Why Can't There Be Social Media Experts?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Friedland on July 8, 2009 at 1:02pm

I think there can be some experts, but let's be honest: social media as we know it has been around since -- if you want to be generous -- 2000. But in reality, the social media that we utilize today (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc.) has only been around for four, five years tops.

Can you become an expert in something that has only been in existence in four years? Perhaps. But wouldn't you agree it's pretty hard to master something that quite literally reinvents itself by the minute?

What I take issue with is the sudden groundswell of "social media experts." Just because someone charges clueless luddites hundreds of dollars to "teach" them how to use Twitter does not make one an expert -- it makes them opportunistic... at best. True social media experts are people like Guy Kawasaki or Mark Zuckerberg - people who have forever changed the media climate.

It makes me roll my eyes when I see people describe themselves as "social media gurus," "Twitter Ninjas" and so on. I think we need to put a little more weight on the term "expert" -- in any field, not just social media -- rather than slap that label on oneself simply because that's how you make a quick buck.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PK Koduri on July 8, 2009 at 2:00pm

Couldn't agree more! It takes months if not years to understand the intricacies of of social interactions and yet we are still scratching at the surface. If I went by the measures by which some call themselves experts then I am Leonardo DaVinci or Picasso or Henri Cartier Bresson reincarnated, because I can paint (at 5th grade level), scribble (again at 5th grade level), and photograph (may be at a 10th grade level) :-D

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy Stark on July 8, 2009 at 4:49pm

@PK Don't you think the only thing that's changed in the last five years is the technology? Communication skills are at the heart of SOCIAL media, and there is no arguing some people are expert communicators and some people aren't.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PK Koduri on July 8, 2009 at 5:25pm

Well part of the problem with social media experts is just that - they get in the way of what is supposed to be genuine and unfiltered 2-way conversation. Once you have too many of them preaching best practices and assorted tactics customers will tune these efforts out. I also tend to think that an expert is someone that has immersed themselves in understanding something and has done something original (or build on others thoughts) rather than regurgitating existing information.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy Stark on July 8, 2009 at 4:42pm

I consider myself a Social Media Advocate which means I view social media as a way to affect societal change. Business communication, or making a quick buck, is only ONE tiny aspect of the Social Media expertise spectrum.

The Internet is a collaborative tool the likes of which our species has never known. There is amazing potential to do Good through digital dialogs not restricted by space or time - which is how I define social media. Since March of 2008 when I first signed on to Smaller Indiana, I've had the pleasure of getting to know virtually, mingling at assorted soirees with, interacting f2f at TweetUps, and meeting one-on-one with some of Indianapolis' best and brightest. Most were gracious enough to let me whip out my, "I want to change the world through social media" soapbox that I now schlep with me all times. David Mark has seen this soapbox on more than one occasion =)

After such a twitter soapbox episode at Paradise Cafe, Hazel Walker of Business Networking International called me a, "twitter ninja." After lunching with Kim Brand of File Engine, he said,"You're like a Social Media Architect," and in a blog post Pat Coyle referred to me as a "Viral Marketing Guru." I wanted to clear up any misconceptions that I slapped those labels on myself, and I hope you'll share where I can sign up to get those quick bucks.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy Stark on July 8, 2009 at 3:29pm

I've been told an expert is someone who travels more than 100 miles to share their knowledge.

Words are funny things - meanings never remain the same and vary greatly between individuals. My daughter forbade me from using the word "groovy", so it's been my mission to use it as often as humanly possible.

I say use whatever word works for you, David, as long as the person with whom you're communicating knows your intent. Conveying an idea clearly is more important than the arrangement of letters.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David Mark on July 8, 2009 at 7:52pm

I'm going to take the time a reread your posts and elaborate, but I'll leave by stating:
@Friedland - I agree. I'm more concerned with the communication style than the vehicle delivering the message. So, technology changing by the minute is not the issue to me. My ultimate issue is with the morons whose online presence is completely different from their offline presence. They preach authenticity, how to brand this and that, blah, blah, blah and when you meet them (flatline), they're DOA. Conversely, I've met some SOCMED "experts" who NEVER toot their own horns. Why so? Because they don't need to. We do it for them.

