The 2012 Marketing and E-commerce All-Stars: The Top 9 E-commerce and Online Marketing Blogs

Every year at this time, I like to take the time to recognize the very best online marketing and e-commerce blogs on the web. And much like many All-Star teams, you could make the case for many, many individuals to “make the team.” So, this year, I’m going to do just that. But, we’ll get to that in a moment. First, here’s the list:

1. Copyblogger. Brian Clark, Sonia Simone and the rest of the Copyblogger team are so good at what they do. Seriously. If you’re not reading their blog regularly — and, given how popular the site is, it’s likely you already are — you owe it to yourself to start reading it today. A fantastic resource from a fantastic group of folks.
2. Biznology. Much like Copyblogger, Mike Moran is assembling a veritable All-Star lineup of marketing superstars for the Biznology blog. Along with Mike, such amazing folks as Chris Abraham, Rob Petersen, Frank Reed, James Mathewson and Ruth Stevens dispense insights and information about search, social media, and content marketing every single day. I am obligated to disclose that I’m part of the Biznology blogging team, too. But that’s not really an obligation. It’s an honor.
3. Social Media Examiner. With what is billed as “the world’s largest online social media magazine,” Michael Stelzner has built one of the truly great resources on the world of social media marketing. Great site, great contributors and truly great content.
4. Search Engine Land. What Social Media Examiner is to social, Search Engine Land is to search. The one site I check every day for all my search news… and one you’d likely want to use daily, too.
5. Get Elastic. Over the last several years, Linda Bustos has built Get Elastic into the single best e-commerce blog on the web, bar none. A true powerhouse, the winner of multiple awards and simply a resource I couldn’t live without. Well worth your time.
6. GrokDotCom. GrokDotCom, from the fine folks at FutureNow, represents an “old-timer” of sorts. One of the first e-commerce blogs I remember running across (the site dates back to 2004), it set the standard for many of us for many years. And despite a number of changes over those years, it remains one of my go-to sources for e-commerce insight. Not just an All-Star. A Hall of Famer, too.
7. Avinash Kaushik. Speaking of Hall of Fame… Avinash Kaushik is a “first ballot” guy, a “no-doubter,” an All-Star among All-Stars. I’ve known Avinash for several years and have interviewed him several times (first for a blog post about four years ago and for my HSMAI White Paper “Best Practices for Hotel Website Analytics” just last year). And no matter how big and (Internet) famous he gets, he’s the same plain-spoken, clear and insightful guy he has always been. A true champion and someone who helps me learn something new all the time.
8. SEOmoz. I love the SEOmoz blog. Like, in an unhealthy way. It’s like a big ol’ box of candy that I can’t wait to dive in to every day. Yes, sometimes the articles are a little geeky. But, c’mon… we’re all geeks here. So get your geek on and check these guys out.
9. Mitch Joel. Another amazing blog, Mitch Joel provides inspiration and insights on his “Six Pixels of Separation” blog. I’m a huge fan and I look forward to each new post. You should, too.

There you have it, Big Thinkers. This year’s All-Stars. Check ’em out when you get a chance. You might also want to check out the 2011 and 2009 editions of the team, too. And if you think I missed someone, please let me know. Either drop me an email or leave a comment and let me know who you think’s deserving. You never know. Next year’s coming up quick.

Interested in learning more about e-commerce and digital marketing? Register to receive a free copy of my new special report, “Digital Hotel Marketing in a Multiscreen World,” produced in conjunction with Vizergy, here. While it’s targeted to the hospitality industry specifically, most of the lessons apply across verticals. And, if that’s not enough, you might also enjoy some of our past coverage of strategy, digital marketing, and e-commerce, including:

• What is a “brand story” anyway?
• 3 Key Trends for 2013
• What do I mean by “marketing” anyway?
• Why Google+ Matters to Your Content Marketing
• Is Mobile Overtaking Desktop Internet Use?
• Why mobile first matters next year
• The argument against “mobile first.” And why it’s wrong.