Social media has been a key element in our lives, both socially and professionally, for almost 25 years now. While it started as a mere means of communication with friends, it has grown into something much more. While it is still used on a personal level, it is also a key marketing strategy for companies worldwide. Furthermore, it has become a key tool for education. However, tapping into the education element can be tricky.

Most days it seems as though everybody you encounter is positioning themselves as a ‘digital expert’ online, making it challenging to know who is reputable and trusted in the industry.! I’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation for you and listed my top four recommended marketing experts to follow.

1. EntreLeadership

Let me preface this one: this source isn’t marketing-specific, yet it’s focused on business in general. Either way, EntreLeadership is well worth the follow. This account is a branch of Dave Ramsey’s empire, created to provide “practical principles for winning in business.” When following EntreLeadership,you’ll find practical business tips, motivational quotes from industry greats, as well as some leadership advice (I’m sure you’ll recognize some familiar faces on their profile). If you want to take things a step further, they have a podcast you can tune into as well.

Follow their account on Instagram here.

2. Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary may very well be one of the most well-known digital marketers today. It’s hard to sum up what Gary does because, well, he pretty much does everything. He’s founded and co-founded 14 businesses and describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur” (which definitely checks out in his case). Gary jumped on the e-commerce train early and helped grow his family business from $3 million to $60 million in sales during his time there. You can read all about his crazy journey to success here.

His social media accounts are full to the brim with business and marketing advice that he’s learned and put into practice over the past 10+ years. Follow his account on Instagram here.

3. Ann Handley

Ann Handley was another early adopter of digital Marketing, and has solidified herself as an expert in the industry ever since. She is a successful author, keynote speaker, and the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs. She’s also been named a top LinkedIn influencer, a Top Thought Leader by Forbes, and considered one of the experts shaping the world of marketing by IBM. Rest assured, Ann knows her stuff.

Follow her account on Twitter here.

4. Neil Patel

Neil started by founding two successful marketing software apps, and from there has built a digital marketing empire. He’s a New York Times bestselling author, named a Top 10 Marketer by Forbers, and awarded as a Top 100 Entrepreneur Under 30 by President Obama. He also co-founded a digital marketing agency, NP Digital. Needless to say, when it comes to digital marketing, you can trust Neil’s advice.

Follow his account on Instagram here.

Lastly, I can’t exactly give you a list of marketers to follow without throwing my hat into the ring. Follow TAC(t) for my best marketing advice, inspirational quotes, and content ideas you can use for your own business. I’m a social media nerd, and I’d love to connect with you online!

I hope following these industry experts gives you a little more confidence and insight when it comes to your own digital marketing efforts. I’m a huge supporter of education and continued growth, and I’ve found following leaders like these have helped me learn a lot during my daily social media scrolls. If you need more hands-on assistance rather than inspiration, let me know. My team has a few digital marketing skills up our sleeves that we can put to work for your business.