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Posted by Ron Hudson in In every industry there are a few people who are inarguably outstanding at what they do. In addition to that, they are typically charismatic, energetic, and creative. In an effort to find some of these people I asked my twitter friends to nominate people who they thought were some of the most powerful and influential women in Social Media. It was no surprise that they quickly and enthusiastically responded with the list of ladies below.
By the way, we used Alexa to evaluate each person nominated for this list. While you will undoubtedly notice that some of the ladies have a large amount of sites linked to their blogs or websites, the determining factor was ranking. Why? Ranking depicts how much traffic their blogs/websites receive over a certain period. Although Google ranking is impacted by sites linking in, Alexa appears to care much more about traffic generated by the links. Hopefully that makes sense to you.
After you have read the list, I predict you will decide that we should list some other ladies that you consider powerful and influential (not including yourself 
) on this list. So, when that happens, please follow the instructions in the paragraph at the end of the list. Without further ado, I happily present to you 50 of the most powerful and influential women in Social Media:
1. Ann Handley | www.marketingprofs.com
Rank 43,936 | Linking in 1,841
2. Michelle MacPhearson | www.michellemacphearson.com
Rank 73,176 | Linking in 151
3. Liz Strauss | www.successful-blog.com
Rank 73,704 | Linking in 1,332
4. Lynn Terry | www.clicknewz.com
Rank 74,477 | Linking in 351
5. Justine Ezarik | tastyblogsnack.com
Rank: 82,875 | Linking in: 616
6. Wendy Piersall | sparkplugging.com
Rank: 83,378 | Linking in: 54
7. Maria Reyes-Mcdavis | www.websuccessdiva.com
Rank 119,917 | Linking in 165
8. Amy Clark | www.momadvice.com
Rank: 127,367 | Linking in: 398
9. Deborah Micek | www.tribalseduction.com
Rank 127,859 | Linking in 109
10. Shama Hyder | www.afterthelaunch.com
Rank: 128,441 | Linking in: 337
11. Veronica Belmont | www.veronicabelmont.com
Rank 133,278 | Linking in 494
12. Mari Smith | www.whyfacebook.com
Rank 148,408 | Linking in 91
13. Jackie Huba | www.churchofthecustomer.com
Rank 160,983 | Linking in 778
14. Carrie Wilkerson | www.barefoot-executive.com
Rank 162,116 | Linking in 34
15. Cathy Perkins | www.thewordpresswizard.com
Rank: 183,260 | Linking in: 27
16. Erin Kotecki Vest | www.queenofspainblog.com
Rank 203,533 | Linking in 337
17. Alli Worthington | fussypants.typepad.com
Rank: 215,331 | Linking in: 264
18. Denise Wakeman | www.buildabetterblog.com
Rank 219,482 | Linking in 322
19. Laura Fitton | www.pistachioconsulting.com
Rank 229,456 | Linking in 371
20. Debbie Weil | www.debbieweil.com
Rank 250,366 | Linking in 267
21. Lisa Hartwell | audiblemarketing.com
Rank: 266,602 | Linking in: 25
22. Sally Strebel | bestpartyever.com
Rank: 272,898 | Linking in: 119
23. Jessica Smith | jessicaknows.com
Rank: 291,558 | Linking in: 3
24. Roxanne Darling | www.barefeetstudios.com
327,171 | Linking in: 116
25. Connie Reece | www.everydotconnects.com
Rank 350,407 | Linking in 444
26. Pat Marcello | blogging4boomers.com
Rank: 351,903 | Linking in: 20
27. Kelby Carr | www.kelbycarr.com
Rank: 352,343 | Linking in: 51
28. Gwen Bell | www.gwenbell.com
Rank 409,627 | Linking in 69
29. Nancy Marmolejo | www.vivavisibilityblog.com
Rank 420,626 | Linking in 12
30. Dixie Brown | www.layoffyourboss2.com
Rank 490,176 | Linking in 12
31. Melody Campbell | thesmallbusinessguru.com
Rank: 666,214 | Linking in: 50
32. Francine Hardaway | blog.stealthmode.com
Rank: 736,990 | Linking in: 194
33. Dr. Letitia Wright | www.wrightplacetv.com
Rank: 751,575 | Linking in: 122
34. Jamila White | www.ecommercediva.com
Rank: 823,524 | Linking in: 35
35. Leesa Barnes | www.marketingfit.com
Rank 864,242 | Linking 0
36. Lisa Weinberger | pearlywrites.com
Rank: 903,362 | Linking in: 44
37. Katja Presnal | www.skimbacolifestyle.com
Rank: 900,620 | Linking in: 0
38. Charlene | theblackbusinesscafe.ning.com
Rank: 948,235 | Linking in: 6
39. Jan Tallent | www.jantallent.com
Rank: 1,066,578 | Linking in: 2
40. Alyssa Gregory | www.avertua.com
Rank: 1,087,893 | Linking in: 7
41. Nikki S | chaosinthecountry.com
Rank: 1,260,040 | Linking in: 20
42. Jean Ann Van Krevelen | www.edgyentrepreneur.com
Rank: 1,306,435 | Linking in: 2
43. Nancy Arroyo-Perez | www.nancyarroyo-perez.com
Rank 1,410,793 | Linking in: 4
44. Kristie Wells | www.kirstiewells.com
