What makes a Social Media Expert
Posted on 17 March, 2009 at 17:41 PM
There are already 19 Comments
About the Show
David and Marc want to know what makes a Social Media Expert an expert?
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Related Shows
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User Comments
David Perel 17 Mar, 2009 17:55:45 PM
As I started talking about it I suddenly thought 'Oh sh*t, how many toes am I stepping on here?' and decided to tone down my thoughts. Next I will go full steam!!
Rafael Nascimento Sampaio 17 Mar, 2009 19:32:33 PM
But numbers of followers does't is all that counts, the conversion in sales, conversation are more important, because, is more cool have 100 followers that buy your, products ideas or other things than have 100000 followers that does't read your updates.
Think if you have a power to convert every follower in a new costumer, you will be influent, and rich, but more than it, you will be a social media guru.
Rob 17 Mar, 2009 19:33:14 PM
I am a social media amateur. Maybe one day when I'm big I can be a social media guru. I'll practice twittering and facebooking all day in order to reach my goal. Maybe it will happen once I can leverage the global synergies of multi-channel syndication annuities and referential dichotomies. or maybe I can do it through bribery.
Justin Powell 17 Mar, 2009 23:12:33 PM
There was an interesting dialog of recent on this very topic. The initial post revolves around the age of 'said' experts, "a few 20-year-olds built things that people twice their age are now experts on." And that the 'said' experts will probably emerge from those that are digital native.
Social Media Experts are Full of It
The comments summarize that social media is more of an experiment (you shouldn't claim expert unless you have case study results), being a digital native isn't necessarily based on age but adoption, digital native is a new paradigm of thinking, being native doesn't imply expertise - a non-native english professor could be more of an expert than a native english speaker.
The jury is still out on what defines expertise - the collective thought is that social media is still an experiment. But, since social media knowledge and 'expertise' is relative... some of us our experts to other people.
Justin Powell 17 Mar, 2009 23:13:54 PM
Sorry, here was the link I tried to reference:
Social Media Experts are Full of It ramseymohsen.com/2009/02/social-media-experts-are-full-of-it/
Josh 18 Mar, 2009 04:46:39 AM
i always enjoy your videos, but I can't lie I think that the new lighting you are using takes away from the "from the couch-ness". I guess it just seems more formal... just my thoughts. keep the videos coming regardless...
Robin 18 Mar, 2009 08:41:01 AM
lol, nothing better than a rant on the so called experts. Around a year ago there was a bit of a debate over the validity our local social media experts (It tied in to the blog awards). This post on though leader sums it up quite well tinyurl.com/dn2oj9, read the comments - it's a good laugh.
Keep up the good work, my vote is in!
Adam Daniel Mezei 18 Mar, 2009 09:33:30 AM
The boys KILLED it today with this one! Good on you!
What most have to do is make a distinction between "phriendz" and "friends." I vote to have the "friends" moniker switched to "followers," since I think there is no universal understanding of what "friend" means on Facebook. I've been rejected before by people when requesting an "add" because I'm not a genuine flesh & blood friend. But it's rare...
Great way to start my morning...
--ADM in Prague
JBagley 18 Mar, 2009 09:39:50 AM
Great rant guys. But one thing that always seems to come from rants like these is "they". We never single out the people we are talking about, or are we actually talking about specific people, or a group of people?
Social Media is content created by people via online and mobile platforms. I'd never claim to be an expert in anything, but I do know how to use Social Media as one of the mediums in your e-marketing efforts. I have a passion for e-marketing and therefore am running a business doing so! But that being said, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to know how to do it either. :)
The folks behind Obama's online / social media campaign can stand up and be called experts - they rocked the house with their use of all the different channels to get their message across.
The rest? Just like a web designer has a portfolio page, show us some of the successful social media campaigns you have run. :)
Ian Kath 18 Mar, 2009 09:50:05 AM
I don't think anyone can say they are an expert in this environment as it moving, changing and morphing so fast but people are so confused that if someone hangs a Social Media Expert shingle on the door a lot of people will believe it.
I follow everyone I find interesting. Experts are rarely that and by now the real experts are so well known that we've been following them for years anyway.
