These guys have changed the way millions of people think about marketing, technology, and communications. They are not only authorities in their fields, but also excellent educators, speakers, authors and thought leaders.

Fans have until March 31 to go to the article and vote for their biggest social media crush.  As I write this, Mike Michalowicz -aka- The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur guy-  is crushing the competition with 41% of the vote!  Here is a recap of our top Social Media Man Crushes of 2010…..

Peter Shankman

Entrepreneur & Founder of Help A Reporter Out aka HARO

Peter Shankman is PR savvy, witty, and an international man of mystery (well- he travels a lot anyway). We put him on our 2010 Top Web Marketing Man Crush list for turning the PR and media world on its’ head when he launched the wildly popular service: HARO which stands for “Help a Reporter Out”; a site that helps journalists connect directly with experts for story ideas. Peter had the foresite to recognize that “Everyone is an Expert at something” and wanted to create a way for your average Joe (who does not have a PR agent) to connect with major and not so major media outlets and blogs.

Since launching HARO nearly 30,000 members of the media have quoted HARO sources in their stories. HARO has changed the way we do PR and gives a voice to people who may never had that opportunity. HARO is the largest free source repository in the world, sending out over 1,200 queries from worldwide media each week.

Peter himself is a writer and an adventurist who frequently travels, runs, and occassionally will jump out an airplane. We also hears he throws excellent parties and loves his 2 cats- and is quite good at public speaking. With all of these qualities; it is no wonder Peter Shankman made our TopWeb Marketing Man Crush list this year! Hurrrah for HARO!

Chris Brogan

Blogger, Author, Social Media Marketing Thought Leader

What is not to love about Chris Brogan? Everyone loves a man who listens- and Chris Brogan encourages businesses to utilize social media channels to actively listen….or Grow Bigger Ears!

Not only is is Chris a great listener; he is an infinite source of stellar advice for businesses of all sizes. Hismarketing tips are always spot on and the Wild Web Women recommend putting ChrisBrogan.com in your daily reading list. He is an in bound marketing thought leader who always seems to have his fingers on the pulse of what’s really going on. And for a perfect Friday night, curl up with a glass of wine and the book Trust Agents http://www.chrisbrogan.com/where-to-buy-trust-agents/, which he co-authored with Julien Smith.

So gaze into those dreamy blue eyes and say- Thank You Chris Brogan for everything you contribute to Web Marketing.

Mike Volpe

Co-Host of Hubspot TV & VP Marketing at Hubspot

Look out Matt Lauer….our favorite co-host is the sizzling hot Mike Volpe of Hubspot TV. If you want to become wicked smart (we love Boston talk) tune in every Friday at 4pm EST for the HubSpot TV Live Video Podcast where Mike and his wicked hot co-host and winner of our Web Marketing Girl Crush poll- Karen Rubin. The pair dishes out the latest inbound marketing news and interviews top industry movers and shakers.

For a healthy dose of Web Marketing Therapy that is both informative and entertaining- tune into their weekly show (and drop by their studio if you are in the Cambridge, MA area) and listen in on some of Hubspot’s Webinars (often free) for some damn good marketing advice. The Wild Web Women appreciate Mike’s keen sense of humor; after all laughter layered on top of sense of technology is the best medicine- and that is why Mike Volpe makes our 2010 Top Marketing Man Crush list.

Lee Odden

Founder and CEO of TopRank Online Marketing

When internet marketing specialist Lee Odden launched TopRank Online Marketing in 2001, he established an important organization that would bring the concept of marrying SEO with Public Relations to the masses. He continues to be one of the most sought after speakers on this topic and we love his vast wisdom on new media marketing methods and content marketing. Lee shares his expertise in his company blog and through his outstanding Webinars (if you ever have a chance to attend one of his engagements or Webinars- do it!).

Lee and his super team of internet marketing specialists continue to pave the way in our industry by teaching businesses how to intersect of SEO withSocial Media Marketing. Lee contributes so much and has made a big impression; and that is why he is on our 2010 Top Web Marketing Man Crush list.

