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Lee Odden

Must Read Search Marketing Blogs

Posted by Lee Odden on Jan 3rd, 2007 in Blogging, Online Marketing, Pay Per Click, SEO, Search Engines |

Editor: Here is the master list of search marketing blogs maintained weekly.
In the latter part of last year I had been sharing blogs that I came across and decided are worthy to add to my RSS reader. Topics of these blogs, as you might guess, concern search engines, search engine optimization, online PR and social media. I realize calling this a “must read” list is a bit ambitious, but I do have to say that if I had enough time to read them all, I would!

In the spirit of the new year, I thought I would share the OPML file as of January 3rd, 2007 of the 250 plus (and counting) SEO, SEM, social media and online PR blogs I try to monitor. There are quite a few gems in there but it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all of them. Even if you use Zap Reader.

In the process of revisiting each blog site and RSS feed, I have a few recommendations for bloggers:

  • Please make it easier to subscribe to your feed! Place an orange RSS icon high up on your page and don’t be afraid to use the word “subscribe” nearby. The RSS feed buttons tool can help you in this department.
  • Please add some “about” information to your blog. Without extra information about the contributor(s), there’s not as much credibility. You can still be anonymous, but add a little background info at least.
  • Take it easy on the AdSense. Too much AdSense above the fold, the less value you’re providing readers.
  • Post once in a while, will ya?! I know it’s not a top priority for many of the knowledgeable marketers out there, but think about how you can re-purpose other communications such as answering questions for prospects, customers or staff. Also, take notes when you have ideas and save them as blog post drafts. Add to them over time and soon you’ll be able to post full length articles (if that’s your thing) on a regular basis with a minimum time investment at one sitting.

Below is a collection of over 250 blogs covering search marketing with a few that venture into blogging, social media and new media public relations. This list is an output of my own RSS reader and it will update (add/remove) as I update the list of blogs and feeds that I track. I hope you find it useful.

The list will be maintained on an ongoing basis on the Search Marketing Blogs page. Here is the OPML file for your download/importing pleasure. (right click and save as)

Enjoy!

There is no way to get on this list by “submitting” or requesting. I must notice your blog, read it and like it. It’s totally subjective and not an attempt to be a comprehensive resource, but one the we’ve found to be useful at TopRank.

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  1. January 3rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm The Only List of Search Marketing Blogs You’ll Ever Need | Marketing Pilgrim

    [...] If you’re too lazy to compile your own list of the best search marketing blogs out there, never fear. Lee Odden has compiled a list of over 250 blogs and is even kind enough to provide the OPML file. [...]

  2. January 3rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm Igor M. (BizMord Blog)

    Excellent list Lee. I can only imagine how much time this took.

  3. January 3rd, 2007 at 4:08 pm Joe Dolson

    Well…now, my only question is whether I _really_ want to download that OPML.

    Does it continue to be beneficial if you’re massively overwhelmed by the quantity of data?

    But seriously, this is a great list, Lee.

  4. January 3rd, 2007 at 4:14 pm Chris Winfield

    Unreal Lee! Thanks so much for compiling this!

  5. January 3rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm Lee Odden

    It is a lot of information. The OPML option allows you to start with a huge list and filter it out as you go. The reverse basically, of how it was built. :)

    Like any list, there may be a few blogs that people have never heard of before that could bring some great info.

  6. January 3rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm Chris Hooley

    I am sending my whole team here to grab that OPML file. Thanks for the great resource, and for putting my ole blog up there too. You rock Lee!

  7. January 3rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm Todd

    Great resourceful post Lee.

    Just wanted to give a quick shoutout for one that just started - Brian Mark (of toolbarn.com fame), who has had a lot of success with the “onebox” has just started oneboxer.com - should be a goodie, and is a great niche that most folks don’t focus that much attention on.

  8. January 3rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm kid disco

    Dang, Lee! That’s quite a comprehensive list! You should put them all in your blogroll… then, you may beat out Bill for having the king of all blogrolls! :P

  9. January 3rd, 2007 at 6:13 pm Lee Odden

    Good tip Todd, thanks.

