Comments on: Stop Calling Me A Social Media Marketing Expert

By: Nevaeh Green

Nevaeh Green — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:36:00 +0000

social media marketing is very popular on Facebook but FB is stricter now.,~

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:01:56 +0000

Gahlord, I will look forward to your hell giving. Very much.

By: Gahlord Dewald

Gahlord Dewald — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:55:01 +0000

Got me thinking about the difference between skill (a quality possessed by an individual) and expertise (the public/social recognition of skill). The value of expertise seems declining in many fields of human activity–and probably with good reasons and results.

Also, I like your phrase “tactical strategist” and will give you hell about it next time I see you, that or a copy of Jonathan Boyd’s biography.

Holding me back in social media: A desire to just start calling it “media” again and, of course many of the usual suspects–maintaining blocks of time to actually work, personal/professional, possessing an introversion-based psychic metabolism most of the time and so on.

Great post, looking forward to seeing how you break your barriers so I can just copy you.

By: ken brand

ken brand — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:13:57 +0000

I’m looking forward to reading your “Good Stuff”. Thanks.

By: marti garaughty

marti garaughty — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:53:04 +0000

hi Jeff, this post really hits home with me these days. Having multiple talents can be a blessing and a curse. I’m in the process of redefining myself online because the label of abstract painter, blog designer or whatever just doesn’t cover it anymore.

I understand why people like you, Brogan, Godin have earned and deserve the label of Marketing Guru even if it’s not wanted. Those who sell themselves as such are usually the ones who still don’t have a clue. (Good related article from Tamar Weinberg yesterday “How to Spot Internet Marketing Snake Oil” http://www.techipedia.com/2010/internet-marketing-advice/ )

Re “I’m going to write about what I love – technology”… And doing what we love is where real success comes from. Looking forward to what comes next. You never disappoint!

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:41:06 +0000

Nicole, Hal, Gregg, thank you.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:40:27 +0000

I’m setting this comment as a placeholder to come back to. Gotta get up in five hours to hop on a plane. Thanks for your kind words.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:37:01 +0000

I’m going to give this a bit more thought, but my first reaction is that I don’t see it as an either/or proposition. Why would you need to sacrifice “moment to moment” connections just because you have a strategy?

By: Laura Monroe

Laura Monroe — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:35:56 +0000

Jeff, I’m glad that you’ve had some ah-ha moments that have you brought you back to writing, bout time! If you can write about the things you value, the world will move with you.

The thing I struggle with the most in Social Media is conflicting philosophies; “having a strategy” vs. “being in the moment”. It would seem to me that analyzing a strategy for SM takes the moment to moment connections to a different type of engagement. Frances said it perfectly: “Successful integration of social media occurs when digital tech merges with smart, applied technology of human beingness.” My question is..what should be the genesis of effectiveness? Technology or human beingness?

By: Bill Risser

Bill Risser — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:29:11 +0000

Jeff – Your post hits very close to home. For the past year, I have helped agents learn the basics of the most popular sites (Twitter, Active Rain, Facebook, WordPress, etc.) I would never label myself as an expert or guru, but instead call myself a geek who likes to play in social media. I guess I most closely fit into your cheerleader category, although I don’t use the expert label. What I do possess, is the ability to teach and train people how technical things work. In fact, I am passionate about training. It’s not my profession, but I love doing it. I do not charge for my workshops, but I do hope that if attendees find value in what I do, they may give my company a chance to earn their business.

You were very kind to me at REBlogWorld and via Twitter, introduced me to Prezi, which I now use exclusively for all my presentations. I value your opinion and I am looking for it now…

So what barriers are holding me back from effective use of social media? I feel it’s the need to define what I do in a way that doesn’t offend the true experts, yet conveys my passion for helping others understand how the social media world works… Any ideas?

I look forward to learning and sharing via your future posts.

By: Nicole Nicolay

Nicole Nicolay — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:19:01 +0000

I think the best way to focus our energy, as you said, is on our sharing our strengths and learning from what we don’t know. With social media, there is so much to learn and so many options to uncover and apply. If I tried to be a “Reggie” I would most certainly break the Internet. And if Reggie could really dance…well, it wouldn’t be that funny!

Thanks for saying what we’ve all be thinking for some time! And you ROCK HARD!

By: Hal Lublin

Hal Lublin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:03:57 +0000

Bravo, buddy. I’m excited to see where your new freedom takes you. I think that when you’re less concerned about how you’ll be branded, you can just write what’s in your heart and what speaks to YOU. Anyone else who comes along for the ride will be the lucky ones.

By: Gregg B

Gregg B — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:27:12 +0000

Jeff – excellent post. Your post exhibits exactly what has held me back in using social media, the ability to put yourself out there. While you may not be, or want to be considered, a social media expert, observing how you and others use the tools has motivated and inspired me to experiment with and use them more (albeit slowly). Without this encouragement, I would have missed out on many connections that I have made through social media that have made me a more well-rounded person and allowed me to live a richer life by learning and sharing with others.