David Meerman Scott

Author, Marketing Strategist, Social Media God

Why do we love this man? David Meerman Scott LITERALLY wrote the book on Social Media and Web Marketing: New Rules of Marketing and PR. This book changed the Wild Web Women’s lives and is their agency’s marketing bible. If you take nothing else from this article: go get his book and read it immediately -then read it again! Web Marketing Therapy students and employees are required to read this book; we bring this book to speaking engagements and pass it around.  You can say David Meerman Scott’s book is a “Healthy Addiction” ; as you can see team WMT frequently tags him in their blog.

The “Wild Web Women” team professes their love to David Meerman Scott openly and he will always have a place in our Top Web Marketing Man Crush list. Thank you David for being such a healthy influence on the world of Web marketing; for changing the way we do marketing and PR; and setting such an amazing example by always practicing what you preach in your speaking engagements, interviews, Webinars (which Amy Dunn, WMT’s Web 2.0 Fear Specialist, has sat in on herself)

Be sure to add David’s smart marketing blog, Web in the Know, to your daily reading list.

Pete Cashmore

CEO & Founder of Mashable & Social Media Hottie

Pete Cashmore of Mashable is the Brad Pitt of the Web-lebirty world- but 20 years younger (sorry Brad). He earned major props last year when he was listed in Inc Magazine’s 30 Under 30, Forbes’ Top 25 Web Celebs and the Huffington Posts’ Top 10 Game Changers 2009….and now- he can add the very prestigious honor of making the 2010 Wild Web Women Top Web Marketing Man Crush. Yes- he is a total cutie (look at him!)…but this Social Media rock star has much more to offer.

He is the mastermind behind one of THE most important Blogs in the Social Media industry- Mashable.com – which he founded at the ripe old age of 19! His blog reaches over 10 million monthly readers and helps marketing junkies like us adapt best practices and get up to the minute information on trending topics happening online.

You can also read his column on technology and media at CNN.com and is currently regarded as one of the most influencial Twitter users (look out Guy Kawasaki!!)

John J. Wall & Christopher Penn

Dynamic Marketing Duo and Hosts of Marketing Over Coffee

John J. Wall & Christopher Penn are the clever and marketing-savvy pair who dish out a weekly dose of tough love advice over a cup of java in their popular podcast Marketing Over Coffee recorded in a local coffee shop. We love that they recognize there are still relevant practices in traditional marketing and guide their listeners on how to embrace new media.

John J. Wall is the show producer and a marketing, sales and technology connoisseur. He keeps the show short, sweet and chalk full of valuable marketing tips that anyone can download and listen to at their leisure. Co-Host, Christopher S. Penn is Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Blue Sky Factory and co-founder of the groundbreaking PodCamp New Media Community unConference. This duo has a keen sense of industry trends and best practices and we strongly recommend tuning or downloading their show for top notch marketing tips that are practical and easy to implement.

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder and CEO of Facebook & Really Really Really Rich Guy

Mark Zuckerberg co-founded a little known site called Facebook with his Harvard chums from his dorm room in 2004. Little did he know he would be making social media history. Facebook is a world-wide phenomon with over 350 million users and continues to adapt and remain relevant in today’s media culture. His creation has revolutionized how we connect to each other and how we conduct business.

Business leaders everywhere rely more and more on social networking communities such as Facebook to connect them directly with their customers and engage with them in ways never thought possible. Mark is not only a gagillionaire, adorable, and heads the most successful online Social Networking community in history. The Wild Web Women love Mark and his classmates for this contribution and for giving us this incredibly valuable tool.

