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The Social Media Expert Question

posted on December 12, 2008

After getting three separate messages from people asking me how I thought they could become an expert in social media I turned on the camera and vented a bit in that direction.

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Categories: One Guys Thoughts / Video
  • http://matthewebel.com Matthew Ebel

    I am an email expert!

    Pax,
    Matthew
    –
    http://matthewebel.com
    http://matthewebel.net

    (With all due respect to Chris Brogan, of course.

  • http://www.pigsdontfly.com Zac Martin

    10,000 hours right? ;]

  • http://blog.davemadethat.com Dave

    Nice one C.C.
    I was interviewed about being an “expert”. My reply is here #4: http://blog.ethos3.com/2008/08/13/7-questions-with-dave-delaney.aspx

    I don’t believe any of us are experts. I hate the term, because I believe *most* people who claim to be experts are not. We may have expertise in Social Media, but to have authoritative knowledge in a world changing as quickly as ours does, I think it’s safe to say that few are truly experts. That’s my two cents.

    Have a great holiday if I don’t speak to you before.

    Cheers,
    Dave

  • http://www.twistimage.com/blog Mitch Joel – Twist Image

    Funny enough, I have a note here that says, “Blog: what makes an expert?” (must be serendipity) and here’s why: gas prices, economy, sports broadcasters, the weather etc… no one is an expert. These people actually do “work their ass off” (as you said), but to me, an expert is someone who knows something in a way that others don’t. These “experts” can’t explain why markets fail, why certain teams loose or why the gas prices are so volatile and these “experts” (who are passionate) do this for a living.

    I’m beginning to wonder if anyone is an expert or are we just a bunch of pundits?

  • http://doyouknowclarence.com DYKC?™

    When you throw up the air-quotes and say, “the expert”? Money.

  • http://mediadriving.com/ Jay Moonah – Media Driving

    I think part of the problem is some of the baggage the word ‘expert’ has gathered because of misuse by some folks, not just in the social media space but in any number of areas. The basic definition of expert is, essentially, someone who has expertise. As Dave notes, there are certainly people who have expertise in social media, and I would argue that if you have expertise, at some level you are an expert.

    The problem seems to be in the interpretation of ‘expert’ as being akin to ‘wizard’ or ‘god’ or something. Mitch, you’re right on the mark when you say that there are lots of people who are so-called ‘experts’ that haven’t been able to predict the problems with the economy and such, but personally I’d still trust a professor of economics to explain what has happened and what the future implications might be more than a random guy on the street. That doesn’t mean I think the prof has all the answers, but I would still say it’s still fair to call her an expert in the economy.

    I think there certainly ARE social media experts, but I think it’s a little hard to recognize yourself if you’re there. It’s like knowing how good your singing voice really is – you can’t tell because you hear it differently in your head. C.C., I’d certainly argue that you’re a social media expert, as are Mitch or Dave and many others. Does that mean you guys know everything about social media, and that you never make mistakes? Of course not! The best basketball player in the world will miss the odd free throw, but I’d certainly trust one of you guys over a random stranger if I had a question about social media.

    C.C., you’re totally right in saying that becoming skilled in social media or anything is a lot work, but I think what most people are looking for are pointers to resources and things that will help keep them on the path. If someone asked me, I’d probably direct them to the blogs and/or podcasts of many of the folks who have commented here. I’d also direct them to books like Groundswell. I’d also say, yes, absolutely, get in there and DO this stuff, but there is certainly more to gaining expertise than writing 10,000 or posting 50 videos on YouTube. C.C., I know that’s not what you were saying here, but I do think it’s useful for those of us who are already in immersed in this stuff to point people to appropriately resources and the like, while GENTLY letting them know that social media is not a panacea, and there’s not a magic wand to learning it.

  • http://stevegarfield.com steve garfield

    Hi CC!

    I just watched with my mom and Carol from Florida at her condo.

    Carol says, “Live it, Work it, Do it!”

    She’s passionate about what she does as am I.

    A client asked me how much time I devote to what I do. I answered that I’m immersed in this 24/7.

    I love it.

    –Steve

  • http://newmediachatter.com Dave Peck

    You nailed it man!

