6 Small Business Experts To Follow

1. Ramon Ray

Described as “unapologetically positive” and “high energy”, Ramon Ray is a leading expert on personal branding and SMB growth. Ramon is also a serial entrepreneur who has started five businesses and sold three of them. With lots of industry insights to share, Ramon inspires thousands of business owners each year through his wisdom-packed articles, podcasts, and interviews.

And, get this: he once testified to the US Congress about SMB growth and was also invited to the White House to speak about personal branding. Even the government caught wind of his expertise!

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2. Neil Patel

Hailed by former President Obama as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30, Neil Patel is nothing short of an SMB wizard. He has worked with companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft and makes frequent appearances at major growth marketing conferences worldwide.

Did we mention he founded a digital marketing agency providing full-service SMB marketing dedicated to helping businesses like yours succeed? If you ever have digital marketing, SEO, or content strategy questions, Neil should be your go-to.

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3. Melinda Emerson

Referred to as “small biz lady” for good reason, Melinda Emerson is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on SMB development, social selling, and online marketing strategy. She’s been a thriving entrepreneur for over two decades and is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on X for SMB owners.

Melinda has devoted her career to advising people on how to grow their businesses via her SmallBizLady brand. Tune into her monthly podcast (while multitasking to cut back on work hours, of course), to learn about her entrepreneurial journey and to get tips on improving your SMB.

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4. Rhonda Abrams

We couldn’t complete this list without this legendary SMB guru. Widely recognized as one of America’s top SMB experts and passionate SMB advocates, Rhonda Abrams is an author, entrepreneur, and USA Today columnist who lives and breathes all things SMB. Named “Top 30 Global Guru for Startups”, Rhonda has been around the block and has truly made this her life’s work.

Her books include a best-selling business plan guide, Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, which was named one of the 100 best business strategy books of all time. On top of that, she’s built and sold four businesses. Need actionable SMB strategies and resources? Head to her regular USA Today columns to find everything you’re on the hunt for.

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5. Lisa Barone

Featured in leading publications like Business Week, Forbes, and TechCrunch, Lisa Barone is a well-loved writer, columnist, content marketer, and social strategist. Described as having a unique voice and engaging style, her work garners real results. She has showcased a remarkable understanding of the struggles business owners face when speaking with customers—both online and offline. She’s also founded and grown many marketing blogs, earning industry-wide accolades.

And, something you don’t want to miss: In 2011, Barone gave an incredible TED Talk called “what stuttering taught me about running a business” where she talked about the importance of businesses standing out from the crowd by “embracing the weird”. Trust us, it’s worth the watch.

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6. Mike Michalowicz

Mike Michalowicz is an entrepreneur and author of nine business books which have over half a million readers. He also is the former host of “Business Rescue”, an MSNBC segment on Your Business. But his resume doesn’t stop there—previously the SMB columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Mike has had immense success throughout his career. This includes having built four multi-million dollar companies, one of which was sold to private equity and the other to a Fortune 500.

Check out his podcast, Mike up in your Business, where you can learn how to grow your business to its fullest potential. Like what you’re hearing? You can even take an online course from Mike on building confidence and “how to sell without selling at all”.

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How do I choose which small business experts to follow?

Pick experts whose experience matches your goals and stage. Look for people who share practical, honest advice and who have built a business like yours.

Where can I follow these small business experts?

Most share advice on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and their own podcasts or newsletters. Follow them on the platform you already use most.

Can following small business experts really help my business?

Yes. Learning from people who have solved the problems you face can save you time and help you avoid common mistakes. Apply the ideas that fit and skip the rest.