    Ha, kid disco, that honor belongs to Bill!

  10. January 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm Kev

    Great list, you shouldn’t miss too much by reading each of those daily! :D

  11. January 3rd, 2007 at 6:42 pm Glen

    Was hoping to get on, but maybe next year ;)

    Great list!

  12. January 3rd, 2007 at 6:46 pm David Temple

    Thanks for the great list and for including mine. How long do you give someone that doesn’t post regularly til you knock them off the list? That should be a motivator.;)

  13. January 3rd, 2007 at 7:05 pm Lee Odden

    Hi Glen, you’re in the queue. We post new blogs every Friday!

    David, yes posting frequency is indeed a factor. We declined listing over 50 blogs because of no posts in the past 30 days or more. However, 2 weeks or more is a better indicator.

  14. January 3rd, 2007 at 7:43 pm Must Read Search Marketing Blogs .:. Joe’s Sem Blog

    [...] I am very pleased that Lee from the Top Rank Online Marketing Blog has considered this blog as a must read search marketing blog.  To be up there with so many talented bloggers in the industry gives me great pleasure and well done Lee for noticing my blog so quickly.  Thanks! [...]

  15. January 3rd, 2007 at 7:54 pm Matt McGee

    Wow! My Bloglines is at about 160 feeds, which I thought was impressive. But that’s nothing compared to this! Thanks for putting this together, Lee. Thanks for including my blog. I think by the time I’m done checking out all the new blogs here I might be up at 250+, too. :) Great, great stuff. Thanks again.

  16. January 3rd, 2007 at 8:55 pm Patrick Schaber

    Lee - this is unreal! Thanks for all the hard work you and your team put into this. It sure will make it easier for all of us to find each other. I also appreciate being included in the list! Thank you.

  17. January 3rd, 2007 at 9:37 pm Balazs Balint

    Not bad list:) I hope I will have enough time to read (just 1/50 of the list :)). But one of my favourites is missing: http://www.toprankblog.com I know that it is quite far away from online marketing, but the most fruitful thing if you can find trends in one field to apply it in another field. That is why I read it. That blog doesn’t give comprehensive posts, but highlights some intresting points (mainly offline markeing related) which makes me think about offline trends, that can affect online trends and gives new ideas.

  18. January 3rd, 2007 at 9:43 pm Cre8pc on Usability & Holistic SEO Teaching Myself a New User Testing Trick »

    [...] I reminded everybody in my house about the “lovely and super smart” part, just in case they happened to forget. This latest blog post, from Lee Odden Must Read Search Marketing Blogs, is the king of researched lists. Impressing a Teenager [...]

  19. January 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 pm Ann Handley

    Lee — Wow…that is a serious blog addiction you’ve developed there. WOW!

    Thanks for including all of us at the Daily Fix — much appreciated.

  20. January 3rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm Search Marketing Blog List · SEO Buzz Box

    [...] Lee Odden had his people put together a massive list of search marketing blogs. [...]

  21. January 3rd, 2007 at 10:25 pm Capture the Conversation Internet Marketing Blog

    An Excellent List of Must Read Search Marketing Blogs…

    Today, to help kick off the new year, Lee Odden over at his Online Marketing Blog has posted an OPML file containing over 250 “must read blogs” dealing with the subjects of search engines, SEO, online PR, and social media…….

  22. January 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 pm Cygnus

    Lee,

    That is a rather thorough list you have there; how often do you find yourself updating it?

    For a while I tried to read absolutely everything that was written, but found (as you must have) that quite a bit is regurgitated and re-branded from opinion -> fact -> religion. That said, I’ll definitely have to pick through your list on a couple I haven’t read in a while, just in case.

    Good luck to you in 2007.

    Cygnus

  23. January 3rd, 2007 at 11:07 pm Christer Edwards

    I think that definitely crosses the line into information overload! Thanks for the list though, its nice to find new reading from time to time.. even if I don’t keep the entire list.

