This list of "best-branded" women on Twitter comprises travel experts, political bloggers, former models, social media gurus to happiness experts and TV producers. Despite their disparate backgrounds, all have one primary thing in common: They utilize social media to help promote their brand as well as a larger cause and always "give back" to the Twitter community.
Best-branded encompasses a lot more then Twitter follower numbers, it means creating a cohesive brand identity across multiple platforms. The women chosen have used Twitter to branch out and create either new brands or further their original brand through new media with thought-provoking comments, original content creation, inspiring tweets and compelling backgrounds.
@adventuregirl: Stefanie Michaels, or Adventure Girl as she is known on and offline, became popular for giving honest travel advice. She has been featured from Vanity Fair to Fox News for her travel advice. Alongside her blog, her book, Adventure Girl's Guide to Adventure Travel…without Breaking a Nail, and giving advice from Vanity Fair to Fox News, she is definitely who you would want to go on an adventure with.
@Pistachio: The writer of Twitter for Dummies and CEO/Founder of OneForty.com, Laura Fitton knows what does and does not work on the site. With over 55,000 Twitter followers, her advice on all things related to Twitter has led her to become one of the queens of the site.
@DigitalRoyalty: Amy Jo Martin's PR firm, Digital Royalty, has worked with Shaq, the White Sox, the UFC and others to create effective social media strategies. She is "royalty" not only within the sports world but within Twitter as well. 1.5 million Twitter followers can't be wrong.
@ijustine: Lifecaster and Internet personality Justine Ezarik gained Web popularity with her Lifecasting videos and her now infamous 300-page iPhone bill. Now with over 1 million Twitter followers, users are still checking in to see Justine's video parodies, her daily thoughts as well as her lifecasting videos.
@MarketingProfs: Advertising Age and The Huffington Post have recognized Ann Handley, the chief content officer for MarketingProfs.com, for her writing on business marketing through online and social media. She supplies her Twitter fans with up-to-the-minute social media related news and Web 2.0 posts!
@Techmama: Beth Blecherman, the founder of techmamas.com and whose website was chosen as one of the 100 best websites for women by Forbes, became famous by being a mom tech blogger. She is also influential on Twitter as well, where she provides premiere technology information for her readers.
@JuliaRoy: She has been one of ForbesWoman's14 Power Women to Follow on Twitter, named one of America's Tweethearts by Vanity Fair, a Top Twitter User and one of Top 30 Under 30 Tweeters. Alongside that impressive list, she is currently the senior manager of New Media at
@BrandYou: Cindy Ratzlaff's impressive resume includes being a social media strategist, a passionate brand evangelist, an author and an award winning publishing executive. She has also been named one of ForbeWoman's 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter (LINK: http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/24/twitter-forbeswoman-views-forbes-woman-entrepreneurs-natalie-macneil.html). She currently gives advice on brand marketing as well as developing marketing and publicity campaigns for New York Times bestselling books.
@DonnaAntoniadis: Antoniadis is a digital, mobile and social media leader. She is the cofounder of ShesConnected.com, the first dual-profile social networking sit for women. Created for busy women, ShesConnected allows women to connect with other women in personal and professional areas.
@SmallBizTrends: Anita Campbell is the founder, CEO and editor in chief of smallbiztrends.com, as well the host of Small Business Trends radio. Anita is an expert in the areas of business and writing. Her website has won Forbes "Best of the Web" and has appeared in the Wall Street Journal.
@MariaShriver: Most celebrities pages are a one-way street of communication--updates that focus solely on themselves, what they're doing, what they're wearing etc. However, the First Lady of California re-tweets valuable information about California based charities and events that all tweeps can get involved in or attend. She supports her image through tweets that inform, educate and push people to act. Most valuable are her tweets about The 2010 Women's Conference.
@OfficialKimora: From its colors, to its design, to its background, Simmons' Twitter page is fashion forward and connects with her overall fashion-focused brand. Simmons is extremely transparent on her page and connects and engages with many of her followers. After watching Simmons tweet live with her followers at an FIT speaking engagement, it is clear that Kimora does not believe in Twitter ghosting and is the real deal.
@IvankaTrump: Trump uses her Twitter profile as an extension of her personal brand. She tweets daily about her handbag line, her books and her life as an entrepreneur. Not only does she update her twitter followers on her business ventures, she also takes time to interact with them and share her personal opinions.
@Pattistanger: Stanger's business, which centers around helping millionaires find love, has quickly catapulted her to success through her Bravo TV show and various social media profiles. Patti gives followers love advice, tips, and her personal opinion, as well what she is doing daily. Her dating tweets are often helpful and valuable to her followers looking to find true love.
@Alyssa_Milano: Milano uses her Twitter for a good cause: promoting charities that she is involved in, United Nations updates, helping her fellow tweeps by posting valuable Twitter how-to content, as well as her experiences traveling abroad. She often shares videos and pictures that help promote her brand. One last thing: She is one of the funniest people on Twitter today.
@AnnCurry: Curry uses her Twitter page as an extension of her journalistic passion. She provides glimpses of upcoming specials she has reported on, breaking news, and shares her own personal passions with her followers through her own photography. Curry also provides references to other great American works of literature and pieces of well-known journalism in her tweets. Curry also engages with her followers and gives them direct updates on current affairs and news.
@KarenRobinovitz: Robinovitz's cosmetic's company, Purple Lab, has been featured in the New York Times, InStyle, E! News and on countless blogs. Her line has been featured on HSN, where her products combine glam and science into a multipurpose eye, lip, and face makeup. She uses her Twitter page to tweet to her fans, as well as to give advice on make-up and fashion.
@AmyPalmer: The InTouch weekly senior editor and Emmy nominated TV host and executive producer is soon to launch Power Women TV, an online series focusing on women in business and entrepreneurship. She uses Twitter to update her followers on when they can see her on TV, as well as communicating directly with her fans. She is building the Powerwomen TV brand solely through her Web 2.0 efforts and we applaud her for building a brand from the ground up using Twitter.
@GabbyBernstein: Founder of the Women's Entrepreneurial Network and Herfuture.com, this modern-day life guru also has a No. 1 bestselling book, Add More ~ing to Your Life. She uses her Twitter to discuss her upcoming talks and book tours, as well as giving out life advice to her followers. She has distinguished herself as the "happiness expert" for women and always tweets out inspiring and uplifting "pick me ups!"
@KathyIreland: The former SI swimsuit model has turned herself into a multimillion-dollar brand. She uses her Twitter page to not only promote herself, but to raise awareness and promote charities to her followers. She gives advice to her followers daily and often communicated directly with them, answering questions tweeted to her.
Kris Ruby is the president & founder of Ruby Media Group, a public relations, personal branding and social media agency. Kris also leads national speaking engagements on branding for Microsoft and the ABA has been featured on MSN Money, AOL Small Business, ABC Good Morning CT, NBC and News 12. She is the youngest ever to be chosen for the Business Council of Westchester's "40 Under 40" Rising Stars.
Follow Kris Ruby on Twitter. Read Kris Ruby's Blog.