Social Media

35 Social Media Influencers to Follow on X/Twitter (2025)

SocialRails Team
SocialRails Team
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

15 min read

Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

35 Social Media Influencers to Follow on X/Twitter

Quick picks: @MattNavarra for breaking news, @garyvee for motivation, @neilpatel for tactics, @randfish for honest takes.

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Top Picks by Category

CategoryBest FollowsPost Style
Breaking News@MattNavarra, @socialmedia2dayReal-time updates
Strategy@saborado, @annhandleyLong-form threads
Tactics@neilpatel, @caboradoHow-to content
Motivation@garyvee, @AmyPorterfieldDaily inspiration
Honest Takes@randfish, @KateBourIndustry analysis

Marketing Strategy Leaders

Seth Godin (@ThisIsSethsBlog)

Big-picture marketing philosophy. Timeless wisdom in bite-sized posts.

Best for: Strategic thinking.


Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee)

Constant posts about marketing trends, platform changes, and personal branding. Motivational with practical insights.

Best for: Motivation and multi-platform strategy.


Ann Handley (@MarketingProfs)

Content marketing expertise. Thoughtful posts about writing, storytelling, and content strategy.

Best for: Content marketers and writers.


Neil Patel (@neilpatel)

Data-driven marketing tips. SEO strategies and growth tactics. Frequent, specific, actionable.

Best for: SEO and data-focused marketers.


Rand Fishkin (@randfish)

Unfiltered takes on marketing and platform changes. Data-backed opinions. No BS.

Best for: Honest industry analysis.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

Which influencer is known for honest, unfiltered marketing takes?

💡
Hint: Follow people who tell you uncomfortable truths, not just what you want to hear.

Social Media Marketing Experts

ExpertHandleSpecialty
Mari Smith@MariSmithFacebook/Meta
Jay Baer@jaybaerCustomer experience
Peg Fitzpatrick@PegFitzpatrickVisual/Pinterest
Michael Stelzner@Mike_StelznerIndustry news
Kim Garst@kimgarstSmall business

Mari Smith (@MariSmith)

Known as the "Queen of Facebook." Meta platform updates, strategies, and best practices.

Best for: Facebook and Instagram marketers.


Michael Stelzner (@Mike_Stelzner)

Founder of Social Media Examiner. Industry news, podcast clips, and marketing insights.

Best for: Staying current with industry news.


Content Creation Experts

ExpertHandleFocus
Joe Pulizzi@JoePulizziContent strategy
Andy Crestodina@caboradoWeb content
Brian Dean@BacklinkoSEO content
Lily Ray@lilyraynycAlgorithm updates

Andy Crestodina (@caborado)

Detailed content marketing tips. SEO insights. Web optimization strategies.

Best for: Content strategists wanting depth.


Lily Ray (@lilyraynyc)

Detailed analysis of Google updates. Impact on content strategies.

Best for: SEO professionals and content teams.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

Who should you follow for Google algorithm update analysis?

💡
Hint: Match the expert to the platform. Don't ask Facebook experts about Google.

Platform-Specific Experts

Instagram

ExpertHandleFocus
Later@latermediaInstagram strategy
Jasmine Star@jasminestarPersonal branding

LinkedIn

ExpertHandleFocus
Richard van der Blom@yourlinkedinguideAlgorithm insights
Justin Welsh@thejustinwelshPersonal branding

TikTok

ExpertHandleFocus
Rachel Pedersen@themrspedersenTikTok for business

YouTube

ExpertHandleFocus
Roberto Blake@robertoblakeYouTube growth

Analytics and Data Experts

ExpertHandleSpecialty
Avinash Kaushik@avinashWeb analytics
Christopher Penn@cspennMarketing data, AI

Avinash Kaushik (@avinash)

Deep insights on analytics, measurement, and data-driven marketing.

Best for: Analytics-focused marketers.


Advertising Experts

ExpertHandleFocus
Jon Loomer@jonloomerFacebook/Instagram ads
Andrew Foxwell@andrewfoxwellPaid social

Jon Loomer (@jonloomer)

Meta advertising tactics. Targeting strategies. Campaign optimization.

Best for: Paid social media advertisers.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

Who should you follow for Facebook advertising tactics?

💡
Hint: Niche experts beat generalists for specific tactics.

Industry News Accounts

AccountHandleBest For
Social Media Today@socialmedia2dayIndustry news
Matt Navarra@MattNavarraBreaking updates
Marketing Brew@MarketingBrewDaily news

Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra)

Often first to share platform feature updates and changes. Must-follow for breaking news.

Best for: Breaking social media news.


Emerging Voices

ExpertHandleFocus
Jack Appleby@japplebySocial media campaign breakdowns
Amanda Natividad@amandanatZero-Click Content strategy
Nathan Baugh@nathanbaugh27Storytelling principles
Katelyn Bourgoin@KateBourBuyer psychology
Steph Smith@stephsmithioTrend forecasting
Eddie Shleyner@VeryGoodCopyCopywriting

Jack Appleby (@jappleby)

Creator of the Future Social newsletter. Known for breaking down successful social media and influencer marketing campaigns. Must-follow for social media managers.

Best for: Campaign analysis and social strategy.


Amanda Natividad (@amandanat)

Coined the term "Zero-Click Content" to describe how content marketers should operate on social platforms. Shares marketing tips and audience research insights.

Best for: Content strategists embracing native content.


Nathan Baugh (@nathanbaugh27)

Teaches storytelling principles using examples from authors like Kurt Vonnegut and movies like The Dark Knight. Practical storytelling for marketers.

Best for: Marketers who want to tell better stories.


Katelyn Bourgoin (@KateBour)

Customer research insights. Understanding what makes people buy. Named one of Forbes' "top 20 wonder women of SaaS marketing and growth."

Best for: Research-focused marketers.


Steph Smith (@stephsmithio)

Leads trend forecasting for HubSpot's The Hustle. Created "Doing Content Right" for content marketing professionals.

Best for: Trend spotting and content strategy.


Eddie Shleyner (@VeryGoodCopy)

Copywriting tips and persuasion techniques. Simple, actionable posts.

Best for: Writers and copywriters.


How to Get Value from Following

Create Twitter Lists

Organize by category:

  • Daily reads: Top 10 must-follows
  • News: Platform updates
  • Inspiration: Big-picture thinking
  • Tactics: How-to content

Engage Thoughtfully

Do:

  • Reply with genuine insights
  • Share their content with your commentary
  • Ask thoughtful questions

Don't:

  • Ask them to do things for you
  • Reply "great post!" without substance
  • DM with pitches
Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

What's the best way to build relationships with influencers on Twitter?

💡
Hint: Give before you ask. Contribute to discussions before expecting anything back.

Red Flags to Unfollow

Unfollow if they:

  • Constantly self-promote without value
  • Share outdated advice
  • Create controversy for engagement
  • Give generic advice without specifics
  • Only sell courses, no free value

External Resources


Twitter/X Strategy:

Influencer Marketing:

Content Ideas:

Related Tools:


FAQ

How many accounts should I follow?

50-200 max that you actually read. Use Twitter Lists to organize. Quality beats quantity.

Should I turn on notifications?

Only for 5-10 accounts max. Too many notifications become noise. Use Lists instead.

Do influencers respond to followers?

Many do, especially to valuable replies. Reply early to new posts with insights. Don't take silence personally.

How do I find new accounts to follow?

Look at who your favorites engage with. Check "Who to follow" suggestions. Search industry hashtags. Review conference speaker lists.

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