Are you looking to become a better school marketer? Do you want to expand your learning outside the traditional school communications model?
Being a good marketer or school communicator requires us to learn about our environment by expanding our comfort zone. Learning from individuals outside your industry is an excellent way to grow as a professional.
In this article, I provide a list of 25 must-follow social media accounts to expand your knowledge and become a better school marketer and communicator. This is part one, which lists influencers one through 12.
25 Must Follow Accounts for School Public Relations
The following are non-traditional accounts that the average school communicator might not be following.
These accounts give great insight into pop culture, marketing, generation z, and other relevant content for our industry.
Must Follow Marketing Influencers
These individuals give excellent insight into the world of marketing:
1. Gary Vaynerchuk – Marketing & Social Media Guru
Gary Vaynerchuk is the chairman of VaynerX, a modern-day media and communications holding company and the active CEO of VaynerMedia, a full-service advertising agency servicing Fortune 100 clients across the company’s 4 locations.
In addition to VaynerMedia, VaynerX also includes Gallery Media Group, which houses women’s lifestyle brand PureWow and men’s lifestyle brand ONE37pm. In addition to running VaynerMedia, Gary also serves as a partner in the athlete representation agency VaynerSports, cannabis-focused branding and marketing agency Green Street and restaurant reservations app Resy.
Gary is a board/advisory member of Ad Council and Pencils of Promise, and is a longtime Well Member of Charity:Water.
Gary is a highly sought after public speaker, a 5-time New York Times bestselling author, as well as a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, and Uber. [Gary Vaynerchuk YouTube]
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.garyvaynerchuk.com
- Facebook = Gary
- Twitter = @garyvee
- Instagram = @garyvee
- TikTok = @garyvee
- LinkedIn = Gary Vaynerchuk
- YouTube = Gary Vaynerchuk
- Podcast = Gary Vaynerchuk
2. Seth Godin – Marketing Guru
Seth Godin is an Author, Entrepreneur and Most of All, A teacher
Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 19 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It’s Your Turn. His most recent book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world.
Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).
By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.
In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. [sethgodin.com]
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.sethgodin.com
- Facebook = Seth Godin
- Twitter = This is Seth Blog
3. Matthew Kobach – Social Media Guru
Head of social media for the New York Stock Exchange.
After Matthew completed his Master’s degree in Mass Communication at Indiana University, he turned his attention to social media. Interested in how businesses could best harness social media to increase their bottom line, he focused his PhD studies on the prediction of social media behavior.
Matthew advises executives on how to best utilize social media to enhance their brands. Matthew’s credentials include presenting his research at competitive national and international conferences, publishing papers in top academic journals, and co-founding Social Research Strategies, positioning him as an authority in the field.
Click Below to interact:
- Website = Matthew Kobach
- Facebook = Matthew Kobach
- Twitter = mkobach
- Instagram = mkobach
- LinkedIn = Matthew-Kobach
Must Follow Sociologist Influencers
These individuals give excellent insight into the world of social observations:
4. Taylor Lorenz – Generation Z Expert & NY Times Tech Reporter
Hi! I’m a technology reporter at The New York Times covering internet culture.
This mostly takes the form of stories about social media, online trends, influencers, fandoms, memes, gaming, YouTubers, and and more. Here’s a link to some of my recent work.
I have written for The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Daily Dot, BuzzFeed, and many other publications.
I’m currently based in Brooklyn, NY. [taylorlorenz.com]
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.taylorlorenz.com
- Twitter = @TalorLorenz
- Instagram = @Taylor Lorenz
- Tiktok = @taylorlorenz
- LinkedIn = Taylor Lorenz
5. Lindsey Pollack – Millennial and Gen Z Expert
Often called a “translator,” Lindsey Pollak advises both young professionals looking to succeed in today’s work environment and the organizations that want to recruit, retain and engage them.
Her new book, THE REMIX: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, is available now.
She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World.
Her audiences and consulting clients have included over 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities, including Citi, Estee Lauder, GE, JP Morgan, LinkedIn, PwC, Shearman & Sterling, Yale, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford.
Lindsey also works with select brands as an influencer for media campaigns and social outreach, including Capital One, Hyatt Place, Levi’s and Sprint. As a LinkedIn Ambassador for six years, she created and delivered webinars that trained over 100,000 people to advance their careers using the platform. Lindsey also served for two years as chair of Cosmopolitan magazine’s Millennial Advisory Board.
Lindsey’s passion for mentoring young people goes back to her student days as a dorm RA at Yale University. She is based in New York City.
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.lindseypollak.com
- Facebook = Lindsey Pollak Author
- Twitter = @lindseypollak
- Instagram = @lindseypollak
- LinkedIn = Lindsey Pollak
- YouTube = Lindsey Pollak
6. Chelsea Krost – Millennial Expert
Chelsea Krost is one of America’s leading Millennial influencers, LinkedIn Rated Top 20 Millennial marketing and brand strategists, a sought-after keynote speaker, Forbes Contributor, and the #MillennialTalk chat host whose influence shapes marketing strategies of not only small businesses but Fortune 500 corporations.