  24. January 4th, 2007 at 12:20 am Brian Provost

    Two more:

    http://www.scoreboard-media.com (self-propping)

    http://www.tropicalseo.com (Andy Hagans)

  25. January 4th, 2007 at 12:44 am Toby

    Lee - It’s an honor to be included in your reads. Guess I should add you to mine now .. only kidding .. you’ve been on my Bloglines for ages ;-) Seriously, this is a great resource. Thanks for the post.

  26. January 4th, 2007 at 12:55 am Go Forth and Read! » Small Business SEM

    [...] At this moment I’m monitoring 160 feeds in my Bloglines account. I thought that was a lot … until today. Lee Odden has posted the list of 249 blogs in his feed reader, and he puts all 249 on a list called Must Read Search Marketing Blogs. [...]

  27. January 4th, 2007 at 1:10 am shoemoney

    great list lee!

  28. January 4th, 2007 at 1:53 am Robyn Tippins

    Thanks for the inclusion Lee. It’s an honor to be in this list :)

  29. January 4th, 2007 at 5:32 am Ged

    Here’s another:

    http://www.etre.com/blog/ (a “usability, accessibily and findability blog”)

  30. January 4th, 2007 at 5:42 am 250 Blogs for your Feed Readers (Marketing) » Search Engine Optimisation & Marketing

    [...] Lee Odden, over at Top Rank Blog, has posted about 250 ‘must read’ search marketing blogs. The list of course is a long list, so we will keep credit to Lee by posting the link instead of posting the list ourselves, but we thought we would add some blogs we feel deserve to be on a ‘list’, some may be on Lee’s list and some may not (in no particular order): [...]

  31. January 4th, 2007 at 8:14 am Lee Odden

    Thanks for all the comments guys!

  32. January 4th, 2007 at 9:39 am st0n3y

    That certainly is a lot of reading each day! Picked out a few that looked interesting and that I’m not already reading.

  33. January 4th, 2007 at 10:02 am Navneet Kaushal

    Thanks Lee . You have done a wonderful job by providing a comprehensive list of current SEO blogs. It would be highly helpful for anyone concerned with SEO.

  34. January 4th, 2007 at 11:02 am Brian Clark

    Thanks for the mention Lee, and the list itself. I’m putting this one over on Delicious for now. ;)

  35. January 4th, 2007 at 11:12 am Chris Hooley

    Good call Brian. We should all bookmark this now!

  36. January 4th, 2007 at 11:12 am Kate Zimmermann

    I think my RSS subscriptions just doubled with your opml file. It’s a terrific list though, I sent it around to everyone at Reprise Media.

    One more I’d recommend: Marketing.fm

    Thanks!

    Kate

  37. January 4th, 2007 at 11:28 am Speaking of Search Engines… | Copyblogger

    [...] Lee Odden of the Online Marketing Blog has put together a fantastic resource list of his Must Read Search Marketing Blogs, and has provided an OPML file so you can download all 250 plus feeds into your reader. As much as I love RSS, the thought of that many new feeds at one time gives me the willies, yet this is definitely a bookmarkable resource for later perusal. [...]

  38. January 4th, 2007 at 11:30 am Lee Odden

    Ha, thanks Brian and Chris. MUCH appreciated. :)

    If you’re in the mood, try #11 for the OMB at:
    http://www.kbcafe.com/rss/?guid=20070102083807

    Cheers!

  39. January 4th, 2007 at 11:36 am Helen

    This is a really useful and comprehensive list! And thanks for the inclusion… it’s an honour to be included.

  40. January 4th, 2007 at 12:04 pm Ramblings of an IT Man » Must Read Search Marketing Blogs

    [...] http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/01/must-read-search-marketing-blogs/ [...]

  41. January 4th, 2007 at 12:13 pm SEO Dance » Blog Archive » List of Search Marketing Blogs from Lee Odden

    [...] List of Search Marketing Blogs from Lee Odden January 4th, 2007 by SEO Dance If your New Year’s Resolution is to add more SEO/SEM blog feeds to your RSS reader, thank Lee Odden for his compilation of must-read search marketing blogs. [...]

  42. January 4th, 2007 at 12:28 pm David Wallace

    Awesome list, Lee. Will blog and link to it in my weekly summary. Thanks for including mine. I would Digg it but…. ;-)

  43. January 4th, 2007 at 12:30 pm Didier Bizimungu

    Wow thanks so much for adding me to the list Lee.

