…and quite happy to say so!
Every once in a while a client with whom I have worked for many months or even years, and with whom I have a very honest and straightforward relationship, will introduce me to one of his/her friends, co-workers or colleagues as a “social media expert”. I ALWAYS cringe and shudder (inwardly), then try to smile and make the usual small talk and chat with the person to whom I’ve been introduced. Once we were alone again, I take the time to tell that client that I feel uncomfortable with the idea of an “expert” when it comes to social media. As I already stated, these are clients with whom I am quite in tune, so this statement often piques their interest and starts an interesting discussion. I thought I’d share some of the discussion points with the readers here.
photo credit: Pete Prodoehl via photopin cc
So, I ask you – how could you possibly keep up with each and every latest and greatest? How could you possibly profess expertise.
It’s the abundance, this gluttony of new and better that makes me shy away from the idea of calling myself an expert. I can’t, in good conscience, say I’m adept with each app, stellar with every new type of software, proficient with every platform. I can’t even try them all – and I really wouldn’t want to try them all, being quite honest. I’d spend my entire day, 24-7-365, skimming articles, downloading and testing. I’d never do any work for the clients that actually pay me to keep their campaigns running fresh and strong.
Even if one considers only and simply using the biggest of the big guns, Facebook and Twitter, Linkedin and Google+, your blog and an eNewsletter, maybe FourSquare or Yelp if you’re in a location based/local driven business, there’s no end to the new ways and means to revamp, refine and revise the way we post, discuss and share. There are, of course, new ways to manage information, photos, videos and more. There are new widgets, apps, gizmos and more that pop up every day. So you’ll never hear me say I’m a “particular application” expert either. Though I use them every day, there is no one size fits all solution to posting, curating, sharing and relationship building that would allow for “expertise” per se.
Let me give you an example. When all the Facebook Edgerank hullabaloo started, those of us using Facebook for business had to consider our post style. Were we going to go for more boring and bland text only posts to bolster reach and rank or were we going to continue to post images in order to enhance engagement. It was a choice that had to be made. Were we to stop posting shared link summaries as the main post and put links in the first comment (NO, NO, NO)? It’s these kind of regular, and even daily decisions that make “expertise” difficult to grasp and hold.
So…what am I? I like to think that I’m a social media “enthusiast”. Someone who takes the time to keep as up to date as possible on what’s new, improved and no longer available. I might call my self a “seeker of social savvy”, as I like to think that I do the careful research that allows me to see past fads and “gotta have this minute” new and shiny apps and widgets. I might call myself an analyst, as I carefully choose what will work best for a client, even if it isn’t the latest and greatest, the newest and neatest, the here today and more than likely gone tomorrow.
My clients understand and appreciated this idea, my aversion to the term expert. I think that savvy, careful current and potential clients will feel much the same. What do you think?
@themediabarista
Latest posts by Mallie Hart (see all)
- Don’t Fall Prey to Idiom Idiocy! - March 4, 2013
- 5 Must Listens About Social Design - January 30, 2013
- Social Media: Sometimes, Silence is Best - January 15, 2013
I totally relate to what you say, Mallie. I think most people in the social media field are uncomfortable calling themselves "experts" for the reasons you state.
The technology and is both too new and transforming too quickly to ever be able to grasp it entirely.
But people need experts. Clients want to hire experts.
So while I won't call myself one (prefer specialist), I use the relativist take on it – I'm more expert than you because I have spent years researching and using the technology.
Thanks for sharing this.
I like that…the relativist adaptation of expert. Going to have to use that!
I agree with what you say nobody other than perhaps the developers of the apps, platforms or software can really class themselves as an expert. As Ray says all we can do is keep researching and testing so that we can keep our clients ahead of the curve.
Even the app developers have to worry about operating system changes, upgrades and glitches, right Kittie!
Absolutely, they have their own set learning curves for the tools and systems they use to produce their products! :D
The best is when I read 'social media guru'. That is just as hilariously awesome! Most conversations I have with these social media 'experts' shows me that they know as much as the next person because over time we all start reading from the same resources: news, blogs, sites… We are all enthusiastic about it, which is why we are in this field, we like to push information and elevate worthy stories or topics or brands or causes. Expert Schmexpert.
Couldn't agree more, Tiana! Thanks for the comment. Guru is one that always causes me to emit a half groan/half laugh.
I like and think Social Media “enthusiast” works. Expert, guru, rockstar, etc., which are generally self-generated, are comical. The field is to new to have any legit experts anyway. As you mentioned, to be a Social Media "Expert" is near impossible. There are just too moving parts. You might have a shot of being a "Twitter" expert or "Google +" expert, but no way Social Media Expert.
I agree with you Steve. One could possibly be a Facebook expert, but there's absolutely no way you could be a social media expert (way too broad of a field).
I read a definition of expert once that said that "an expert is someone that made every possible mistakes there is to be made in a particular, narrow field." If this is a true definition of an expert, there is no way that anyone is a Social Media Expert.
Thanks for the reply, Steven. I think you're correct. If you can niche down in our niche, you might stand a chance at expertise.
Great post Mallie!
I like to use "professional" or "strategist". The only problem that I see with the term "enthusiast" is that anyone can be an enthusiast of anything, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's their career/profession. I usually use the term "digital marketing professional", or "digital marketing strategist" more than "social media professional", just because what I do usually involves a lot more than just using social media.
I do agree with you though, "expert", "guru", "ninja", etc. are no-nos :)
There's the thing with "descriptors", Daniel. We can all find reasons why they don't work. While I absolutely do strategize, I would never call myself a strategist because its clinical, number crunching "sound" detracts from the social nature of what we do. And professional seems a bit blatant and obvious. I'll have to try on a few more before I find one that fits.
I can totally relate with your assessment of “enthusiast” Mallie and personally try to stir clear of titles. As for the label of “professional” it is simply a reference of a “expert” who is a master in a specific field! I struggled with that during my corporate career as I felt I was in a continual learning cycle constaintly moving in and out of departments and specialties learning the general as most managers do but certainly never on the level of expert, much like today. Hell, I have been drinking bourbon whisky for over 25 years and learn something new about that delightful amber liquid all the time! For me, I am a marketer with an insatiable appitite for the craft.
I like that…"an insatiable appetite for the craft". That's pretty darned poetic, Randy. We might have fooled folks that we're more than two hicks from GA! LOL!
who like cornbread!
It is hard to take people seriously who claim to be experts or gurus in the social media field. Anyone who is very familiar with this field knows that things change so rapidly that there really are no experts and claiming to be one is just wrong! I have called myself an 'enthusiast' for years and am well aware that there is still so much to know!
I agree, Jen!
I have a lot of respect for you folks who operate in the social space. The whole thing is just daunting to keep up with it all. Whenever I hear "social media expert" I cringe as well, but I appreciate the title because I know not to waste time taking the person seriously. Save me time trying to figure them out.
That's a pretty smart way to go about it!