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  • http://www.campfirenyc.com Mike

    I totally agree with what you are saying here, CC! Best advice ever — want to become an expert? Go do it.

    I had a big, snarky post here about the many self-proclaimed “social media experts” in our industry, but I deleted it because at the end of the day, if someone is passionate about it, and living it as you suggest, then their case-studies and reel will reflect that.

    Everything else is just talk.

  • http://markmckay.ca Mark McKay

    So your saying I have to make more video to be a social media expert?

  • http://www.ffphx.com/as Allan Sabo

    Nice post, I’d like to add that someone who works their ass of for 2 weeks, is still not an “expert” compared to the person who’s been working their ass off for a lifetime.

    Catch is, there is ALWAYS someone who’s been working their ass off longer. That said, I do refer to myself as an “expert” because I have been working is the “social media” space for longer than the term to describe it (since 1993). I’ve pioneered and launched over 40+ ventures thanks to my stealthy virtual incubator. Had several significant acquisitions and an IPO on my “rap sheet”. lol

    One of my first online ventures (www.e-sports.com) had many characteristics (features, functionality, etc) that are now common place among most social media today.

    Back then we called it “community”, and we were pushing the envelope of engaging a community. I have been working my ass off in the space ever since but you wont see me flyin all around the country claiming “expert” status and writing books and so forth, I’m much more a “behind the scenes” guy with a heart for start-ups.

    Thank for addressing this issue, and I’ll add – this “industry” is rapidly emerging, 2 weeks (or even 2 years) of workin your ass is no longer good enough to call yourself an expert. Hell, in my eyes, I’m not impressed with anything short of 8-10 years.

    But maybe I’ve just been around this stuff too damn long.

    Allan Sabo
    FastForward Marketing Braintrust
    Your Monthly Marketing Advisory Board

  • http://jennifernavarrete.com Jennifer Navarrete

    I agree. It’s all about THE DOING!

    You can’t study it and become an expert. You’ve got to go out in the trenches and actually do Social Media.

  • http://kgbfilms.blogspot.com/ karl

    Holy Crap! B’day, Christmas, New Year! Sounds like the party is at the Chapman residence! Happy Holidays CC, and hope your birthday is a BLAST!

  • julien

    nice one dude. this is the real straight talk express!

  • http://www.ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    It’s a little-known secret but I’ll be doing some video come January, too. Not sure how or where or what, but we’ll be creating video together. You’re merely a few steps ahead of me!

    Happy almost birthday!

  • http://verysupercool.com/ Verysupercool Sue

    I agree with everything you say in your video, but I must tell you what my favorite part is… it’s your expressions! I totally love the exasperation. Your honesty is refreshing and also quite amusing. :)

    This is the first video I’ve seen of yours, first time on your site, and gotta say that “I like your style!”

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  • http://www.barefeetstudios.com Roxanne Darling

    This topic is full of potholes CC. It says to me “buyer beware” and then remembering that the buyers have many different goals and interests in what they want to purchase. Some blog posts offer better consulting advice for free than a high-paid consultant. Your sister-in-law might just have the missing piece of information you want on something, and in that moment, she is the expert who matters!

    “Expert” the word is problematic because it is hard to measure and because expertise might be in the teaching not the doing. Mitch Joel tweeted a while back about blog consultants who don’t blog tho I countered that I had just met a disabled football coach on the beach who was doing a great job training his high school football team. His brain knew what build strength and speed, tho his body no longer complies :-)

    People are going to talk about themselves and others one way or another. I think it is the buyer’s job to learn how to sort blowhard from work hard, and when you are not literate on the topic, this is really hard to do. It’s why one of my favorite sayings is, “Its all about the energy.” If you click with someone and trust them, their advice and counsel is likely going to work better for you than someone with big cred but for whom you have internal resistance.

    BTW, I could not get y our video to load, so I am responding more to the commenters.

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  • http://www.whitneyhoffman.com Whitney

    If it’s worth being a career, it will always be about learning as you doing; honing skills, and getting better bit by bit. I always look at Michangelo’s quote that says “I am still learning.” I think the best people realize how much they don;t know as well as how much they do.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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