Mike Michalowicz

The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Guy

Comeon, any guy who wipes his web marketing with a name like “Toiler Paper Entrepreneur”, can get away with it AND look good doing it HAS to make our social media man crush list!! Mike M rocks the power of user generated content with his kick-ass system that allows entrepreneurs to post their wisdom based on the theme de jour. This Toilet Paper Entrepreneur rocks the web with his wit, technology, community-driven approach and guts to go where no man has gone before with his marketing…to the toilet. This marketing maven drives home the idea of “riches in the niches” by spinning an un-sexy theme then savvy-ing it up with his tagline of “cleaning up your business, even when you are at the end of your roll” has to earn a seat on the Wild Web Women’s super hero seat!

The Wild Web Women respect a man with marketing balls, and this social media man wears them brilliantly.

Guy Kawasaki

Marketing & Business Expert, Entrepreneur, Twitter Royalty

How Tweet He Is…..In a world where Ashton Kutcher is the “King of Twitter”; Guy Kawasaki is Prince Charming…. He has had an extraordinary influence on how this social media network is used for businesses and building your personal brand. His expertise on building a brand roots back to the mid 80s when he worked for Apple and was marketing the Macintosh.

Guy is an active writer having published 9 books and is changing the world one blog post on How to Change the World – A Practical Blog for Impractical People. He also publishes Alltop.com a site that aggregates the latest headlines from the worlds most reliable sources (helps to avoid search engine overload). We think he is a wonderful role model for new Twitter users (if ever in doubt, ask yourself – What Would GK do?) He believes in 2 way communication because he listens and responds to his followers. If you want to get an idea of what will be hot in the future- stay in touch with Guy….he always seems to be ahead of the rest of us.

Web Marketing Related Posts:

1. Biggest Social Media Marketing “Girl Crush”-And the 2009 Winner is…..
2. Social Media Crushes – Marketing Over Coffee Podcast Pros
3. Get In On the Action: Free, Online Social Media Marketing Summit–September 24, 2009

Mid-Winter Groundhog Day reinforces our need for extra savvy business and marketing planning for a fruitful Spring!

Okay, it’s officially mid-winter!  Just as the groundhog has to come out of his hole to see how long the winter will be (based on it’s shadow or not), so do we!  The folklore and tradition of Groundhog Day was created in large part to fill our need for some kind of weather prediction, to help us anticipate and plan for days ahead.  (According to today’s Groundhog Day event, the groundhog did in fact see his shadow –which means there will be six more weeks of winter.)

And, for us as business owners and marketers… the Economic Shadow is also still here!

It’s been a little over a month since the holidays, which were a bit better financially than the year prior for many; but, it’s still very challenging.  There are some hopeful signs for the future, yet we are far from being out “of the woods.”  Therefore, we need to act with more business and marketing savvy than ever before!

We need to do some planning (and planting) in order to have a Fruitful Future ahead…

This means we have to continue to plant seeds, nurture and leverage our resources for smarter marketing.  We need to create more fruitful opportunities for success and greater revenue throughout the year.

Here are 9 Valuable Marketing Tips to Combat the Shadow of a Down-Economy:

1. Maintain & Update Your Website. Invest wisely in your website; these dollars go a long way! (especially relative to other marketing activities). Design your website to help people make effective, informed, and helpful decisions to purchase your product(s) or services. (They need to know, like, and understand you). Update with interactive components for enhancement and optimal Search Engine Optimization.

2. Use Public Relations & Be Creative. It’s a new world of opportunity for cost-effective PR!  (Read David Meerman Scott’s book, The New Rules of Marketing and PR).  You have more newsworthy content opportunities than you realize! — Connect with current day events, create announcements, report on special customer or company stories, etc.
3. Write Articles & Multi-Purpose Them. Create your own website Press Page.  Adjust articles for journalists’ needs.  Send out on-line press releases.  Contact newspapers and media… build relationships.  Everyone knows PR is highly effective advertising and promotion for your business.
4. Reconnect & Reinforce Relationships. Tap into your community and engage in Social Media Networking (at least be in Linkedin and Facebook).

5. Enhance Your Billing Practices and/or Policies. Develop your own “Value-Billing” systems.  Be sure to provide any highlights in the billing that show the full value, time and benefits they received from your product or service.

