Damien Howley created this image in jest:
The proliferation of social media “experts” amuses me too. Evidently if a person has registered accounts at Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, WordPress, etc…, and records videos of oneself this makes them an expert in social media. Yay! Well, no. Actually, this makes you a software user. Gold star!
Are you really an expert in social media? How does one know? Here are some indicators:
- You have successfully launched, at least, one product employing primarily, or entirely, Internet tools.
- You created global appeal for this product.
- You did this with little to no budget for advertising, marketing and PR.
- You’ve launched and nurtured, at least, a few online communities to success. Success can come in a couple forms. Success doesn’t necessarily mean the community has upwards of thousand or tens of thousands in daily unique visits; although, this is a pretty clear indication you did well. An alternative indicator of success to the aforementioned site traffic metric is that the community captured a significant percentage of the overall population of given interest group. Basically, you’ve got to be in the top couple, which for some interest groups could be small.
- If the previous metric you selected for success was traffic then it is the case the traffic is 75%+ organic. Store bought stumbles or huge ad budgets don’t count.
Bonus:
- Traditional media and publishers consult you on product and site launches.
- You know the meaning of hyperlocal and understand what’s meant by “faces and names”.
- You are a regular listener of “On The Media” (I love plugging OTM ๐
Factors that do not indicate you are an “expert” in social media:
- Saying you are a social media expert.
- Again, using social software tools doesn’t make you an expert any more than driving a car makes you an automotive expert.
- Having hundreds or thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook and other social sites. This likely means you’re, at least,ย a mildly attractive female or that you are someone othersย want something from and it’s a near certainty it is not your wisdom of monetizing online social and media tools.
If you’re still wondering if you or someone you know is a social media expert watch this video: