People you should know in 2009

Its been a great year and it looks like 2009 will be a year of change. Now is the time of year when every blog in the world does a predictions post but I am not doing that as I hate them….

So what I thought I would do is run through some of the people I have met for the first time or gotten to know better this year and explain why you should know them too: -

Dean Hunt
I have known Deano since before he was Dean Hunt Buzz Marketing Genius and this year we got back in touch again. I love the way Deans mind works. I know he has some big plans for 2009 and he is as always someone to follow closely

Read and subscribe to Deans blog and follow him on Twitter @deanhunt08

Julie Joyce
Mrs Jay Young and owner at Linkfish as well as an SEO-Chick and a guest blogger at SearchMarketingGurus.

Got to know Julie a bit better this year and she really makes me laugh, most Americans tend to miss interpret my British sense of humour but Julie gives as good as she gets.

Personally I think shes a bit of a crab sniffer, you would need to ask her why…

Follow her on Twitter @juliejoyce

Chris Angus
Chris is a quiet member of the SEO world but the more I have gotten to know him the more I am of the opinion that hes a great guy. Genuine, kind and really knows his stuff.
One of the main qualities I admire in people is the ability to be a ‘free thinker’ – someone who doesnt follow the crowd but has his own opinions and actually puts them into action.

I think the quote from Aaron Wall on this post is very apt

“He is a bit quiet compared to many ‘names,’ but when I have a question about searches, he is one of the first guys I ask.”

Chris writes at his blog Pingpongpie

Niall Harbison
I have followed Nialls cooking videos since he first posted ‘The perfect steak’ on Youtube and have watched as he turned that into the growing business that is iFoods.tv today. A great entreprenuer and a man who understands how new media can help him build a valuable brand.

Have a look at iFoods (Warning – it will make you very hungry!)
And follow Niall on twitter @niallharbison

The guys at Setfire Media
Had the chance to spend a little time with Ian Cowley, David Lindop and Sean Blanks when I was over at SEOroadshow and you couldnt meet nicer people. Sean has been a real gent helping me with some details on a forthcoming project and to spend some time over at their place was great, they have a really strong business by the looks of things.

Hop on over to Setfire and see what they are about

Other people I managed to get to know a little better were: -
@simonheseltine – Good at SEO bad at choosing a decent footy team
@storyspinner – Li is one of the nicest people I know
Ed and Mary Purkiss – You couldnt find a nicer couple – go on try – see!
Dr Karl, Ben and Stephen (@bonytoad) over at conversion rate experts – brilliant at what they do.

I hope you all have a great 2009 I know I will!