Comments on: Everybody is A Social Media Expert http://www.troyrutter.com/2009/09/11/everybody-is-a-social-media-expert.html Blogger, Actor, Author, Podcaster Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:45:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: I am a Social Media Expert… | RPO Consulting http://www.troyrutter.com/2009/09/11/everybody-is-a-social-media-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-29170 I am a Social Media Expert… | RPO Consulting Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:33:34 +0000 http://www.troyrutter.com/?p=738#comment-29170 [...] media services are calling out other practitioners of social media who are making claims to be social media “experts”. The caution seems to be against some un-named other social media helper-person out there preying [...] [...] media services are calling out other practitioners of social media who are making claims to be social media “experts”. The caution seems to be against some un-named other social media helper-person out there preying [...]

]]> By: Ben Stone http://www.troyrutter.com/2009/09/11/everybody-is-a-social-media-expert.html/comment-page-1#comment-28610 Ben Stone Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:36:51 +0000 http://www.troyrutter.com/?p=738#comment-28610 My thinking on why there seems to be a lot of social media consultants: The teeming masses don't "get it" when looking at social media so there is a huge pressure in our personal networks for information on the topic. Those folks seeking the information reach out to the people in their personal networks they see using social media (who are probably early adopters and tech savvy) and ask these pseudo exports for help. Get asked enough times how to use it, and eventually you decide to start charging for it, especially if you've just lost your job. I think your post seems to make it out like social media advice should be elevated up with marketing or legal advice and that rubs me a little bit wrong. The core of social media is authenticity and community and if we elevate social media consultants to expert status we stratify something that maybe shouldn't be stratified. Just my take on it. I do some consulting on the side in social media with people from my personal and business network. I tell them flat out that I am not going to just build and run and that the real challenges in this isn't tech, it's relationships that matter. I also make them understand that it is ultimately up to them to drive the process with my initial, but fading, hand holding and training. Do I deserve a spot on your approved consultant list (tongue slightly in cheek)? My thinking on why there seems to be a lot of social media consultants: The teeming masses don’t “get it” when looking at social media so there is a huge pressure in our personal networks for information on the topic. Those folks seeking the information reach out to the people in their personal networks they see using social media (who are probably early adopters and tech savvy) and ask these pseudo exports for help. Get asked enough times how to use it, and eventually you decide to start charging for it, especially if you’ve just lost your job.

I think your post seems to make it out like social media advice should be elevated up with marketing or legal advice and that rubs me a little bit wrong. The core of social media is authenticity and community and if we elevate social media consultants to expert status we stratify something that maybe shouldn’t be stratified. Just my take on it.

I do some consulting on the side in social media with people from my personal and business network. I tell them flat out that I am not going to just build and run and that the real challenges in this isn’t tech, it’s relationships that matter. I also make them understand that it is ultimately up to them to drive the process with my initial, but fading, hand holding and training. Do I deserve a spot on your approved consultant list (tongue slightly in cheek)?

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