8 Social Media Accounts Every Small Business Owner Should Follow

Social media is full of "gurus" promising the world but delivering generic advice. For small business owners, finding accounts that actually provide value can feel impossible.

After following hundreds of accounts, I've identified 8 that consistently deliver actionable insights, real strategies, and genuine value—no fluff, no hype.

What Makes These Accounts Worth Following

Before we dive in, here's what I looked for:

Actionable content: Ideas you can implement immediately
Real experience: Advice from people who've actually built businesses
No fluff: Straightforward, practical insights
Consistent value: Regularly share useful content
Relevant to small businesses: Not just corporate strategies

The 8 Accounts You Should Follow

1. Alex Hormozi (@alexhormozi)

Platform: Instagram, YouTube

Why follow: Hormozi breaks down business fundamentals in simple, actionable ways. His content focuses on making money, scaling, and building real businesses—not theory.

Best for: Understanding business fundamentals, pricing strategies, and growth tactics.

What to expect: Direct, no-BS advice on making more money and building better businesses.

2. Justin Welsh (@justinwelsh)

Platform: LinkedIn, Twitter/X

Why follow: Welsh built a successful solopreneur business and shares exactly how he did it. His content is practical, tactical, and immediately applicable.

Best for: Building a personal brand, content strategy, and solopreneur success.

What to expect: Step-by-step processes, proven frameworks, and real numbers.

3. Marie Forleo (@marieforleo)

Platform: Instagram, YouTube

Why follow: Forleo focuses on mindset, productivity, and building a business you love. Her content is inspirational but practical.

Best for: Mindset shifts, productivity tips, and building sustainable businesses.

What to expect: Motivational content backed by practical strategies.

4. Noah Kagan (@noahkagan)

Platform: Twitter/X, YouTube

Why follow: Kagan shares real experiments, failures, and successes from building multiple businesses. His "AppSumo" and "Million Dollar Weekend" content is gold.

Best for: Product ideas, marketing experiments, and real business building stories.

What to expect: Transparent business building, experiments, and real numbers.

5. Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog)

Platform: Blog, LinkedIn

Why follow: Godin has been sharing marketing and business insights for decades. His daily blog posts are short, thought-provoking, and consistently valuable.

Best for: Marketing insights, brand building, and strategic thinking.

What to expect: Short, daily insights that make you think differently.

6. Ryan Holiday (@ryanholiday)

Platform: Instagram, Twitter/X

Why follow: Holiday applies ancient wisdom (Stoicism) to modern business challenges. His content on marketing, productivity, and mindset is unique and valuable.

Best for: Marketing strategies, productivity, and philosophical approaches to business.

What to expect: Stoic philosophy applied to business, marketing insights, and book recommendations.

7. Tara McMullin (@tara_mcmullin)

Platform: LinkedIn, Newsletter

Why follow: McMullin focuses on sustainable business practices and ethical marketing. Her content challenges conventional business advice.

Best for: Building sustainable businesses, ethical marketing, and long-term thinking.

What to expect: Thoughtful critiques of business culture, sustainable strategies, and practical advice.

8. Pat Flynn (@patflynn)

Platform: YouTube, Podcast

Why follow: Flynn has been transparent about his business journey for over a decade. He shares income reports, failures, and what actually works.

Best for: Business transparency, passive income strategies, and long-term business building.

What to expect: Transparent business updates, income reports, and honest reflections.

How to Actually Use These Accounts

Following isn't enough. Here's how to get value:

1. Create a Separate List

Don't let these accounts get lost in your feed. Create a dedicated list or folder so you can check them regularly.

2. Take Notes

When you see something valuable, save it. Use:

Screenshots
Notes app
Bookmarking tools
Your task management system

3. Implement, Don't Just Consume

Pick one idea per week and implement it. Knowledge without action is just entertainment.

4. Engage Thoughtfully

Comment with questions or insights. Engagement helps you remember content and sometimes leads to valuable connections.

5. Set Time Limits

Social media can be a time sink. Set a limit (15-30 minutes per day) and stick to it.

What to Avoid

Hype Accounts

Avoid accounts that:

Promise instant results
Use excessive hype and urgency
Focus on motivation without practical steps
Constantly sell courses or programs

Comparison Trap

Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle. Everyone's journey is different.

Consumption Without Action

Following accounts isn't productive if you never implement what you learn. Limit consumption, maximize action.

Making Social Media Work for You

Social media can be a valuable learning tool when used strategically:

Follow selectively: Quality over quantity
Engage meaningfully: Comment and discuss, don't just scroll
Implement regularly: Put ideas into practice
Set boundaries: Limit time and protect your focus

Beyond Social Media

While these accounts are valuable, don't rely solely on social media for business education:

Read books (many of these creators have written excellent ones)
Join communities (masterminds, forums, local groups)
Take courses (when relevant to your needs)
Work with mentors or coaches
Learn by doing (experiment and iterate)

The Bottom Line

Social media can be a powerful learning tool when you follow the right accounts and use them strategically. These 8 accounts consistently deliver value—but only if you implement what you learn.

Start with 2-3 accounts, engage regularly, and implement one idea per week. That's how you turn social media into a business-building tool.

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