Nice show :)
Natalie Perel 18 Mar, 2009 09:51:46 AM
@Josh surprisingly enough its been the change of weather that has slightly changed the lighting. the sun is not blazing through the windows, instead its all gloomy outside allowing the lights to actually project without the help from mother nature.
David Perel 18 Mar, 2009 10:28:56 AM
@Rafael - You will often hear the statement "I rather have 1000 paying customers than 1million loyal fans'. You are right, the sales talk but in other cases it is important to build a strong brand which is aimed at the followers and not the customers.
@Rob - Hahaha!!
@Justin - I like your last sentence. Maybe that is what the experts leverage against to convince the 'uneducated' that they are experts. I am just about to read that link you posted. Thanks mate.
@Josh - Serious dude? I suppose the daytime lighting is the main effect.
@Adam - Welcome back Adam! I prefer friends to followers in my opinion. You can maybe achieve that by trying to turn said 'followers' (I hate that word, since when are people meant to be followed) into friends with some genuine interaction. <--- I feel like I became a Social Media expert in that sentence!!! LOL.
@Jason - Awe bru. In this situation I would say that we are definitely referring to 'them'. There are too many people out there who claim to be experts but are in fact not even close. Using big words and having lots of followers doesn't make you an expert.
I realize that it's not rocket science (in my opinion anyone can be a marketer) and I realize you have to start somewhere. But if you are going to start from zero then don't claim to be an expert when we you haven't even begun.
As you say, show us a successful portfolio, even if its the baker down the road, and then MAYBE you can call yourself some kind of Social Media expert.
David Perel 18 Mar, 2009 10:37:10 AM
Lol!
@Adam - Check this: 'Turning followers into friends' www.mayhemstudios.com/blog/2009/03/mayhem-studios-featured-in-video-how-to.html
Nic 18 Mar, 2009 12:10:49 PM
Hey guys, my first comment on the couch, i think!
So this is a very chilled out rant. Put some leg in to it! Give it horns if you wanna rant. name names and pull no punches.
I also think your rant was too twitter-centric. Should've expanded it to other social media platforms and debates. And then localise it to a market that you know and is more focused.
Marc Perel 18 Mar, 2009 12:15:41 PM
@Nic - I don't think it's your first comment ;)
We weren't too keen on going 'full bore' if you may, maybe next time we'll give it more stick.
I hear where you're coming from when you say it was quite twitter-centric, but I think Twitter is a good reference for an example.
Rob MacKay 18 Mar, 2009 13:21:00 PM
Its definitely something I have thought about before - its also not like these people seem to be shoving stuff at us either, well I haven't noticed... So what do they do? Who gives them the certificate to practice being a "guru"? I don't even know how people could follow so many! I've been quite picky about who I follow, and reaching over 400 now can get quite tricky to catch all the tweets.. Tweetdeck helps of course...
I would love to see some replies from people who have given themselves this title...
Good vid again guys :)
josh 18 Mar, 2009 21:17:53 PM
that's funny cuz i was sure you guys had gone out and bought some big lighting rig. just the last few episodes have looked that way, must be the time of year...
Ross 19 Mar, 2009 16:45:41 PM
This is one of my pet hates. I'd love to name drop, but thats not my style.
Respect is earned not pre-assumed and I think too many people get an inkling of an idea on what social marketing is all about and suddenly become all-knowing and all-wise on the topic.
We once investigated going into search marketing (about 5yrs ago) and in the perhaps 3 months of research and practice on some of our own sites we decided to leave it to people with the patience and passion for it.
I'd assume that places like Quirk and people who actively spend all of their working time on developing social marketing strategies and other online marketing strategies deserve the title of guru, or specialists. Aren't social strategies just part of an online marketing strategy anyway?...
Some old school practices can serve you well though. Ask (no, demand) references and examine the results achieved by these guys. If nothing is forthcoming, or results are pending, then chances are they're self proclaimed and are probably <3months away from moving into another line of work.
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meredith 17 Mar, 2009 17:52:20 PM
awh that wasn't much of a rant. you can do better than that. :) cheers.