When is a “social media expert” a true social media expert, and when are they just frauds? It’s all in their claims, those overblown pitches they’re sure you’ll never check.
A few weeks ago, Gary Vaynerchuk stirred up quite a controversy when he said that over 99% of social media experts are clowns. We couldn’t agree more, but we’re not sure he didn’t underestimate the number.
Just like the photo above, the social media “expert” will waltz into your office and show off his weapons. “Here’s what I can do for you.” And, then the promises begin. “I can get you comments on your blog.” “Influential people will follow you on Facebook and Twitter.” “Millions of dollars are just a few clicks away.” Double hogwash and triple horsefadoodle.
Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow…..
Does this “expert” really think you won’t take the time to see how many people she follows on Twitter, as apposed to how few have been stupid enough to follow her? Apparently she does.
And, does this expert really think you will buy her expertise after just one (that’s “1”, count them, “1”) tweet?
I’m skeptical – healthily skeptical. And, you should be, too.
Everybody’s NOT Talkin’ At Me
Here’s the deal – a real expert, say Gary Vaynerchuk or Chris Brogan, has tons of connected and influential people following them. And, not just following them. Their followers are talking to them.
One way to quickly find out if your “social media expert” is truly social is to do a search on Twitter for that person’s “Twitter handle,” using the “@” symbol in front of their handle.
(Note: Twitter handles are the names people use on Twitter—which could be their real name (with no spaces), but might instead be a chosen “handle.” So, Randy Bibber might be @GoodBuddy, or @RandyBibber).
In this case we will test @realexpert against @SooperSeller—and you can guess……
@RealExpert has tons of people talking to him – and they are often connected and influential people. You’ll find this to be true of all the real social media experts, so look for it. Demand it.
@SooperSeller, on the other hand, has just about no one talking to her. And, the few that do are not exactly what you’d call heavy hitters.
They Will Comment and Comment and Comment…
You can get me comments on my blog? Really?! Oh goodie, I’ll hire you. I want comments on my blog!
But, first, check to see if they can get comments on their own blog. Is that fair? You be the judge:
Actually, when you check this expert’s blog, you’ll find out she has NEVER had a comment on her own blog – not to mention that she’s only been blogging for two years, with an astonishing total of 8 blog posts. Good time to pause and reflect? We certainly think so.
So, The Next Time…
Here’s the really scary part. The clowns and who sell themselves as experts will not just be raiding your hard-earned company coffers, they’ll be depriving you of the most most important thing you’ve already worked hard to build up – your reputation.
Yes, the next time someone waltzes into your office and makes claims about what they will do for you on social networks, take some time to see what they have already done (or not done) for themselves.
These clowns may be experts, all right. Sales experts. And, they’re selling you right down the river of no return when it comes to your precious reputation.
Editor’s Note: (By the way, we checked in on Ariane WooWoo – not her real name – a few weeks after we took our screen shot. She’s now following 2,000 people and has suckered another 400. She’s tweeted 9 more times, but no one has ever “talked” to her).
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Michael, here’s to one of the “1%.” Not that you really claim yourself as an “expert,” but I have learned far more from you about social media than all the other “experts” combined. I think it’s because you are healthily skeptical. And you’ve never asked me for money.
Michael,
You know the old saying, “No good deed goes unpunished”. It seems that way about Twitter. As I have posted before, I have found Twitter to be a wonderful place to meet knowledgeable and bright individuals (yes, I will include you in that group!) and to share interesting professional ideas. However, just as was the case with hashtags (for those of you who want to read a great post about that, check out Michael’s blog “Twitter Hashtags are Mishmash”), it seems that some very enterprising and very unscrupulous individuals have decided to make Twitter their dirty playground.
So what can we legitimate tweeps do? Well, I think Michael has got the right idea-call them out when you find them. Look, it’s up to us to police our own backyard, so to speak. And by the way Michael, I can not find @ArianeJ, so thanks to you, we have one less snake oil salesman to deal with. Also, take Michael’s advice and do a bit of digging-it’s not that hard to do.
I enjoy Twitter and want to keep it a positive experience. Let’s do what we do at our own homes to keep things enjoyable and pleasant-keep taking out the trash.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the comment. That will be $100, please!
Hi Craig,
I’ll send you the real name of the real person who is ArianeJ. I’ll also do the same for anyone else who writes or calls me. I don’t know how comfortable I’d be naming these people. I often do name them if they are absolutely fake or frauds. ArianeJ is likely just misled. There are so many social media experts selling “Get Rich Quick Schemes” to poor souls like her. They teach automatic follow programs, and automatic Tweet programs, and automatic blow your nose programs.
I have reported her to Twitter, who, as usual, almost never remove people like her. Of all the people I’ve written about on this blog – virtually none of them on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn have ever been thrown out. There’s more, but I won’t bore you. I’ll just keep writing about them, the numbers are so vast. Thanks for the comment. Bob says, that will be $100, please.