I read a ton of blogs, and my reading list varies from time to time. I have some standbys, but I also love coming across blogs that aren’t yet discovered by the masses. I find smart people everywhere (thanks to things like Google Shared Items or Twitter or Facebook), and every once in a while, I’d like to make sure you find some of them, too.  So here, in no particular order, are some of the blogs I’ve been reading that I hope you’ll check out.

Servant of Chaos

Gavin Heaton is decidedly one of my favorites. He always has a fresh voice and a new take on something, and I never get tired of hearing what he’s got to say. The only thing keeping me from stalking him and hanging out on his doorstep is the very long plane ride to Australia. Connect with Gavin on Twitter at @servantofchaos.

Press Release PR

Danny Brown has come blazing onto the social media stage with a rock-solid blog that’s always thought provoking and interesting. He’s also a favorite Twitter peep of mine at @PressReleasePR, and I’m particularly excited about his 12 for 12K initiative for 2009.

David Mullen

Always a sure bet for great conversation in the comments as well as the blog itself, David has put together one heck of a pile of good thinking here. Mostly trending toward social media and PR, David clearly digs beyond the surface of issues floating around the fishbowl and makes them into sage discussions about the topics that are really at issue. Good stuff. (Find David on Twitter at @dmullen)

Masiguy

Tim Jackson is the brand manager for Masi bikes, and he’s a living, breathing case study for the power of social media for small business. Tim is a passionate cyclist and a smart marketing mind, and he smashes both together in this very warm and welcoming blog. He shares his travels, his love for Masi bikes, and has built an amazing brand and community by being a great conversationalist. I admire the heck out of Tim. (Tim’s on Twitter, too, at @TimJackson)

Web Business by Ken Burbary

You can tell that Ken is one of those guys that chews long and hard on a post before he writes it, and lucky for him he’s got a knack for picking apart some meaty topics. He’s one of the blogs that I often have to read and then sit and think about a comment that’s worthy of the effort he put into the post itself. It’s one part social stuff, one part web technology, and all sorts of smart. (Find him on Twitter at @KenBurbary)

Media Emerging by Scott Hepburn

You want it told like it is? Scott’s your guy. He’s a PR pro by trade but he writes about a little bit of anything new media related. His posts are always insightful, thought provoking, and articulate. And if you haven’t met Scott on Twitter (@ScottHepburn), he’s a riot and a half.

Insights and Ingenuity – Heather Rast

Heather is another new (to me, anyway) voice on the scene, and I met her through Twitter, which led me to her blog. Heather’s writing style is punchy, succinct, and vocal, and she’s got pithy things to say about the worlds of branding and communication in today’s world. Check her out on Twitter, too, at @HeatherRast.

New Media Lisa – Lisa Hoffmann

Another PR wizard, Lisa is emphatically about the human connections behind social media technologies. I’m always refreshed by her common-sense perspective, and she never follows the crowd just because. I love the fact that Lisa posts about what’s on her mind, not just what’s floating around the collective blogosphere. Lisa is on Twitter at @LisaHoffmann (don’t forget the second ‘n’).

Solo PR Pro

Kellye Crane is actually someone that I met first on Plurk, and she’s become a trusted friend and colleague. Kellye finally caved to the pressure to start her own blog, and it’s a great one at that. Kellye blogs from the perspective of a solo PR practitioner, and she’s got sage advice about the worlds of PR and entrepreneurship with a good dose of humor thrown in for good measure. Check out Kellye on Twitter at @KellyeCrane.

The Brand Builder by Olivier Blanchard

I don’t hold it against Olivier that he’s French. Really. And I wish he’d bring back the bad-ass mustache. But aside from those two things, Olivier is a brilliant mind to get inside, and his blog is the result of all that STUFF happening in his head. I love that Olivier doesn’t have any qualms about diving down a rabbit hole and exploring every corner. I leave each read with something new to chew on. You can find him on Twitter at @thebrandbuilder.

Annarchy

You probably know Ann Handley as @MarketingProfs, and as the chief content officer of the jam-packed site of the same name (for which I’m also a lucky contributor). But Ann is an amazingly talented writer in her own right, and when she posts on her personal blog, I literally drop everything and go read.

SuzeMuse

Sue is another one of my recent-ish Twitter connections (@SuzeMuse) and boy am I glad I found her. She’s not only incredibly personable and conversational, but I’m really liking what I’ve read from her blog thus far. You’ll find a little of everything at Sue’s blog, and her personable writing style makes you just want to hang out and chat for a while.

A Thousand Cuts by Adam Cohen

Adam is finally blogging, much to the relief of his Twitter community that have been dying to get into Adam’ brain beyond 140 characters. He’s got sharp insights about his work in social media and interactive stuff, and again I’m fond of his writing because it’s not “me too” blogging, not by a long shot. Meet Adam on Twitter if you haven’t already at @adamcohen.

And as bonuses from outside the fishbowl:

Books on the Nightstand

From outside the world of anything related to social media comes one of my new favorites for finding books to read. I’m an admitted bibliophile, and Books on the Nighstand is giving me fodder for my Amazon wish list in spades. Plus, they’ve got a kick butt podcast. It’s coauthored by @AnnKingman and @MKindness. Be prepared to stay a while.

Levite Chronicles

Do you know Jon (@jnswanson)? I find his writing incredibly peaceful. Jon’s a pastor, and without getting too personal, suffice it to say that he’s a wonderful breath of fresh air to people like me whose spirituality is very personal and not necessarily traditional. I relish Jon’s writings on faith, relationships, community, understanding – his perspective is far beyond his faith and his writing is eloquent. He never ceases to open my eyes or encourage me to embrace a new perspective. Worth a read.

So then. What blogs have caught your attention lately? Shine the spotlight on someone that deserves it and let us all enjoy along side.

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