To echo what many others have said, I’m looking forward to your new writings and will do what I can to encourage you to share your thoughts, as I am sure they are thoughts that we will all derive value and inspiration from.

By: Jay Thompson

Jay Thompson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:58:09 +0000

I’m hopping in a Vette and punching it, road ahead be damned.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:01:36 +0000

Thanks, Frances. And another public thank you for your thinking on Web 2.0 Risks. ( http://www.slideshare.net/respres/web-20-risks-whos-the-sheriff-in-the-wild-wild-west-of-social-media ) I truly appreciated it.

I’m hoping to put some of my CAS study to good use.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:59:07 +0000

This one almost didn’t.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:58:44 +0000

Brian, you can point very specifically to the success of certain social media tactics in your business. And some of that is transferable to others, based on similarity of market, skills, personalities, etc. But much of it may not be.

I think everyone can benefit from some strategy consulting. I know I do. Strategy is a road map. It’s hard to know whether you should walk, ride a bike, drive a four-wheel drive or hop in a Corvette and punch it if you don’t understand the road that lies ahead. Great strategy consultants help you see the road more clearly. And guys like me help you design the right mode of transportation.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:45:33 +0000

Melina, thanks for some added insight. I posted a quote the other day on Facebook by Thomas Edison, I think, “Most people miss opportunity because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” So, of course, you’re right.

What I want to focus on personally is how to give people who aren’t afraid of work easier ways to do the work. Teresa doesn’t need or want me to offer her marketing advice, but I think she’d welcome an easier way to do a few things she’s already doing. I think that’s where my my focus should be.

By: Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:42:44 +0000

And the truth of your last sentence is certainly universal.

Regarding the panel, they may not want to consider themselves experts, but they can charge great day rates for their advice because they do have proven track record in the marketing arena. I’m just hoping that people will begin to label their skills properly.

By: bill lublin

bill lublin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:57:15 +0000

Great post Jeff – and great points. It seems that everyone who has a little experience is being called an expert by others who have less experience, and that may just be a matter of perspective. Jason Falls (in a panel with Chris brogan, Justin Levy , and a number of other marketing professionals) said “none of us are experts because none of us are using all of it”. I thought he was on target then and still believe that to be the case.
What holds me back from being more effective in social media? Probably the same things that would hold me back from being more effective anywhere else in my life – because I believe that success or limitations on success come from the same place on or off the computer –

By: Melina Tomson

Melina Tomson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:53:47 +0000

You know I have found the whole social media thing fascinating. The problem that I see, and why it is so easy for people to be taken advantage of, is that they lack confidence in themselves to build their own business or they lack the dedication it takes to really stick with it and build. I mean 1700 posts on a blog is an incredible amount of work. It’s Teresa’s hard work that has helped her meet her goals and not some new social media fad. It doesn’t matter if you are offline or online, the fact is that focused long-term hard work is what it takes to be successful with or without social media. Most people don’t want to work that hard and as such they look for the easiest path to generate revenue for their business.

Jeff, the reason people glom onto you is because you are a dynamic speaker and your writing is honest. Many people lack the self-motivation to get it in gear and build business. Sometimes a speaker says something that motivates you to move forward OR to feel more comfortable in your own skin which then reflects positively for you in the business world.

So…to answer your question…the only barriers I have are the ones I choose to create. I refuse to try and be all things to all people so I make choices about what works for me in my own personal situation. I refuse to be held hostage to what others think I should or should not be doing, and as such…the only thing holding me back, is me.

By: Brian Block

Brian Block — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:44:07 +0000

Jeff,

Excellent!

I actually wrote but neve posted a post “Call Me But Please Don’t Call Me a Guru”
back in the Fall.

I cringe at the term. In the presentations I’ve given I often state that IMO
the only social media experts are Marc Zuckerberg and the Twitter guys (most
people aren’t familiar with the name Biz Stone).

Then, I always start the presentation laying it all on the table by stating exactly
how much income I can directly link to blogging and social media before discussing
the how, why and what.

What’s holding me back from more? Like Jay wrote above, a well-defined plan.

Sometimes it’s hard to plan as Social media marketing changes somewhat day to day, week to
week. The tools change but what does not change is building connections both online and off.
At other times I know what I should do or be doing but hold back b/c of time and other pursuits.

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By: Francces Flynn Thorsen

Francces Flynn Thorsen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:03:23 +0000

You make some excellent points, Jeff. I’m glad you are going to write more. I remember being extremely impressed viewing a presentation you made last year in Atlanta using complex adaptive systems reasoning. It made PERFECT sense and it sounded like you found the perfect voice.

What barriers are holding me back from being more effective using social media?

That’s a good question. I find offline follow-up using telephone, in-person connection, and e-mail establishes effective dollar productive outcomes. I suppose more of that will maximize social media effectiveness. I think it boils down to finding balance and blending online and offline outreach. Successful integration of social media occurs when digital tech merges with smart, applied technology of human beingness.

By: Teresa F Boardman

Teresa F Boardman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:54:16 +0000

but seriously I love this post and to think I was worried that my comment would never get out of moderation.