6. Include Value-Added Services to Build Customer Enthusiasm. It’s always helpful to have some added services or benefits, beyond what’s anticipated to exceed customer expectations and create another level of customer enthusiasm.
7. Create a Helpful Communications Outreach. Find purposeful reasons to say hello –and be helpful! (newsletters, targeted programs/customized services, email, etc.).
8. Adopt a Small Charge for Educational or How-To Seminars. Consider charging a small amount for some educational seminars of value that you may have done free in the past (you’ll get a more secure attendance and will at least garner some income.)
9. Build Real Relationships. Helping people during hard times is something they don’t forget.  –It’s one of those impacting and imprinting opportunities that can build long-term customer loyalty.

Before you launch any marketing campaign on Facebook- take some time and make sure you are following this important rule: Know Your Target Audience.  Your goal is to make your Facebook Business Page a true resource for your customer.

Identify your customers and ask yourself what kind of value can this page bring to them?  What kind of problems or challenges are they facing and how can you help them find the solution?    Identify the personality traits of your customers- what do they like?  Dislike?

David Meerman Scott, author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR calls this the Buyer Persona.  Is your Buyer Persona seeking Information?   Are they seeking tips?  Are they seeking entertainment and photos?  Video clips?  Do they like to read articles or are short updates the way to connect with them?  Where do they work?  What are their hobbies?  Are they seeking a method to provide direct feedback and ask direct questions? How old are they?  What is their education level?

Answers to your questions will give you a clearer picture on how to structure your Facebook marketing campaign and the best ways to engage your customers.  In addition, this page to provide that customer service your audience would appreciate.

A case example is our own Web Marketing Therapy Facebook page.  We have identified that our audience are Web Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, PR and Marketing Professionals.  They are Web savvy but sometimes overwhelmed  or even skeptical of all of the changing information and marketing rules out there.   They do not have a lot of time to “surf the Web” and experiment so they seek to learn the most efficient way to utilize the Web to build their brand and increase sales so they can focus on their professions.

To serve our audience- we use our Facebook Page as a tool to communicate the various free learning opportunties available to them by feeding our Blog Posts into the page,  announcing Webinars and online tutorials (like The Three Secrets to Web Marketing Success coming up next week), posting links to other articles and sites that offer great information that our audience will appreciate, and alerting them to active discussions happening in our Web Marketing Facebook Group Therapy page and our Wild Web Women Linked In Group.  (Whew!  That’s a lot of activity!)

One of my all-time favorite marketing gurus, David Meerman Scott, author of World Wide Rave and The New Rules of Marketing & PR, will host his own webcast and reveal the most exciting and powerful way to build your own audience from scratch by harnessing the power of social media. Other social media experts like Dan Serfaty, CEO at Viadeo, and Sandy Carter, VP of Software Group Channels and Social Media Evangelist at IBM, will discuss social media engagement in European business markets and how to integrate social media into the marketing mix. If you want to hear case studies from Cisco and Adobe, explore business strategies behind making money via social media, understand marketing in mobile social networks, or even hear an expert question social media, this social media extravaganza is the place to be!

Participate in these live, interactive webcasts, submit real-time questions to presenters, and vote in audience polls. Attend live online throughout the day on September 24 or afterward on-demand. For a full list of webcasts and schedules click on Social Media Marketing Summit for details. Knowledge is power…get in on the social media marketing action!

David’s post reminds us that we should always take the opportunity to explain a little about ourselves. When you sign up for a Twitter account, you get 160 characters to say a little about yourself. Use it! I know it’s easy to be excited and think “I’ll do that later…” But sometimes that doesn’t happen. Yes, it has to be brief, but don’t let your bio & about spaces be unused real estate with great potential.

Make sure your blog has an about page, make sure people know who they’re following, and use your online profiles to say a little about yourself and build your online reputation. After all, I couldn’t say it better — it is about you.