The beauty of the social web is deeply rooted in the fact that everyone can contribute, everyone can share, and everyone can have an opinion. But, let’s get something straight – not EVERYONE can be an expert. An incredible number of these so-called social media experts have emerged in the past few months (or perhaps I'm just paying closer attention), but I have to start questioning – who are the real leaders in this new, largely uncharted, and rapidly evolving social media territory? And perhaps more importantly, who can we trust?
I enjoyed this list, and it created quite a stir if you read the reactions in the comment section. But I was also struck last week as Alexandra Rampey [4] offered her thoughts on this subject in a post on her blog called, Expert versus Asset: Which One Are You? [5] In it she said, “Don’t be an expert. Instead, become an industry-valued asset. The difference? One works for himself and his own knowledge base, the other, wants to be valuable and enjoys collaborative efforts. Personally, I couldn't agree more. I'd much rather work and collaborate with someone who wants to be seen as valuable - not just someone who wants to sell books or rack up their number of Twitter followers.
So, when can we say expert? I think its perfectly fine to annoint others as experts particularly if that person has the right combinationa of knowledge, expertise and experience in delivering successful programs in his or her respective area. But, I must question all of the self-annointed experts who are out there trying to make a name for themselves. There are those who create a profile on Facebook or have thousands of Twitter followers and proclaim their expertise; then there are those who study the research, read the books, immerse themselves in the technology, and understand the metrics.
But I'm no expert here, so what do you think? What are the ways people can show they are a valuable asset? How is your organization engaging experts in the field - and what have you learned? Are we at a point yet where we can talk about social media experts at all?
Comments
I love this sentence: "But, I must question all of the self-annointed experts who are out there trying to make a name for themselves."
My personal pet peeve is self-appointed mavericks. You can't *all* be mavericks folks. It doesn't work that way.
The barrier to entry in the social media space is very low. Because of that it seems to attract folks with a get-rich-quick mentality. Luckily, it's fairly easy to tell who's the real deal. On Twitter, just look at the number of people your "expert" is following vs # of people following them. If there are more people following, then odds are your expert is actually offering some value.
The anti-expert meme is getting tiresome. An expert is someone with expertise -- special knowledge, skill, and aptitude. If you have it, you are. If you don't, you're not. If you don't and claim you do, you're misrepresenting yourself at best and at worst a liar. But to suggest that anyone who claims expert status is worthy of contempt is absurd. And the best experts ARE industry-valued assets.
There have always been incompetents and bottom feeders who claimed to be something they weren't. But when did "expert" become a dirty word? The next time those who don't like "experts" need to drive over a bridge, they should make sure it's one engineered by a valued asset instead of an expert. Better yet, they should drive over one designed by the crowd.
I disagree with point #5. Blogging is one of the fastest ways to build traffic, buzz, and search engine rankings.
There are many types of blogging. Most blogs aren't done very well. A well crafted blog can catapult an unknown site into decent traffic almost overnight. Many people recommending blogs don't know SEO so they don't get the full effect, and many SEOs don't know social media so they don't get the links and buzz.
Peter, Shel, Josh - thanks for heating things up here on Social Citizens, I appreciate your thoughts.
@Peter - I agree that the barrier to entry in the social media space is very low, and perhaps that's what makes it important to weed out the one's with questionable motives.
@shel - I certainly don't mean to imply that "expert" is a dirty word, in fact there are plenty whom I admire and consider experts in this space, but I am weary of those who just use the opportunity for shameless self promotion. Let others endorse your work. As for the bridge - call me an idealist, or just plain crazy, but I'll take a chance on one designed by the crowd!
@josh - I don't think number five is to imply that blogging is never an appropriate solution, instead it may not be the best way to start off. And, I speak from personal experience here on Social Citizens trying to grow an active engaged community from something that started as a traditional foundation white paper. 9.5 times out of 10 you wont have an active community overnight - so you have to meet people where they are and then invite them to your conversation. At least that's what has been working for us.
Keep the comments a comin'!
