12 Most Desirable People to Follow on Google+
If you are like me, getting started on Google + has been a little slow. I have people adding me to their circles all the time but don’t know who I should add to my circles. I have found that hand picking your Google + stream can create a wonderful flow of content, creativity and inspiration. Unlike my “all following” stream on Twitter which flows quite quickly (yes I have made lots of smaller lists to track different groups), this is a curated list of celebrities and real people, following a wide variety of topics and interests that I hope will bring something new to your Google + experience.
Here are some recommendations for interesting, engaging folks on Google +:
1. Guy Kawasaki
“Guy Kawasaki is the author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. He is also the co-founder of Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the web, and a founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures. Previously, he was the chief evangelist of Apple. Kawasaki is the author of nine other books including Reality Check, The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.”
Listed on the Google + Web Celebrities List – Guy LOVES Google + and is engaging with people there all day long with a wide variety of topics and posts. I find him thoroughly Enchanting and you will too!
2. Natalie Villalobos
Natalie Villalobos “Community Manager for the Google+ project (+mention me to posts!)”
Who better to circle than the Community Manager? Always a good person to get to know, right? Natalie has a great list of Google+ people to follow on her about page as well.
3. Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton “Tagline: Don’t be a dick!
“I’m Wil Wheaton. I’m an author (that’s why I’m wilwheatonbooks), an actor, and a lifelong geek. I wrote Just A Geek, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, and Memories of the Future. I played Wesley on Star Trek, Gordie in Stand By Me, and Fawkes in The Guild. I occasionally play Dr. Parrish on Eureka, Evil Wil Wheaton on Big Bang Theory, and Cha0s on Leverage.”
I less than three him on Twitter and Google +.
4. Ree Drummond
Ree Drummond “The Pioneer Woman - Desperate ranch wife. Mother of four. Lover of butter. Amen”
Adore her blog and she has a new show starting on The Food Network. She was lucky enough to have Bobby Flay come to her house for a Throwdown last year and did a live Twitterstreaming for the show when it aired. She gets Social Media and is hysterical.
5. Mitch Neff
Mitch Neff “Father of three wicked cool kids | SoMe Architect at BallywhoMedia | Instigator | StartUpBus Miami Alumni”
Engaging and intelligent, this Social Strategist is kicking butt and taking names. Just started working on WebTrendsTv - fabulous!
6. Mari Smith
Mari Smith “Greetings!! I’m a Social Media Keynote Speaker and Trainer. I call myself “a bubbly Scottish-Canadian loving living in San Diego.” (My accent is “Scandifornian!” Lol!)
FastCompany.com refer to me as a “veritable engine of personal branding and a relationship marketing whiz” and dubbed me “thePied Piper of Facebook.” Dun & Bradstreet Credibility named me one of the top ten Most Influential Small Business People on Twitter. ClickZ.com named me as one of the Top 25 Social Media Allstars. I have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., Success Magazine and on American Express OPEN Forum.”
Mari (pronounced like Ferrari) is a joy and I love her blue theme.
7. Chris Pirillo
Chris Pirillo Tagline: Geek for Hire
What can I say, I love a self proclaimed geek. Smart and funny, Chris is currently one of the most followed people on Google +.
8. JD Andrews
JD Andrews “Travel is my passion; creating inspiring and evocative videos and photographs is my profession. Social Media is the way I connect with the world and share both of these things. I have a passport that’s ready to get inked up and a camera itching to capture the worlds beauty, let’s GO!”
Travel the world vicariously though JD and his amazing photography. I love following him on Twitter but Google + really makes his photos spectacular. And he is really nice as well. (always a bonus in my book)
9. Angel Oakley
Angel Oakley “CEO Unicatis. Mktg Strategist/Trainer/Speaker/
Chicago beauty inside and out. Smart, savvy and super fun.
10. Mack Collier
Mack Collier “Online extrovert, offline introvert. It’s complicated…”
The Daddy of #BlogChat where the seed for my first blog post was planted. Very well respected and well deserved. Smart, fun and funny!