    Thank You

  44. January 4th, 2007 at 12:33 pm Lee Odden

    Ha, thanks David. Maybe I should call this the “anti digg linkbait” experiment! :)

    Thanks Kate, Helen and Didier!

  45. January 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm Toivo Lainevool

    Thanks for the great list!

  46. January 4th, 2007 at 1:28 pm Hawaii Online Advertising » New Google Reader Trends

    [...] I’ve been meaning to create a post about all the great blogs that I subscribe to and read but I’ve been procrastinating because I know it will take quite a while. Luckily‚Ķ Lee Odden at the Online Marketing Blog did the job for me in a post called “Must Read Search Marketing Blogs“. Lee on the other hand tries his best to read 250 plus (and counting) SEO, SEM, social media and online PR blogs. (Amazing!) Almost all the blogs I read are listed there. [...]

  47. January 4th, 2007 at 1:40 pm Alan B

    Better look out Lee Odden, because I, Alan B, have also got one heck of a large Blogroll!

    Just when you thought it was safe to state you have the biggest, baddest Blogroll, here comes Big Al!!

  48. January 4th, 2007 at 2:21 pm Link Moses

    A miracle! Link Moses is at a loss for words, which itself is also a miracle :) Lee, you have my sincerest thanks. Now, what do I do with the OPML file I just saved?

    LM aka EW

  49. January 4th, 2007 at 3:20 pm Lee Odden

    Hey Alan, that is one heck of a blog roll you have there. It’s a great one that’s for sure, especially since OMB is there. :)

    Eric, you can import the OPML file into your favorite RSS reader to automatically subscribe you to all 250 feeds.

  50. January 4th, 2007 at 3:53 pm Giovanni Gallucci

    Lee,

    Considering my post yesterday as a response to a post by Paul at SEOIdtiot:

    Our goal at The Agency Blog is a simple one…but a four parter, nonetheless. We are simply yet complex…that makes us sexy to the other bloggers.

    1) Add absolutely no value for anyone;
    2) Leave you, the humble reader, with nothing to think about;
    3) Be as generally specific about as many vague technical thingys as possible;
    4) Do whatever I want with my little piece of real-estate on the web.

    Is it possible that The Agency Blog was included by mistake? If not, then thank you for risking your reputation and publicly acknowledging that you waste time peeking at my feeds from time to time. You’re good people.

  51. January 4th, 2007 at 4:20 pm John Andrews

    C’mon Lee, which ones are your favorites? ;-)

  52. January 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pm Diary of an Ad Man » Blog Archive » You know you’re busy when..

    [...] Lee Oddon listed 250 marketing and PR blogs that he follows. I love entries like this because they offer a one-stop research tool. [...]

  53. January 4th, 2007 at 5:26 pm scott

    Thanks for the list, and for including ST!

  54. January 4th, 2007 at 5:33 pm Lee Odden

    You bet Scott!

    Hey everyone, we’ve hit the del.icio.us popular page!
    http://del.icio.us/popular/

    Thanks!

  55. January 4th, 2007 at 5:33 pm Steve Bryant

    You’re a right bastard. I JUST finished organizing my feeds in Google Reader, and now I have to put some of these in too! ;)

    Nah, seriously, thx for the include!
    -s.

  56. January 4th, 2007 at 8:30 pm Dustin

    Very cool Lee. Since you appear to be a gluten for search blogs, here’s a newer one to add to your reading pleasure:

    http://www.webconnoisseur.com/blog/

  57. January 4th, 2007 at 9:08 pm Mitch

    What a great list. I subscribed to at least 10 of these, and will have to come back to look at the rest of them; thanks.

  58. January 4th, 2007 at 10:30 pm Kalena

    Ahem.. so I guess I’m chopped liver?