Chelsea sat on the board of Cosmopolitan Magazine as a Millennial Board Member and has been a brand ambassador/spokesperson for many notable and diverse brands such as Intel, MasterCard, IBM, Suave, Skype, TurboTax, Illy Coffee, and The International Rotary.
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.chelseakrost.com
- Facebook = Chelsea Krost
- Twitter = @chelseakrost
- Instagram = @chelseakrost
- LinkedIn = Chelsea Krost
- YouTube = Chelsea Krost
7. Jeff Fromm – Youth Marketing & Trends Expert
As a professional speaker, Jeff has keynoted more than 500 events all over the world, to audiences from board meetings to thousands. His talks focus on how youth culture impacts sales and profit growth across generations, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. His message is both fun and functional.
Jeff helps his consulting clients – including Amazon, Dairy Queen, Wingstop, and Gallo – leverage consumer trends, technology and innovation. He is the co-author of three youth marketing books, dozens of research reports, and hundreds of Forbes columns.
Jeff has been interviewed for a TIME magazine cover story on millennials with kids, and by hundreds of other publications. His research is widely used by major brands, and has been cited by Forrester.
Jeff is an active board member for Three Dog Bakery, a premium pet treat brand, and Tickets For Less, an online ticket broker. He holds an economics degree with an emphasis in marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and attended The London School of Economics.
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.jefffromm.com
- Twitter = @jefffromm
- LinkedIn = Jeff Fromm
- YouTube = Jeff Fromm
Must Follow Education Influencers
These individuals give excellent insight into the world of education:
8. The Tatted Teacher – Youth Marketing & Trends Expert
- Website = www.thetattedteacher.com
- Facebook = The Tatted Teacher
- Twitter = @english_maven
- YouTube = TattEd
9. EdSurge – Tech Education Experts
EdSurge delivers insights and connects those exploring how technology can support equitable opportunities for all learners.
EdSurge was founded in 2011 by Betsy Corcoran, Matt Bowman, Nick Punt and Agustin Vilaseca to connect the emerging community of education technology entrepreneurs and educators.
As a leading education news organization, we report on the people, ideas and technologies that shape the future of learning. Through our work, we aim to help educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers and other stakeholders be part of the rich and complex conversations about the evolving learning environments for everyone and the technologies and tools that support them.
Along with sharing news, trends and research, EdSurge connects people through our jobs board and through networking events, including virtual and live workshops and conferences. Our database of rich information about emerging products in K-12 and higher education continues to be the go-to source for the industry.
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.edsurge.com
- Facebook = EdSurge
- Twitter = @edsurge
- Podcast = EdSurge
- LinkedIn = EdSurge
- YouTube = EdSurge
Must Follow Youth Influencers
These individuals give excellent insight into the youth culture:
10. Charli D’Amelio – TikTok Influencer
With more than 22 million TikTok followers and the no. 1 “Most Popular” ranking on influencer catalog Famous Birthdays, 15-year-old D’Amelio has taken over as the most popular teen on the internet.
In addition to choreography and performing viral dances – most notably the one to the song “Renegade” – and joining the mega-popular Hype House group in Los Angeles, D’Amelio is the first TikToker to star in a Super Bowl commercial.
Charli gained over 5 million TikTok followers in less than three months. [insider.com]
Click Below to interact:
- Website = www.charlidamelio.com
- Twitter = @charlidamelio
- Instagram = @charlidamelio
- Tiktok = Charli
- YouTube = Charli DAmelio
11. Kylie Jenner – Social Media Influencer & Entrepreneur
Kylie Kristen Jenner is an American media personality. She has starred in the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians since 2007 and is the founder and owner of cosmetic company Kylie Cosmetics.
With the success and public interest in the series and their lives, Jenner and her siblings have expanded their individual brands beyond reality television, earning millions through the lucrative world of celebrity endorsements.
She and her sister Kendall have launched a clothing collection for PacSun and TopShop called Kendall & Kylie. Jenner has also launched her own cosmetic brand, Kylie Cosmetics, which includes her wildly successful Kylie Lip Kit.
In 2015 she and Kendall were named to Time magazine’s Most Influential Teens list. That same year, she launched a paid lifestyle app called Kylie, which is estimated to generate millions of dollars for the young businesswoman. Additionally, like her sisters, Kylie Jenner has an extensive following on social media; on Instagram alone, she has garnered more than 100 million followers.
- Website = www.kyliecosmetics.com
- Facebook = Kylie Jenner
- Twitter = @kyliejenner
- Instagram = @kyliejenner
- Tiktok = @kyliejenner
- YouTube = Kylie Jenner
11. Zach King – Social Media Influencer & Magician
Zachary Michael King is an American YouTube and TikTok star, filmmaker and YouTube personality based in Los Angeles. He is most known for his “magic videos”, which are short videos digitally edited to look as if he is doing magic. He calls his videos “digital sleight of hand”
Internet star known as FinalCutKing who has amassed over 5 million subscribers on YouTube.
- Website = zachking.store
- Facebook = Zach King Vine
- Twitter = @zachking
- Instagram = @zachking
- Tiktok = @zachking
- YouTube = Zach King
This was part one of my list of 25 influencers school communicators should be following. Stay tuned for part two coming soon.