It’s interesting (to me at least) the vast audiences that tech founders are able to assemble. Through their own products and others, they manage to build massive communities that in many cases, hang on their every word tweet. Done right, the social founder can leverage their massive number of followers and reach every key influencer they could ever dream of.
Being a social founder isn’t for everyone, but there are a few who have done it well. Let’s go through some of the best, look at their numbers and learn some of their secrets.
Jason Calacanis
About:
Founder and CEO of Mahalo, Jason Calacanis is the original community CEO, or as we like to say OGSocial. From Twitter, to podcasts, to his own blog, Jason has done it all.
Stats:
Twitter: 77,000 Followers (link)
Blog: 50,000 Monthly Readers (link)
Mailing List: 17,000 Subscribers (link)
Total Audience: 144,000
Social Media Super Powers:
- Has an army of fans (known as the Jason Nation) to do his bidding.
- Well known for giving out big freebies over Twitter and during his various shows.
- Reads almost every tweet, email and Google Alert he receives.
Photo by George Ruiz
Kevin Rose
About:
Digg founder Kevin Rose knows community, his wildly popular social voting site depends on it. Kevin is also well known for breaking Apple related news to his followers before the press even has a clue.
Stats:
Twitter: 1,167,000 Followers (link)
Blog: 15,000 Monthly Readers (link)
Digg: 41,000 Fans (link)
Total Audience: 1,223,000
Social Media Super Powers:
- Hyper connected to ever major company (and good looking girl) in Silicon Valley.
- 95% of the stories he submits to Digg make the homepage.
- Women find him inappropriately charming.
Photo by Kevin Rose
Tom Anderson
About:
MySpace Co-Founder Tom Anderson is probably the most well known social founder behind a site. His status at MySpace is so legendary it has just about made him a household name.
Stats:
MySpace: 269,000,000 Friends (link)
Twitter: 690 Followers (link)
Total Audience: 269,000,690
Social Media Super Powers:
- He’s everyone’s first friend.
- Reserved and private despite being so well known.
- The face that introduced social networking to the masses.
Ev Williams
About:
Twitter Co-Founder and CEO Ev Williams has it all. A sweet pad, a wife and beautiful newborn, oh and not to mention the hottest site on the web. If social media is a vehicle then he is driving a Ferrari. VROOM VROOM TWEET TWEET.
Stats:
Twitter: 1,179,000 Followers (link)
Blog: 13,000 Monthly Readers (link)
Total Audience: 1,192,000
Social Media Super Powers:
- Could totally put himself on the Suggested Users List.
- Crashes web sites by simply linking to them.
- The press can’t get enough of him.
Photo by Chase
Who are some of your favorite social media founders, and what are their super powers? Let us know in the comments.
