social media guru | Joe Spake's Weblog

[Note: I invited Sheila Hensley, a social media newbie to post here for some perspective. I think those of us who are immersed in the new media and active in that community are often not clear about why we do it when we are communicating with those who don’t. Sheila’s post brings up some interesting issues for veterans and newbies. Find Sheila’s original post on her blog here – JS]

If youâ€™ve never Tweeted, Re-Tweeted, FaceBooked (not counting family/friends ) Linked-In, youâ€™ve never followed an RSS feed, or commented on a CNN or Fox News blog post; you donâ€™t even follow weather alerts on your smart phone â€¦ then this blog is for you. My question to you is Why? Why are we not participating?

Iâ€™ve read blog posts on why we should participate and looked at statistics which indicate that if we donâ€™t participate we are doomed. Iâ€™ve hired/partnered with a Web 2.0 consultant, read books (Cluetrain, The Whuffie Factor, both Iâ€™ll have to read again to really get) but Iâ€™m still not taking action. Iâ€™ve made little personal contribution to the community. Why? And, why arenâ€™t you?

I realize that those Iâ€™m asking are probably not reading this. Unless they are referred here by someone, they may never see the question? There is a community out there, just like me, who could tell me what they think; help me answer my question. Yet they wonâ€™t see this. Hummm â€¦ this is a problem.

In an effort to begin taking action, I will post this (feeling very insecure) and see what happens. If all Iâ€™ve read is true, then there are many who need to comment, want to comment, but will not â€“ Why?

Experienced social media gurus need not try to answer this question. You canâ€™t. Youâ€™ve done your best. Iâ€™ve heard you, read your words of wisdom and appreciate all Iâ€™ve learned. Unfortunately, you canâ€™t help me. Only people at this level of inexperience can comment authoritatively on my question. The best you can do for people you know like me is to direct them here to answer my question. It would be good for me and for them.

A possible solution is a focus group of newbies who are interested in answering the question, but donâ€™t want to answer online. Are they more comfortable with a physical location and casual atmosphere for discriminating people who want to meet for conversation and a handâ€™s on experience? Ok, let me know that. Iâ€™d like to know if that group exists too.

If you are inclined, answer my question here, at your convenience, dress is casual â€“ just leave your comment below. You may sign your post anonymous if you want. The important thing is to tell me why you havenâ€™t made the plunge, yet. Feel free to send a private email to [email protected] with your response if you prefer.

Whatever is more comfortable for the reader is fine on this blog â€¦ which is for you.

Recently I attended a brainstorming session sponsored by a local business to help the decision maker decide how to move forward with the organization’s implementation of Social Media. The decision maker had little more that a conversational grasp of Twitter, Facebook, etc, and there he was at the table with the local SM literati. A conversation like that can quickly get esoterically out of hand, especially for those decision makers who are at the you know something is happening but you don’t know what it is, do you Mr. Jones? stage.

This video will first have you ROTFL; but you will go back and listen to the words and message again. Caution: Strong Language!

It seems that everyone who can figure out how to open a Facebook account or do a few Tweets is a social media expert these days, and if they want to bill at a higher rate, they are gurus. Almost everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon that’s running down the yellow brick road to a gold mine. It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon, but it takes a little more effort to book passage on the Cluetrain.

I am not criticizing Social Media consulting . I really believe that the Integration of Social Media into PR , Marketing and Advertising is vital to business. The question is which thought leader do you follow? I oftenre-read and link to Geoff Livingston and Beth Harte’s Top 25 ways to tell if your social media expert is a carpetbagger.

There has been an interesting conversation on the RE.net about the most influential social media users in the real estate business. The analysts make lists based on statistical data, and now Inman News is having a popularity contest (Oh please vote for me so my ego won’t be bruised any more than it has already been by not being included on the other lists). The big question is Who Cares? Are there really no better ways of measuring credibility and competence than inclusion on a list? If I were hiring a SM guru, or reading his/her posts, or considering buying his/her books, or advising a client on how to make the choice, I would refer back to Livingston and Hart’s 25 ways and other posts along the same theme, like this one from Terry Ellwood or this one I wrote a while back.

Now, write me a check for 5000 Euros and I will say adios.