What a great question Matt...more like a riddle I'd say! :))
Here's part of the issue...companies are so used to hiring "experts" and getting the best of the best but they don't realize for social media there are no experts or best of the best because it's still changing and being explored. But, there are people with experience and case studies. Edelman, is a good example. They might be considered experts from a corporate perspective, but look at how they handled Walmart's social media campaign (a lesson learned by all).
My point is some folks might think they need to say they are an expert to get into a corporation as a consultant. Doesn't make it right or valid. Now as for the guru, ninja and other silly names...I don't have an excuse for them. ;-)
Tim Jahn
· 11 months ago
You're exactly right: the actual "experts" don't have expert or anything in their title because they don't care about being called an expert or guru...they just know a lot about the subject and enjoy helping people with it.
All the "experts" and "gurus" who call themselves such are just trying to ride on the wave of such terms.
LauraH
· 11 months ago
I think a lot of people who claim to be social media experts are just people who know how to use Twitter to get a lot of followers. (Which *yawn* isn't hard to do.) A lot of social media people I've seen on the internet rarely seem to look outside FaceBook and Twitter. They might occasionally mention Ning and MySpace. Given that, I think the people being led are other like minded people pre-disposed to the opinion of the same pack. That feels really cynical. Blah.
brian
· 11 months ago
It's the blind leading the stupid & really just boils down to a name game; people trying to label themselves as something they are not. We see this with many executives who start their titles with Chief, add something catchy in the middle, & end with Officer. Really? Chief Strategy Officer? Really? Being president or CEO wasn't enough? Maybe you can now tell me about all the things you didn't really do but took credit for.
The goal is to attract clients with things like..."Oh hey, work with us. We DO mobile & social media. We are THE experts because we use flashy multi-syllabic industry jargon."
Arm yourself with a enough knowledge to ask pertinent questions & you'll quickly see these experts haven't a clue.
Matt J McDonald
· 11 months ago
@Beth I think that it's a good insight to note that by calling themselves experts they hope to position themselves better with bigger companies/clients. I guess the problems happen when those companies can't see through that. Bonus points for the Edelman case! You are truly a comment Ninja/Wizard.
@Tim I think you're right that some are just trying to "ride the wave". Social media expert? Everyone's doing it!
@Laura Haha cynical but telling. I think there are a lot of people that get "tunnel vision" with the social media stuff and other stuff only really gets on their radar when mentioned by the "bigs" in the industry.
warrenss
· 11 months ago
Matt, great discussion. I heard that once you get to 200 followers, Twitter automatically changes your bio to Social Media Expert.
But seriously, I think the titles are reversed. The true experts are smart enough not to consider themselves experts, but those looking to join the club in the fishbowl try to use the term as their entrance to the club. So I guess companies should stay away from the experts and hire the "regular Joes".
Matt J McDonald
· 10 months ago
@Brian Haha, I'm right there with you. I feel like maybe if I use more jargon, someone will call me an expert one day.
@warrenss I have heard about that auto-expert feature on Twitter, funny. I do agree with you that maybe when you're looking for someone to do work in that area, don't like for the "experts"
All Comments
Here's part of the issue...companies are so used to hiring "experts" and getting the best of the best but they don't realize for social media there are no experts or best of the best because it's still changing and being explored. But, there are people with experience and case studies. Edelman, is a good example. They might be considered experts from a corporate perspective, but look at how they handled Walmart's social media campaign (a lesson learned by all).
My point is some folks might think they need to say they are an expert to get into a corporation as a consultant. Doesn't make it right or valid. Now as for the guru, ninja and other silly names...I don't have an excuse for them. ;-)
All the "experts" and "gurus" who call themselves such are just trying to ride on the wave of such terms.
The goal is to attract clients with things like..."Oh hey, work with us. We DO mobile & social media. We are THE experts because we use flashy multi-syllabic industry jargon."
Arm yourself with a enough knowledge to ask pertinent questions & you'll quickly see these experts haven't a clue.
I think that it's a good insight to note that by calling themselves experts they hope to position themselves better with bigger companies/clients. I guess the problems happen when those companies can't see through that. Bonus points for the Edelman case! You are truly a comment Ninja/Wizard.
@Tim
I think you're right that some are just trying to "ride the wave". Social media expert? Everyone's doing it!
@Laura
Haha cynical but telling. I think there are a lot of people that get "tunnel vision" with the social media stuff and other stuff only really gets on their radar when mentioned by the "bigs" in the industry.
But seriously, I think the titles are reversed. The true experts are smart enough not to consider themselves experts, but those looking to join the club in the fishbowl try to use the term as their entrance to the club. So I guess companies should stay away from the experts and hire the "regular Joes".
Haha, I'm right there with you. I feel like maybe if I use more jargon, someone will call me an expert one day.
@warrenss
I have heard about that auto-expert feature on Twitter, funny. I do agree with you that maybe when you're looking for someone to do work in that area, don't like for the "experts"