10 top internet marketing gurus list

by Wendy Woodhead We all have to start somewhere, so whose example should you follow when it comes to improving your visibility online?12th March 1989. It’s when the internet is believed to have been first conceived by Tim Berners-Lee, though the date is up for debate. What’s certain is that the internet has brought the world so much, from information to entertainment and new ways of accessing products and services.As our way of celebrating the birth of the internet (whenever that was), we’re sharing our top internet marketing gurus list, featuring some of the most well-known and respected names in the field of content, SEO, digital and social media marketing.These professionals have years of experience and knowledge under their belts, and they are more than happy to share it with others, so bookmark their socials and blogs, take their lead and start creating successful marketing campaigns today. Table of Contents What is internet marketing? Internet marketing is a catch-all term that encompasses digital marketing and SEO content marketing. In general, it can be defined as the process of promoting a business or brand online such as creating and publishing content, advertising on various platforms and driving traffic to your website.This includes a wide range of activities that you probably do on a daily basis to position your business well online, such as:BloggingLanding page content creation and strategiesSocial media postingVideo content creationPPC (AdWords and other paid ads)SEO contentWeb development and design Why is internet marketing important? Well, as our relationship with technology evolves on a daily basis, using the internet as a space for marketing becomes incredibly rich with potential, not just for businesses but for readers too.As of January 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide – almost 60% of the global population. 4.32 billion use a mobile device to access the internet. Of course, this number is only going to grow as technology advances.This means that if your business isn’t using the internet to market itself, you’re missing out for all these reasons: Greater access to audiences The internet offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses to reach their target markets whether they’re already loyal customers you want to retain or brand-new. There’s no need to rely on local advertising anymore; with just a few clicks of a mouse, you can reach people all over the world and take your business global. Increased targeting means no more wasted time and money PPC and social media targeting empower you to put your content in front of specific demographics with laser precision. Plus, you can track the success of your campaigns with ease thanks to the data collected and analytics tools embedded in almost all content publishing platforms. Ever-increasing range of channels With so many different channels available, it’s easy to find the right one for your business and get started, whether your audience hangs out on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, or they’re more of a blog reader. Much more cost-effective than traditional marketing It goes without saying that digital marketing operates within a virtual space, so there’s no need to waste physical materials that incur a greater spend. It’s also much easier to set and modify your budget depending on your needs from day to day.All of this means internet marketing is not just a great way to build your brand and your visibility, but it can also be an extremely cost-effective way to market your products or services. Top 10 Internet marketing gurus It’s easy to feel left behind or blind to what you need to do to gain exposure and traction online. Thankfully, no one’s expecting you to reinvent the wheel or enter into uncharted territory alone.Internet marketing gurus are those at the forefront of the industry who devote their days to experimenting and adapting content to better understand customer behaviour and psychology, who are tuned into the latest algorithm changes and have their fingers on the pulse of emerging channels.Their forays make it easier for the rest of us, and these are the people who you should be listening to if you want to make gains online: 1. Neil Patel The co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar and Kissmetrics, Neil Patel is considered the foremost authority on SEO which has earned him legions of followers.Across his blog, podcast and videos, Neil offers valuable insights and advice on a wide range of topics. Want to know which metrics to track, how to update your content and how to grow your subscribers? Neil Patel breaks complex subjects down into simple steps and (even better) offers the context for why certain activities are important and who should be using them.Patel even offers his own analytics tool, Ubersuggest, which as we’ve blogged about before is a great keyword research tool for newcomers to SEO. 2. Mari Smith For those whose audiences are active on Facebook, then Mari Smith is the go-to guru for all things Facebook marketing. Mari has devised a range of methods to help businesses improve their organic reach on Facebook, including The Mari Method, which is a simple process for maximising your ROI.Mari offers valuable advice on how to use Facebook advertising, how to create high-quality content and how to target your ideal customer. With training programmes, webinars, Facebook videos and lots of insights on her blog, make sure you check in with Mari’s tips and approaches if you want to leverage the power of Facebook. 