thanks so much and please keep it up. First you introduced us to a great group of amazing women and now some great male minds.

    Best,
    Michael

  32. Mark Dykeman on June 11, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Well thank you, Margie! I really appreciate this!

  33. Roy Atkinson on June 13, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Margie,

    Thanks for including me in this super lineup. I am truly honored. now, I’m not sure who started “His Royal Hello-ness” but I hope I can live up to the moniker.

    You’ve named many of my favorites here, but the truth is–there are just to many good, hardworking, thoughtful tweeps to mention.

    I’m always grateful to see you on “The Twitter.” Thank you for the value you bring.

  34. Steven Pofcher on June 14, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Margie –
    Thank you for including me in your list of 60 SoMe Men. I was honored, flattered and surprised to be listed with such an illustrious list of guys. I am happy to know smany of those listed and look forward to meeting the rest.
    My Twitter experience has been special to me. I have met so many great & helpful folks and I have tried to give back to the community. Your Saturday night #Tweetdiner has provided a great Twittter experience for me. I have to laugh, because several time I have said that I will just lurk – only to be drawn into the Tweeting conversation.
    I enjoy knowing you and I have learned a lot from you. The work that you have put into this list (as well as your other projects) is quite extraodinary. Keep up the good work.

  35. John Jantsch on June 15, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Hey Margie – sorry I’m so late to the party, I took a little vacation time with my wife last week and totally unplugged.

    I think the thing I love about this list the most is that it’s not purely the “usual suspects list” – which I gladly enjoy finding myself on upon occasion, but I’m also thrilled to find myself on a list of folks that you clearly have spent some time getting to know personally – you opened me up some great new finds as well.

    Also glad to get the coveted #60 spot 🙂

  36. A few observations on gender online on June 17, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    […] on Monday that highlighted 60 great women, and then on Friday I published a post that highlighted 60 great men. I really enjoy the online world’s openness to singing the praises of others – I love […]

  37. Jason Ramsey on June 27, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Great post, I love to find new people to follow, and believe it or not I wasn’t following everyone on this list. Thank you!

  38. Marcus Anderson on July 6, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Great list. I enjoyed reading the post and was glad to see that I actually knew a few of them. You are very well connected.

  39. Stephen on July 7, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I hope I make it into the next revision of this list! Great job! 🙂

    -Steve
    @PRKingGarage

  40. Michael Q Todd on September 23, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    Had heard of around 10 of these guys so great info. Thanks Margie

  41. […] 60 Men whose praise must be sung […]

  42. thegroomingclinic on July 5, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    Glad to know about some of great persons. Thanks for sharing. Now I am going to follow some interesting and helpful persons including you.

  43. please click the next site on September 20, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    please click the next site…

    60 Men whose praise must be sung…

  44. special info on September 21, 2014 at 1:09 am

    special info…

    60 Men whose praise must be sung…

  45. atlanta Seo company on September 21, 2014 at 3:22 am

    atlanta Seo company…

    60 Men whose praise must be sung…

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.