  59. January 5th, 2007 at 12:48 am 250 Suchmaschinen-Marketing-Blogs | nanoblogs[.de]

    [...] 250 Suchmaschinen-Marketing-Blogs 4. Januar 2007 - 19:16 Uhr  Das Online Marketing Blog hat eine Liste von 250 Must Read Search Marketing Blogs zusammengestellt. Darunter sind auch einige bekannte Namen, die ich jetzt zwar nicht unter SEO/SEM eingeteilt hätte, aber so ist die Liste wohl abgerundeter. Die Liste wird übrigens auch als OPML file angeboten. [...]

  60. January 5th, 2007 at 3:18 am Peter van der Graaf

    It’s my own fault that you haven’t noticed mine yet. I’ve been so busy promoting clients that promoting my own blog has had no priority. Accept my humble apologies for not reaching your attention before. http://www.vdgraaf.info

  61. January 5th, 2007 at 5:44 am Justin Seibert - Direct Online Marketing

    Great post - it’s a really nice resource to have everything all together in one place to reference. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. Also enjoyed suggestion #4 - without doing that I don’t think I could post with any regularity.

  62. January 5th, 2007 at 9:27 am Rob Humphreys

    Great post Lee. Whew…this is a list!

    Your site’s in my feed reader and I applaude anyone who can (try to) keep up with this many blogs/sites.

    I’ve tinkered around with the open source CMS Pligg and have created a Digg-like multi-user powered online marketing related site (that was a mouthful and I’m sure I still d/n explain it right…it’s like Digg for online marketers). ;)

    http://www.clickblurbs.com

    Much success to you in 2007!

  63. January 5th, 2007 at 9:42 am Alexandra

    Lee, I also have been *too busy* to post to my SEO blog because(no eye-rolling, please)I’ve been working on my entertainment blog. I hope everyone will also pay particular attention to your recommendations.
    Thanks for the list. I’ll accept it as a late Christmas gift.-Alexandra

  64. January 5th, 2007 at 4:05 pm 330 Blogs in My Reader » Marc Ohmann’s Blog

    [...] I have been debating for days on what to do with Lee Odden's Must Read Search Marketing Blogs.  Having over 100 blogs in Google Reader already (most of which I can't get to on a regular basis) I couldn't imagine dumping another 250 into my to-do list. [...]

  65. January 6th, 2007 at 9:45 am David Dalka

    Nice resource. You forget me! Search Engine, Mobile Search and Customer Listening.

  66. January 6th, 2007 at 10:46 am Bookmarks Explosion for 6 January 2007

    [...] Search Marketers are in a for a big treat, because Online Marketing Blog has a list of search marketing blogs for you to get subscribed with and start reading! and… there is an update with more! [...]

  67. January 8th, 2007 at 3:36 pm jimithegeek

    Dude this is a great list and I’m sure it will be great linkbait …my only question is why aren’t I on the list kidding …I love your work.

  68. January 8th, 2007 at 7:38 pm links for 2007-01-09 « B-link List

    [...] Must Read Search Marketing Blogs » Online Marketing Blog Must Read Search Marketing Blogs (tags: blog blogging best links) [...]

  69. January 9th, 2007 at 8:59 pm Solomon Rothman

    Nice list and very comprehensive. Since it’s coming from such an “authority” blog it’s really picked up a lot of links (ran into more then one post linking to this just in my regular weekly SEO/M reading).

    I see more and more lists popping up as “link bait”, but they’re usually missing the key ingredient when faced with competition from many similar lists: reputation. Although if the list is especially unique or well presented it can still spread virally even from a completely unknown source.

    I hope you continue to keep this updated - I already read too many blogs and you just gave me some more. Hopefully you’ll run into my blog (I plan on sending you some traffic when I mention a few things in a new post) and maybe Stir Crazy Search Engine Marketing and Website Design blog will make this list (I know, long name, but it’s on purpose).

  70. January 10th, 2007 at 1:42 pm Tim Linden

    Sweet. I uploaded the OPML file to Google Reader. I figure I’ll try out Google Reader at the same time, and leave my Bloglines for the blogs I currently subscribe to. This will be interesting.

  71. January 10th, 2007 at 4:29 pm Seo Practices

    Thanks, I already have a good list of blogs to check every day, but since the it comes from an authority in the subject, I’ll be checking for new ones to add to my must read list of blogs.