3. Jay Baer Jay Baer is a digital marketing and customer experience expert who has worked with some of the biggest brands including Nike, Adidas, Salesforce, Hilton Hotels and 3M.On his Social Pros podcast, Jay discusses a wide range of topics with different industry guests, from how to manage your online community to tips on writing for social media. And what bigger plaudit is there than being the most retweeted person in digital marketing? Follow his Twitter feed and podcast for his expert insight. 4. Ann Handley The co-founder and chief content officer at the training and resource hub MarketingProfs, Ann Handley is ‘waging a war on content mediocrity’.Her Twitter feed and blog are a veritable treasure trove of valuable insights, strategies and real-world examples. Armed with these, you’ll understand how to create successful content campaigns that genuinely speak to your target audience. If you’re struggling to produce effective, engaging content, follow Ann. 5. Rand Fishkin The founder of Moz, SparkToro and co-founder of Inbound.org, Rand Fishkin knows everything there is to know about SEO and content marketing. He offers valuable insights and advice on a wide range of topics, from keyword research to link building, so you can actively improve your website’s visibility.If you want to understand everything from how to build a keyword strategy, structure your content to tell a story or discover marketing frameworks that can propel your inbound strategy, then his blog is an excellent source of information. 6. Kiana Lewis The founder of Brooks Lewis Copywriting, Kiana can be found sharing her tips and insight into what makes good copy over on her Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.Kiana’s mantra is all about helping others create effective copywriting for digital marketing, offering advice on when to use emotion, understanding your target audience and keeping things concise. If you want to improve your website’s conversion rate, follow Kiana’s feeds. 7. Joe Pulizzi The founder of Content Marketing Institute and author of several books on the topic, Joe Pulizzi is a leader in the digital marketing industry.Joe offers a wealth of insight in his newsletters and two podcasts. From how to have better marketing conversations, to building an audience, Joe’s tips can help you create content that gets results. 8. Alex Cattoni Alex Cattoni is a fierce writer with a brilliant brand. The founder of The Copy Posse, a boutique content agency and academy for budding content marketers, she’s here to show you how to create arresting content.If you’re starting out in content marketing or want to give your brand a boost, Alex’s tips and courses are empowering and relatable. Check out Alex’s blog and Twitter feed for tips on driving conversions through content, optimising your website for search engines and creating high-performing paid search campaigns all delivered with an honest, authentic approach. 9. Michael Brenner Michael Brenner is one of the biggest names in content marketing. The CEO of Marketing Insider Group and author of several books on the topic, it’s gurus like Michael who set the gold standard in writing engaging and high-converting campaigns.Michael doesn’t have a hard-sell approach, instead he champions a move to providing quality content that helps readers. As he says: “thought leadership and content marketing beats the ROI of ads, hands down.”He offers valuable insights and advice on a host of topics, from how to create an editorial calendar to how to create a social media strategy. If you want to learn how to position yourself as an authority, Michael Brenner is the one to follow. 10. Amy Harrison Amy Harrison is a copywriter, content trainer and sketch writer based in the UK. She runs the Write With Influence course and podcast which is a great starting point for anyone who wants to improve their copywriting skills to make their readers sit up and listen. And as a bonus? If you want to find out how to use humour in your content, Amy is a master. Final words If you’re looking to improve your understanding of digital and content marketing, then dipping into the blogs and podcasts of these top internet marketing gurus is a great place to start. Not only will you benefit from their experience, but you’ll also stay up-to-date on the latest changes and trends in the industry. We didn’t have room to go into all the masters of content marketing here. So why not let us know who you think should be on the list in the comments below? Header image: Free Walking Tour SalzburgEmbedded images: Austin Distel, website screenshots courtesy of Neil Patel, Ann Handley, Alex CattoniSpread the word: Twitter Facebook Linkedin Wendy WoodheadWendy is the Account Director at Copify and a qualified copywriter and proofreader. She has spent six years copy editing and copywriting for B2B and B2C clients and has experience in freelance and in-house arts marketing and digital content creation. Wendy likes to write about language and literature, digital marketing, history, current affairs, and arts and culture. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, reading and writing fiction.