11. Gini Dietrich
“Gini Dietrich is the founder and chief executive officer of Arment Dietrich, Inc., a firm that uses non-traditional marketing in a digital world. The author of Spin Sucks, Gini has delivered numerous keynotes, panel discussions, coaching sessions, and workshops across North America on the subject of using online technology in communication, marketing, sales, and HR. One of the top rated communication professionals on the social networks, Gini was recently named the number one PR person, according to Klout and TechCrunch, on the channels, and number one on Twitter, according to TweetLevel.”
I am on watch and learn mode with this Social Media chica. Her blog is amazing and people flock to it daily to read and comment. Can’t wait to meet her in person someday!
12. Sam Fiorella
Sam Fiorella “Chief Strategy Sensei | Sensei Marketing | Toronto – NYC”
Very smart, one of the absolute best Twitter chat hosts out there! Generous, helpful and a really great person to boot.
Who are you enjoying the most on Google+? Who is adding value to your stream? Please share with me so I can circle them too!
Featured image is the Google+ profile pic of Lynda Giddens
Peg Fitzpatrick
Peg is proud to be a Managing Partner and writer for 12 Most. She is Director of Marketing and Social Media Manager for Kreussler Inc., and hosts the popular #MyBookClub chat on the 1st Monday of every month at 8 pm EST. Peggy is the Brand Sparker™ at re:DESIGN, a branding, design and social media firm that creates cohesive, custom brands. She has also started speaking at events such as the #140 Conference and is honored to be included on several “best of” online and blogging lists. Peggy loves to travel and enjoys photography as well. All about being positive and connecting, she is a true social butterfly. Tweet her and say hi at @pegfitzpatrick, find her Stumbling on StumbleUpon or happily pinning on Pinterest.
Thanks babe! I so enjoyed hanging out with you in Chicago! You rock ;)
Great list Peggy. Now what about the list of the top 12 people who are the best kept secret? Now that would be fun. Finding people that offer a lot but fly under the radar. For instance... They are right on the tip of my tongue. I will get back to you. :-)
Guess you hadn't heard I'm a power house on G+ ?? Just kidding... Wonderful list, and I like your new avi. :)))
Twylah I shall connect with you immediately on G+ - That photo is my Facebook profile. Let's connect there too!
Love you!
Peggy
PegFitzpatrick Nice list of 12 peeps to follow on G+. Also cool to see the #BlueKey badge on your site!
My latest conversation: FU Facebook and Google+ - #Unthink The Revolution
PegFitzpatrick Thanks for the list: Will be expanding my circles...still fine tuning my Google + experience.
DixieLil Hey Lily!
Me too! I love the folks that others are suggesting too!
Thanks!
Peggy
Hey, you should add me to the list: Dan DeMaioNewton, Director @ Monster Worldwide and workforce revolutionary helping people get better jobs faster, and trying to make the world a better place.
These are all great ones. Looks like we've got some more good ones below in the comment section. :-)
Biebert Who do you check out on G+ Aaron?
Thanks for helping me locate some more winners on G+! Nice mix of people too — some lesser known along with the usual suspects.
PaulBiedermann Variety is the spice of life, right??
Thx so much, Peggy. Off to add to my circles! Aloha. Janet
janetcallaway Hope you found some new friends Janet. :)
Great share, thanks Peggy!
Hey, who's the lady blowing the sweet +es....which one is she on the list?
I hafta say that, while I follow most of the people on this list, I have actually moved nearly all of them out of the stream I read frequently. I am finding G+ to be, for me, much more about meeting new people and sharing ideas (SHARING, as in a two-way street, where the OP interacts with the commentors), more than about following the gurus, and personalities. Not that their is ANYTHING wrong with that, and i still comment of Mike Elgan's posts, occasionally, and the same with Teh Wheaton and Ms. Villalobos...I just find those types of interactions to be more informative than engaging and interactive.
