Day 28: Follow these seven PR and marketing mavens.

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Considering the incredible diversity of people and professions involved in social media, it's shocking to me that so many folks turn to the same small set of social media luminaries.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of Chris Brogan, David Armano, Jeremiah Owyang and the rest of the top-tier thinkers in the social space. But I get just as much or more inspiration from my own subset of thought leaders, and I think you will too.

One warning: this is a marketing-oriented list because, well, that's what I do. But even if you just do social media for fun, you should still give these folks a read. No matter where the industry and technology shifts, I find that each of them keep me feeling excited about the opportunities.

(Want to follow them all on Twitter with one click? Here's an easy way to do it.)

• Leigh Householder, brand strategist and author of Advergirl.com. I can never say enough good things about Leigh, a longtime friend and confidant. Her perspectives on social media are meticulous enough for the executive set and clear enough for the rest of us. 

• Shannon Paul, community manager. If you could get a cup of coffee with any social media pro in the country, Shannon would definitely be a top pick. As insightful as she is approachable, Shannon always offers a candid take on the human side of technology.

• Brian Morrissey, Adweek digital editor. Brian brings a much-needed skepticism to social media. In a world where bloggers are the primary source of news on all things social, it's nice to have Brian to scrape away the bull and talk about what companies are really grappling with as they struggle to reach new audiences online.

• David Stutts, Luckie's director of brand planning. I'm not one to glorify coworkers willy-nilly, mostly because I work with a lot of incredible people and would have a hard time playing favorites. But I'm constantly learning about trends and emerging ideas from David, who posts his many findings on Twitter and Tumblr. If you're not already subscribing to his free e-mail newsletters, Trend Trackers and Generational News & Views, you really should. Just drop him an e-mail, and he'll start sending it to you each month.

• Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich. For an executive, much less a PR executive, Gini is always refreshingly honest on her blog, The Fight Against Destructive Spin. She offers a fantastic mix of practical tips and big-picture thinking. She's even re-imagining what her agency "does," and anyone is welcome to chime in on their transition from PR to social engagement.

• Alan Wolk, creative strategist. I've long been a fan of Alan's sharp and witty takes on the marketing industry, which he posts on his blog, The Toad Stool. What's nice is that Alan's never afraid to go against the grain and disagree with the big-time social media gurus. Some people do this just to inject themselves into a conversation, but Alan's restless insight comes from a more earnest and experienced place, making him always worth a read.

• Mack Collier, social media consultant. My biggest problem with Mack is that we agree way too much, on issues as small as Twitter semantics and as large as corporate marketing strategies. His zeal for transparency and customer-focused conversations have made him a hero to many of the unsleazy social media pros around the country. Be sure to check out his blogs, The Viral Garden and MackCollier.com.

It's always hard to create a list of smart folks like this, because I end up wanting to include dozens more. But if you follow this crowd, you're bound to find my other favorites soon enough.

Who are your personal, somewhat-under-the-radar thought leaders? I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

Comments

[Arik Hanson]

David:

Nice list. I've really enjoyed this series, by the way. And, I just sent your colleague a note about the e-newsletters, so I'm expecting one in my inbox here any moment ;)

I just recently made two posts over at my place about "intriguing" people to follow here (http://bit.ly/8mimEW) and here (http://bit.ly/62ywtC). I'm also a big fan of @amymengel @dmullen & @elizabethsosnow among many others.

@arikhanson

[C.C. Chapman]

A great list because it is not the same old same old list of people. I love finding new people on lists like this and I'm sad to say I was only following two of them, but I'm fixing that right now.

Thanks for sharing.

[Alaina Sheer (Cement Marketing)]

YAY! Leigh and Mack. Congratulations to you both. Fantastic list.

[Shannon Paul]

David,

Thanks so much for mentioning me; I'm honored! I am also glad we were able to meet face to face at O'Hare that one crazy day while we were both on a layover.

If I ever get around to making a list -- you'll definitely be on it -- you're as helpful and giving as you are smart.

[Mack Collier]

Thanks David, love this idea and love being on a list with not only some of my favorite friends, but people I have a great deal of respect for. Just like you!

[Alan Wolk]

Thanks David. I am honored to be named one of The Seven Mavens, which is also the name of a popular TV series in Israel.*

Since all the people on the list (and many of those reading it) are bloggers, I just wanted to remind them that the Hive Awards for the Unsung Heroes of the Internet has a special price just for bloggers and podcasters of only $29!

And since the trophy includes a 16GB thumb drive, your end result is like a negative number or something- I mean you could wind up making money by winning. Enter at http://www.hiveawards.com - new extended deadline is February 15th.

Sorry for hijacking the comments thread - I read most of the other Mavens and can attest that they all offer something above and beyond the ordinary.

*no, not really

[Davina K. Brewer]

Great list, and I should know since I was already following all but two. ITA with Gini and Mack as I've been following them since I joined Twitter (they're awesome) and it's great to find Alan and Leigh. Thanks.

[Gini Dietrich]

GASP! I never commented on this! Shame on me!!

I was just saying to another friend, isn't the point of blogging and social media to LISTEN and to practice what we all preach? It's good to know you recognize I do just that...from tagline contests to naming what we do...everyone has a say.

Like C.C. I appreciate this list because it's not the same old, same old.