Rank: 1,454,100 | Linking in: 41
45. Sharon Mcpherson | www.sharonbraymcpherson.com
Rank 1,538,355 | Linking in 4
46. Tracey Tarrant | www.yourvirtualroundtoit.com
Rank 1,802,502 | Linking in: 5
47. Jenna Lloyd | appliedforcemarketing.com
Rank: 2,372,947 | Linking in: 2
48. Amy Lupold Bair | resourcefulmommy.com
Rank: 2,869,975 | Linking in: 0
49. Joanne Mason | www.masoninternetconsulting.com
Rank: 3,358,916 | Linking in: 0
50. Therese Prentice | socialnetworkingqueen.com
Rank: 3,531,975 | Linking in: 0
If you’re saying to yourself,”Ron, you should include _______, ________, and ________,” please invest time to submit their names by leaving your comment below. That way, they’ll receive well-deserved, public acknowledgement. One more thing ! By leaving your comment on this blog, it will help your site’s search engine ranking (as well as mine) because Maria Reyes-McDavis aka WebSuccessDiva set it up that way. She rocks!
In closing, I want to congratulate you ladies who made this year’s list! You are an example to many of
what’s possible in today’s world. However, please remember that no matter how successful you are now, you have the ability to do more, be more, have more, give more, and love more. Will you? I humbly predict you will!
With your success in mind,
Ron
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We can also continue this conversation online, via Twitter! @Ron_Hudson
What an awesome list! I wasn’t surprised to see a few friends on this list! For instance, Sally aka @BizGirl rocks and lives in my neck of the woods. Hoping I’ll make one of these lists soon! Congrats to all these wonderful women blazing the trail for the rest of us!
Julie N´s last blog post..Announcing Two Lucky Card Cubby Winners!
Amazed that web-guru Tinu Abayomi-Paul didn’t make the list. She has helped gazillions of people become successful via the web using social media.
Liberated Muse Productions´s last blog post..Make Money Renting Your Home During the Inauguration
Hi Ron,
I’m a new reader to your Blog, but based on this piece, I will subscribe…well done!
One person that you should add to your list would be Diane Hochman. Her Alexa ranking is well within the range that you’ve covered with your picks.
http://www.Dianehochman.com
She’s got great content on her site and in her videos and she’s a great industry trainer.
Take care!
Mike Malachefski
Toms River, NJ
Sandy Carter from IBM has done a lot with Web 2.0 to innovate in connecting with customers, and she’s shared advice and some interactive examples in conjunction with her new book on this topic: http://www.ibmpressbooks.com/angels
Great list. I’ve had the privelage of subscribing to a couple of these great women who influence social media. One that isn’t on here that should be mentioned as a great resource on social media is Bridget Ayers from http://www.thegetsmartblog.com/
She has has several influential posts in social media as well as the digg list in which high profile diggers were banished.
[...] p.s: In light of the subject of this post, I really have to share some related social media girl-power links! [...]
I love this list Ron and am so glad to see many of my friends and mentors who made it!
I always take “Top Anything” Lists with a grain of salt knowing that the methodology used to compile it might not be the methodology I would use.
STILL….Just to get a glimpse of some top “traffic Driving” women in social media is fantastic!
Sarah
Sarah Robinson´s last blog post..Searching for Treasure
Great list and what an amazing bunch of early adapters. Bravo.
Wendy Davie´s last blog post..A little trumpet blowing!
Thanks, Wendy! Thanks for stopping by.
Warmly,
Ron
Ron, I hope you’ll consider including me! My blog Table for Five has an Alexa of 63,810, and according to Google Webmaster tools, has 627 sites pointing to it as of today. Thanks!
Wow! What a list Ron!! Thank you cos they give me more reading materials for whos-who for social media!
kelly´s last blog post..Christmas Card for You, My Friends!
Elizabeth, please read the beginning of the post to find out how people ended up on the list. Thanks!
[...] honored to have. Ron Hudson of Immediate Influence fame, came out with the companion to his 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Social Media with the flipside of the gender spectrum with the 50 Most Powerful and Influential Men in Social [...]
So happy to see so many friends on this list and even more mentioned in the comments. Always empowering to read about powerful women and I am happy to discover some new ones to explore and get to know!