PS
I love the pic of Ms. Lynda Giddens, though I wish she had been credited :)
How could you miss Felicia Day?!!
coolfahad87 She almost made it...is she your fave & why?
coolfahad87 I completely concur. Felicia is informative about cool geeky topics and has introduced me to new streams of information. She is as prolific as Wheaton (her love interest in season 4 of The Guild). That, and her neurotic/vulnerable yet feisty portrayal of Codex and her role as the love interest in Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog have made her a huge geek celebrity.
I guess it depends on one's definition of desirable. Not everyone likes big bloggers and celebrity accounts. I prefer real people. Like the woman in the avatar you used, for instance.
Miridunn Many of the people on the list were real people. I mixed it up. Who do you like on Google +?
Great article!
Thanks for using my G+ picture, I suppose, but I wish you would've credited me! :)
@Lynda Giddens I am so sorry Lynda!! I adore this photo of you.
Nice Peggy! I think many are taking slowly to G+ (Well not Guy Kawasaki, Robert Scoble and Chris Voss). The impression I get is people thinking about the content to post. For me, I´m finding value in seeing a "different, more personable side" to what I see on Twitter and LinkedIn. For that reason I couldn´t tell you my top 12 even if I had one. :)
mike_trow
@Peg Fitzpatrick mike_trow indeed. :)
Peggy, is it the Fabio-like way may hair blows in the wind or the $50/week I send you that encouraged you to add me to this list? Which ever it was, I appreciate the shout-out. I'll strive to live up to your mention.
samfiorella I think your comment is Fabiolous
My latest conversation: Calendar
HAHAHA! Thank you! Google+ is still a mystery to me. I'm not addicted to it like Twitter. It's not a stage like Facebook. I don't know where it's going to leave us...yet.
My latest conversation: Public Relations for Sharks
ginidietrich Hi Gini
I am still trying to figure our Google + too - I am must more Twitter fantastic!
It will be interesting to see where the chips fall.
I'm surprised Rebecca Woodhead and Ayoub Khote are not on the list. Both are great contributors and keep me reading on G+ daily.
gracey_castro Hello Gracey
I will have to go circle those two folks - never heard of them. Excited to see what they have to say.
Cheers
Peggy
what a great list and guide for the brave new world of Google + ! Thanks for showing us where all the cool kids eat lunch - another great and informative post!
My latest conversation: Calendar
westfallonline Thanks Chris! Who do you like to follow on G+? I need some new people too!
Peggy
Peggy - Awesome list. I think I follow every one of these people.
If not I will double check and see that I am....
I did scan the list 3 times looking for my name ;) LOL....
Thanks for the great advice. G+ is a constant learning experience for all of us.
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Win Friends and Influence People on Twitter
danielnewmanUV Oops sorry can I add another one on the list for you? I of course would unofficially add all the 12 Most peeps, infinitely interesting and full of amazing content.
Peggy
Conversation from Twitter
Good Morning!! AnnTran_ Hope you are having a beautiful weekend and lots of everything you love. <3
terrinakamura Thanks for sharing the Google+ post! Much appreciated
RT IamPramit 12 Most Desirable People to Follow on Google+ http://t.co/OXMRzwqP via pegfitzpatrick and also alltop http://t.co/H4FSlih3
BullsandBeavers Waving a big hello!!
torque10 Thank you for the mention Pagan! Have a nice day :-)
terrinakamura Thank you for the RT Terri! Have a fantastic weekend :-)
AnnTran_ pegfitzpatrick loved this list. Thank you for sharing Ann and Peg!
12 Most Desirable People to Follow on Google+ http://t.co/tw1MTGZ5 by pegfitzpatrick RT AnnTran_ 2cre8 | In the #MiddleOfTheWeek
earthXplorer Hola JD - circled ya on Google+ now thanks to pegfitzpatrick. :)
delwilliams Hello Del - thanks much for sharing my Google + post. Very kind of you. :D
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