I'm a relative newbie to the social media scene. I certainly don't consider myself an expert, however I'm devouring everything I can get my hands on about it in an effort to be as knowledgeable as possible. I believe that the subject is so deep and wide and ever expanding and changing
that it would be almost impossible for anyone to be considered a true expert at this point.
I also believe that the reason MOST people are involved is to drive traffic to their web site or promote what ever it is they have to promote.
It strikes me as odd that some of these people get so self righteous about others attempting to do the same thing.
Caveat emtor (let the buyer beware)
I really like your comment about being an industry asset. That is what I am attempting to accomplish. I don't have all the answers. I DO have a lot of really good questions, the answers to which can, I think, be of service to others.
That is the approach I am taking on my blog. I'm a relative newbie and I'm not afraid to admit it. However by going out and thrashing around and asking the right questions and publishing the answers, a lot of people will be educated
I too am tired of every expert calling every other expert out and saying there are no experts. How about we all just sit around on the couch and watch television since no one is an expert, orrrr we can go out there and build these relationships and help companies grow in this recession filled economy in ways that they are not familiar with. A high tide floats all boats.
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Ha ha. My first recommendation to nearly everyone is to start a blog! And i really believe it. Sure, you can screw it up by not dedicating resources, time, and thought to it... but if you don't dedicate resources and thought, you'll screw up anything... and a blog is the easiest to get right and to start you off into the world of social media with a kid glove...
Congratulations on having this post selected as part of the March Carnival of Trust.
The Carnival of Trust selects the Top Ten posts dealing with trust from around the blogosphere.
This month it is hosted by (and your post was selected by) Beth Robinson at her blog Inventing Elephants, and it can be found at
http://www.inventingelephants.com/blog/2009/3/2/march-2009-carnival-of-t... [7]
The Carnival of Trust originated with Charles H. Green of Trusted Advisor Associates, and his blog TrustMatters:
www.trustedadvisor.com/TrustMatters [8]
I find the dialogue above here in your commentary to be robust and thoughtful. One might even discern some expertise in there! Anyway, there's a lot of good quality exegesis already, so I'll just say congratulations again on your selection.
Congratulations on having this post selected as part of the March Carnival of Trust.
The Carnival of Trust selects the Top Ten posts dealing with trust from around the blogosphere.
This month it is hosted by (and your post was selected by) Beth Robinson at her blog Inventing Elephants, and it can be found at
http://www.inventingelephants.com/blog/2009/3/2/march-2009-carnival-of-t... [7]
The Carnival of Trust originated with Charles H. Green of Trusted Advisor Associates, and his blog TrustMatters:
www.trustedadvisor.com/TrustMatters [8]
I find the dialogue above here in your commentary to be robust and thoughtful. One might even discern some expertise in there! Anyway, there's a lot of good quality exegesis already, so I'll just say congratulations again on your selection.
Thanks for continuing the discussion here! I'm glad I could help offer some thoughts....it just occurred to me while working one day when I was thinking about my own goals and objectives. I'd much rather be considered an industry-valued asset than an expert. Granted, I give that the best experts are the ones that are also industry-valued assets, and are recognized by colleagues and not necessarily themselves. But, it's because they take the time to be valuable, rather than push their own "expert-ism" so to speak. It might be a linguistic game of the tongue, but to me it's about having a certain mindset.
It's a message that can scan from the young and old, to the inexperienced or experienced, senior title versus junior employee, that being valuable goes farther than "winning," being "right," or pushing your own knowledge base or agenda. So, let's get out there and show our value, ;)
ps: It's "Rampy" (no 'e')
It's a message that can scan from the young and old, to the inexperienced or experienced, senior title versus junior employee, that being valuable goes farther than "winning," being "right," or pushing your own knowledge base or agenda. So, let's get out there and show our value, ;)sammy [9]
But I'm no expert here, so what do you think? What are the ways people can show they are a valuable asset? How is your organization engaging experts in the field - and what have you learned? Are we at a point yet where we can talk about social media experts at all?samantha [10]