Do a Google search for “social media expert” and you will get 15,500,000 results. Now, that doesn’t mean there are 15,500,000 experts but instead that there is a lot of info being written referencing the subject. There is no denying that you will find a lot of ”self proclaimed experts” out there. Yes, many claim that they are experts because they re-hash information, blog away with key words and other search engine optimization drivers, and work on selling their system to get 10 bra-zillion fans, friends and followers in two weeks (OK, so I am exaggerating as little, but you know EXACTLY what I mean).
You want the truth? You think you can handle it? Or does the aroma of smoke created by mirrors and images appeal to you? No smoke and mirrors here. Sorry, you are in the wrong place. “It is what it is” and that is what you are going to hear. Some say I am a too “brutally honest”. But there is no harm intended, just cutting the chase in half to get to the finish line more quickly.
The Truth:
If you are looking for an social media expert, I will tell you now that great ones are few and far between. I am a student of social media, but more so a student of people. Yeah, I got my Liberal Arts degree in Social-Psychology years ago, then progressed through 25 years of managing locations, regions, brands, and franchises all dealing directly with service and building customer loyalty. You can read my resume if you want, but that is not what it is about.
I don’t profess to be a social media expert because it is not an exact science. Nor am I a sales guy (liked eat them for lunch though)… I am an operations management guy that looks at the total picture, considers the resources and competitive environment, identifies opportunities or issues, sorts ‘em out by the impact opportunity, considers cause and effect, and defines an action plan (a process to achieve goals, if you will). I have thrived on melding analysis of data, company goals and objectives, daily operational challenges, and building long term relations with internal and external customers.
The Truth:
IT IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW YOU MANAGE THEM!!!! Consumers are so tired of being pounded and bombarded and blasted and tired of IN YOUR FACE “Friend me, follow me, fan me” that they will shut you down. You have to be you, you have to have personal and professional social profiles, and you have to be open. Open on what you are about, Open to what your company is about, and Open to what your customers want, and most of all OPEN TO CHANGE. (This is where you think of the definition of insanity being doing the same thing and getting the same results).
And as much as I may have frowned or laughed at my kids for the “FACEBOOK” thing when it became the rage, or for that matter any skepticism on the value of all social networking sites, I am now a believer that it can play an important part of personal and professional growth when it is used correctly. It may be you that is being socially profiled, but it is not about you at all. It is about your customers and potential customers. What they think and who they engage with is what will drive your growth. It is not just the spoken word of mouth that is the best advertising that money can’t buy, but the ”social profile” and associations that are built on the Internet through a raving base of fans.