Why everybody loves to hate ‘social media experts’

This blog post is in English, since it largely consists of already written messages on Edial Dekker‘s Facebook wall (which is not publicly accessible). I responded to Edial’s announcement of his writing a rant about so-called ‘social media experts’.

Why we shouldn’t worry about social media (non-)experts

It’s really cool to hate social media experts, nowadays. I’ve been told by several bloggers that these self-proclaimed experts are the ‘cancer of Twitter‘ – an actual plague, even, which obviously needs to be stopped.

Arguably, they [the bloggers] make a valid point. Just take a look at this Twitter course (Dutch). I pity the fool who’s coughed any up hard-earned money to be instructed by these nitwits. But I don’t really see any real problem here. This is what I said to Edial on Facebook:

I’ve read lots of rants, but not too many constructive approaches towards some form of professionalization in the field of social media consultancy & training – up to the point that one simply cannot claim any ‘expertise’ in social media without making a fool out of oneself. I’d say this is simply a young market which will will mature at a great pace, if only for its inherent transparency.

In every rapidly emerging field of knowledge, there are bound to be people who claim they’re experts, although they in fact know jack shit. But really, who cares? Most forms of social media are public and transparent, so you should be able to evaluate pretty easily who has been eating their own dog food. Give it a few years, and you’ll be quickly able to sort out the rotten apples in the basket.

Why we need social media experts

Another reply by Edial: “[B}ut for what do you need a social media expert, really?”

My response to that:

“For what do you need a social media expert really?” Yes, to explain Twitter, UPC webcare and RSS. At first, that ‘s hard enough.

But then, it only starts getting interesting. Journalists reluctantly trying out Twitter are finding out they can improve the sense of trust readers place in them and their newspaper by using semi-personal, semi-professional Twitter accounts to report the news (although they’ve a hard time getting comfortable with individually representing their news brand in public). …

Government officials recognize the need to inform the public at places where conversations are taking place – on social networking platforms or blogs – but are struggling with finding the right approach and tone of voice.
Politicians realize that social media provide a great opportunity to connect with real people, but have trouble keeping up with all the questions and ideas – and don’t wont to come accross as ‘broadcasters’ who talk, but don’t listen.

Yes, social media actually do foster organizational change, and it’s happening everywhere. Many traditional commercial companies do not yet experience the need to embrace social media – fine by me. But at least in the field of politics, government, news, civil society and non-profit – they do, because they are are losing legitimacy, as they represent (portions of) the public without communicating with them – although they now have the means to do so.

So that’s my point, plain and simple: social media are a big deal, which obviously creates business opportunities for people helping organizations to ‘get’ social media, both on a basic and a strategic level.

I’m one of them, although I don’t consider myself an expert. There’s too much stuff going on too quickly to claim any amount of expertise – even then, the title is already too contaminated.

So, what’s the lesson here? Perhaps, it is that you shouldn’t trust anyone calling themselves a social media expert, after all. Whoever does, clearly hasn’t read enough blogs or Twitter messages…

For now, let’s wait for Edials blog post – it should be up in a couple of days.

(PS: have a look at 10 Questions to Evaluate a Social Media ‘Expert‘ and ‘8 Questions to Ask Your “Social Media Expert“‘ for some guidance in identifying social media consultants, trainers or even experts who are probably worth their salt.)

Stem of voeg toe aan :