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Blog Roller

The Future of Social Media

Tod Maffin rounds up the blogs.

Tod Maffin 26 Sep 2007TheTyee.ca

Tod Maffin writes the blog TodBits.
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[Editor's note: Tod Maffin has a national CBC technology column, is a podcaster and founding editor of Canada Podcasts.ca – a podcast directory, and a social media strategist. On his blog, he often writes about social media and where it's going. What follows are his must-read blogs.]

It seems everyone these days has a blog -- from the 12-year-old down the street to the well-meaning (if somewhat misguided) CEO. But technology adoption is a double-edged sword -- you may indeed have a blog or podcast and feel ahead of the game, but if you're not keeping an eye on what's coming next, you could end up being the Friendster on your block.

Here are some blogs that I and readers of my own blog recommend:

Mitch Joel: Six Pixels of Separation Mitch runs Twist Image, a highly successful marketing firm in Montreal. His blog focuses primarily on the use of blogs, podcasts and the web to help marketers understand this ever-changing medium. Posts range from changing models of content delivery to online ad campaigns. Definitely worth bookmar-- er, subscribing to... if you're involved in digital marketing in any way.

Joe Thornley: Pro PR Joe is principal of Thornley Fallis, a communications firm in Ottawa and Toronto. Joe's blog is widely regarded as a thought-leader in how the public relations industry is using social media to communicate more effectively. Joe also travels around lots to industry conferences and interviews leading idea people in the social media space, and posts the interviews online. (Full disclosure: My strategy firm FourSevens is an associate of Joe Thornley's design firm, 76 Design.)

Robert Scoble: Scobelizer Robert has been the go-to guy on corporate blogging for a while now. Ever since he dragged Microsoft kicking and screaming into the social media space, he's been a popular lecturer on the topic. His blog tends to be a bit frantic and random, but he's always on the cusp of breaking tech news and new innovations in social media.

Mark Blevis and Bob Goyetche Bob and Mark are among Canada's podcasting pioneers. They both host the Podcasters Across Borders conference each year, bringing together Canadian bloggers and podcasters. If anybody knows where the wind is shifting in the audioblog/podcast space in Canada, it's these two guys.

Julien Smith: In Over Your Head Julien hails from Montreal and produces a profitable (gasp!) podcast. He manages to blend his love for music into the social media space, and it's so popular that PodShow picked him up as a featured performer. Julien's got his eye on the happening scene, and I follow his blog closely to pick up tidbits of new production and business models in social media.

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