Soultravelers3´s last blog post..Santa’s Coming! Gift Ideas!
Thanks, Ron, for this great work! It was interesting to see how many of the women I was already aware of. As a relative newcomer to Social Media, I’m glad to know I am intuitively finding the women to follow!
She’s a fantastic military writer, http://www.ovolina.com. Make sure you include her!
Matt Dover´s last blog post..Obsessions and stats
[...] 100 Social Media & Internet Marketing Bloggers Top 100 Most Influential Marketers of 2008, the 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Social Media, NxE’s Fifty Most Influential ‘Female’ [...]
[...] for companies that target moms through new media. She has also been recently tapped as one of the 50 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social Media as #23. You can also find her guest writing at Mashable.com. Jessica enjoys the best of both [...]
This is fantastic! I am just getting my feet wet in social media…thanks for the great links!
[...] ‘one of the 50 most powerful and influential women in Social Media’ on Ron Hudson’s Immediate Influence blog. 5) She dreamed up Chicks Who Click. This is a Conference Gwen puts on with Denise Smith. [...]
… now http://laurelpapworth.com – I moved from blogspot a few weeks ago. Alexa has me at 243,814 but expect that to change as links etc come in. Cheers
Laurel Papworth´s last blog post..Social Marketing vs Traditional Marketing Mix
This detailed list encourages readers to expand their options and explore their deeper selves. Thanks for celebrating the work of such inspiring human beings.
Liara Covert´s last blog post..How do you know what it means?
Thanks for the list! Just gone done following all 50 on twitter and looking forward to learning from all of them!
Nicole Munoz´s last blog post..Increase Web Traffic with Articles
Fabulous list! Two super-names jump off the list for me… my good friends Wendy Piersall and Gwen Bell.
Go Girlfriends!!!
Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)´s last blog post..When You Wish Upon A Star…
most powerful and influential + social media = cognitive dissonance
Glad to see I know a few of the ladies on here –
If you’re saying to yourself,”Ron, you should include _JEANNETTE MAW, Good vibe coach, Alexa ranking less than 500,000,”
“By leaving your comment on this blog, it will help your site’s search engine ranking (as well as mine) because Maria Reyes-McDavis aka WebSuccessDiva set it up that way. She rocks!“ – Totally!! It`s nice to see people so confident and successful that helping others only makes
Looking fwd to the 09 list – maybe I`ll make it in here too by then
[...] *Jamilla White, an active member of DC Web Women, was recognized as belonging to the elite group, 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Social Media [...]
Hey Ron! This post has a lot of life! I can hardly believe the comments are still rolling in!
I have gotten to know some amazing women because of this list. You have been a “catalyst” with this list and the one for powerful influential men. What a powerful idea!
Melody, it’s amazing to me! I didn’t have a clue the list would have the impact that it’s had. Absolutely, amazed!
Thank you for this list! We look forward to more insights and information like it!
Very nice information. Thanks for this.
I have to say that I think Toby Bloomberg has done an aamzing job and is not only a very influential blogger, but also an extremely community focused blogger. Toby inspires daily both through her blog and her practice.
http://www.bloombergmarketing.blogs.com
This is a great list and I can’t wait to click around. Thanks.
Ron -
Thanks for the effort compiling the list required. I am a slow adopter of social media because of the time it requires – but I’m getting better. I’m sure I can learn a lot about how it’s done from these talented ladies.
Kristie
Ron,
GREAT LIST! Awesome women!!! Aren’t you coming up also with the men? Just asking, ‘coz the men don’t want to be outrun! LOL
Great job Ron.
P.S. I’m now getting acquainted with some of them.
Ali Brown. Dynamic, caring, smart…. expert, big on sharing info…. Okay, I don’t have ten hours, but you get the picture.
Mary Agnes Antonopoulos
Blogger and By-proxy Social Networking Expert
Hello Ron! You may consider including Shannon Paul, Social Media Specialist for PEAK6 Online. She is a professional communicator and lover of the digital. Her blog is http://veryofficialblog.com/
Best regards!
Wow Ron, what a great list. I knew most of the women on the list but was glad to learn of some new women I should be following. I hope by next year I can make my mark and be on that list as well.
Great list. I read many of these blogs on a weekly basis but it’s good to find a few new ones. Maybe someday I’ll make the top 50 somewhere? LOL!
Great list of names… most of whom I’ve come across, at least in passing, over the years…
Have you considered Jennifer Kettlewell of Bizopoly? (http://www.bizopoly.com/ )
Another forward thinker with a bright future and a big helping heart.
[...] blogging, writes, teaches and speaks on blogging and social media, and I think her being #3 on the 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Social Media alone earns her a spot on this [...]
I’m glad to see Leesa Barnes on this list because so often African-American women are EXCLUDED. There are many of us out here on the move and making a difference!