@PK - I'm digging your creative description and it actually made me chuckle (Did I just type "chuckle"?). After that wore off, I realized that, yes, the average Joe may need years and years under their belts to be considered "experts", but I've witnessed some consisent genius in a very short time. I'll accept that could be the exception to the rule (whatever the rule represents). Yes, I've read Gladwell's book 'Outliers' and I thought it read well, but with most books, there were some things missing. Ironically, you mentioned DaVinci. Do you know what a DaVinci-type is? No, it's not great artists (necessarily).They exist, but the definition is very specific and they make up about 10% of the world's population. I'll get into this later. Do I see another Gladwell book here?

@Amy- Keep fightin' the good fight, sister. I'll reply to you tomorrow. Pizza is calling me!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Theisen on July 8, 2009 at 8:28pm

I agree that if other people in your line of work, or who or performing a task in your line of work, ask you for advice that means you are on the track to becoming an expert. David hit on a great point. If other people do your promotion for you that means you are on to something. If they want to quantify you as an expert than so be it. While everyone is looking for their niche/tagline or way to market themselves those tags are nothing more than promotion. Promotion isnt a bad thing at all but it is just that. I used to be a PGA club professional. I was trained in the golf teaching methods of the Professional Golf Association of America. There methods have been tried and true for decades. PGA club pros are the "experts" in their field. Funny thing is there are people who give golf lessons that havent been trained by the PGA of America but are still considered "experts" A guy by the name of Dean Reinmuth was Phil Mickelson's teacher from a young age yet he never had formal PGA of America training. Dean knew his craft and has made millions giving golf lessons and selling golf products. Many other people came to get lessons from him and bought his products because he produced results, not because he was deemed an "expert" by anyone. He didnt need to call himself a PGA pro or an expert because he was good at what he did. People saught him out. If you are expect like in your abilities people will find you. But it never hurts to think highly of yourself and promote yourself to the fullest extent.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PK Koduri on July 8, 2009 at 9:03pm

Chris - my issue is not folks like Dean Reinmuth and I am not saying that one needs to be certified by someone to be called an expert. Talent will always shine through. Having said that there are many fly by night "experts" that read up and rattle off some jargon and call themselves experts - that is what I was getting to.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PK Koduri on July 8, 2009 at 9:02pm

David - I think a distinction needs to be made here. There are experts and then there are practitioners. Yes there are great practitioners of social media however to call them experts is a little premature. I did not say that one has to spend years in an area to be considered an expert just that they do something original that has a lasting impact - Einstein comes to mind. He did not even fit the normal model of a PhD and did most of brilliant work as a patent clerk. There are several other examples of self taught geniuses that made significant contributions and were considered experts in their own right. I personally dabble in several areas - I am a trained engineer with advanced degrees in both science and business, I worked in manufacturing and in marketing, I love photography (analog and digital), and would love to get into wood working someday (afraid that I might lose a finger). I don't like to be pigeon-holed into a role and that was one of the biggest reasons why I left my previous employer. I can talk confidently about many things but I stop short of calling myself an expert, because I realize that there is always something new around the corner. Hope that made sense or may be I am just splitting hairs.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Theisen on July 8, 2009 at 9:29pm

Pk good point on being knowledgeable in many areas. I think everyones tie up is with the word expert. Maybe if people were choosing their phrasing differently this wouldnt be an issue. There are alot of people with expertise in social media and other avenues for that matter. There are very few experts. There are alot of people with expertise in quantum physics but Steven Hawking is an expert. If someone is a fan of a team it is supposed to mean they are fanatical. Most "fans" nowadays root or cheer for a team but they are hardly fanatical. Doesnt mean its wrong to call them fans, just means there are better words to describe them probably.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David Mark on July 9, 2009 at 7:16am

Word choice is interesting. Belief systems are more interesting. Here's the bottom line...Call yourself what you will, but I ultimately have the vote that matters. You ultimately have the vote that matters. If I say your an amateur, you're an amateur. If I say you're an expert, then you're an expert. I don't have (or want) a system or checklist in place to benchmark expert status. I could care less how long you've been playing your game. I do care about results. I do care about the story behind the story. We'd probably have a massive bowel movement if we learned the actual truth about some celebrity "experts". Even the ones we proudly quote, plaster on our office walls as if they're family and proudly display on our filthy coffee mugs. Slinging common definitions and boundaries are futile. That is, unless you're trying to control the weak-minded masses by brain washing. I'll admit there are more profound examples (i.e. - PK's example of Einstein) making it easy for distinction.

Maybe, just maybe, we should do away with titles and simply use descriptions. "She's a great SOCMED advocate", or "His SOCMED tactics suck!". Even then, it's still subjective.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last