About So-Called "Social Media Experts"

This is one of those blog posts that I have been meaning to post but don't. As a matter of fact, I started writing the bulk of this several months ago but for some reason or another I just can't bring myself to complete. That is until now.

Until today, when I received a phone call at my place of business from a "social media expert" and it seems that according to this guy that because he has been using Twitter and Facebook since they came online he is the "social media expert" in my area. I played along and asked if he was a "certified" social media expert and he said he was. I asked where he got his certification? His response was the "Center for Social Media" at a local community college (FYI: to protect the innocent I altered the name of the organization he named as the provider of the alleged "certification").

I know for a fact, the organization he mentioned has NO such certification program. The closest program is a Certificate in "Marketing" under their Business Administration program and that certification offers ONE (1) class that has the word marketing in the title: "Principles of Marketing" (I am suspect of the entire certification program, as well). Moving on...

I told him "no thank you" and proceeded to hang up. He was insistent, to the bitter end of the call, that he was the ONLY expert in the area.

*CLICK* 

Unfortunately, I know he will find some sucker to take his money. I say sucker because it does NOT take a lot to make Social Media work for you and your organization and most business owners I know are NOT in the habit of throwing money away.

However, there are those that will throw money away because they don't know any better. Throwing money in the direction of self-professed "experts" is like asking your next door neighbor to remove your appendix because he just happens to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse (I am not knocking the LVN profession because they know that ONLY Medical Doctors (Surgeons) are the ONLY ones who can perform surgery, no matter what Hawkeye and Col. Potter told Fr. Mulcahy over the radio on M*A*S*H).

As for the "gentleman" that telephoned offering his "expert" services, I know I can do a better job than that nitwit. Heck, anyone with half a brain and a conscience can do a better job. 

Let me make certain that you know and understand this about me: I am by no means claiming to be a "Social Media Expert"

Though:
• I have been on Facebook since January 19, 2007 (5+ years ago)
• I have been on Twitter since March 26, 2007 (5+ years ago)
• I have been on YouTube since November 1, 2009 (3 years ago)
• I have been Blogging since November 25, 2005 (7 years ago)
• I have been paid professionally as a computer technician and network analyst since 1992 (20 years ago)
• I had and tinkered with my first computer when I was 14 (30+ years ago)
• I wrote my first computer program (in BASIC) when I was 15 (30 years ago)

Does any of that make me an expert? NO!!!

I repeat: I AM NOT AN EXPERT (especially not a Social Media Expert). Now, don't me me wrong, what I do know I know very well and I am constantly learning. After a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Master's in Business Administration you could say I still have a lot to learn. Thus I classify myself as a Lifelong Learner.

So why do I not call myself an expert, especially a social media expert? Because in the grand scheme of ALL THINGS, Social Media is 10 minutes old. As the entire Social Media landscape is CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY changing, so for anyone to call themselves a SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT because they play with the toys is like calling myself BERING SEA CRAB FISHERMAN because I watch DEADLIEST CATCH.

Now let me tell you the one thing that all those so-called self-proclaimed Social Media Experts do NOT want you to know. That's right I am going to give you the SECRET to SOCIAL MEDIA? Those SME's (Social Media Experts) will charge you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for the following two words that may or may not work for you. Here it is: BE CONSISTENT!

Plain and simple: Be Consistent. Be consistent when it comes to putting content out on all the social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Spreecast, etc., etc.) you can. If having so many channels to choose from seems overwhelming then pick a couple and use them until you are ready to add more.


Please, do not pay anyone for the advice I just gave you for FREE!!! If some "social media expert" comes knocking on your door or calls you on the phone or drops you an unsolicited email please tell him or her, "No, Thank You!"

Tell him that you are onto his tricks and you will not pay one invoice for service, support and advice that you can get for FREE and be just as, if not better, successful!

Then again, I know there are people that will not hear my words of warning then in that case please submit your $500 PayPal payment to dave@daveguerra.com

Seriously, my prices are reasonable and that's why I am giving the secret away for FREE!

UPDATE: I should make the following addition:  There are some VERY GOOD Social Media Professionals out there. I know this because I have sought them out. That means I went looking for them and they NEVER (not once) claimed they were Social Media Experts and that they were the only game in town. Quite on the contrary, they have actually referred me to other Social Media Professionals when the need to further specialize arose. I highly doubt the cold caller would have had the professional courtesy to refer me to someone else if the need arose.


As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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August 13, 1961 / The Berlin Wall

Today is August 13, 2012. 51 years ago today, construction began on the Berlin Wall. It was a scar that divided one of the Greatest Cities on the planet. After plenty of heartache, pain, and suffering the Berlin Wall eventually fell on November 9, 1989.

I can honestly say and attest, that while I was serving with the US Army, as a member of the Army of Occupation of Berlin, it was such a great honor to be one of the Defenders of Berlin's Freedom along with my fellow US soldiers, British and French counterparts.

The role that I played in World History can never be taken away from me and those that served before me, with me, and after me.

We did all the right things to ensure that there was a West Berlin that those that were oppressed, under the communist regime of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik, had as a shining example of what Freedom was and is to turn to and inspire to make that wall fall.

Today is definitely not a day to celebrate but a day to remember all the Bad and all the Good that came to symbolize the Berlin Wall.


As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

Here are some Technorati Tags: August 13, 1961 • Berlin Wall • DDR • East Germany • West Berlin • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it aint broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero