Not Another Social Media Manager
Everyone seems to be a guru,expert,ninja these days. I know some great colleagues, and well, I know some who have some beautiful,sunny, warm, beachfront property to sell you in Alaska. A few weeks ago I told you about the 7 Great Qualities of a Social Media Manager. I hope you took notes. If you didn’t, it’s time to get re-familiar. I have heard out in the networking streets people say, “not another social media manager” or “I have met five of you this week alone.” Seriously?
Houston we have a problem. I have been on Twitter since it started in 2009, Facebook since 2007, long before I chose to get into social media. Did that mean I was a social media manager prior to starting my own company? No. Did I have knowledge that may have been a bit more advanced than the average user? I can certainly say yes here. That did not qualify me as a guru,expert,ninja. I would say it gave me a head start in the game, but it didn’t qualify me.
If I had a quarter for every so called “guru” and “expert” out there, I’d be rich. Honestly if I was rich I would be on a beach in Hawaii sipping on Moscato getting fanned by huge leaves and eating grapes instead of sitting here typing this wonderful post about gurus,experts, and ninjas. Some of these guys out here might as well be selling snake oil.
Social Media Is Not For Everyone
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes see people decide to become a social media manager because of the high income potential it brings. Not the best reason to get into this industry. I decided to do social media and social networking because I am a tech guy, and I was already social networking. My passion is to take an inexperienced entrepreneur in social media and help them excel to reach their goals in social media. I help them gain clarity and focus on branding themselves in order to be successful using social networking for their business. What is their passion or drive to be in this business? Make sure you ask!
Don’t Believe the Hype
Results guaranteed. I can get you 1000 followers and fans for $20. Friends this is all hype. Any good social media manager knows that while you may be able to do that for them, that doesn’t automatically mean dollar signs. If every fan I obtain for you equals a $1, I’d be in Maui again. It is quality and not quantity. ROI is still in a grey area of being completely measurable. Guarantees and promises can’t be made. Just because I walk into a store, there is no guarantee I am going to buy. The same applies here. Don’t believe the hype.
It is Hectic Out There
Don’t believe me? Click here to take a peek in the hectic life of a Social Media Manager. I spend countless hours reading, studying, social networking, measuring, creating content, listening and researching. My clients contact me after hours; it isn’t as glamorous as it is sold.
When to Run
I previously told you the good qualities. Now you need to know when to run. Take notes:
- They call themselves gurus, experts, or ninjas
- They make promises and guarantees
- They are not on any social networks
- They tweet-for-hire
- They are not social networking or engaging (Isn’t that what this is all about?)
- They have a locked Twitter account
- They haven’t updated their profiles since 2011
- No original content, all content is re-tweeted or re-posted
Take Great Caution
Choose your Social Media Manager wisely. Do your due diligence and research how they are social networking in the industry with their clients and colleagues. Now you can’t say you have not been warned.
Great write up. I dread finding people that call themselves “Guru” or “Expert.” Nowadays it actually gets a chuckle, but that’s it. No second looks. If you’re good at this kind of thing, and you want to be hired, then you need to be humble. Exaggeration won’t win anyone over.
Hi Tony,
brilliant post here. Just like you, I didn’t qualify myself as a social media expert/manager because I had accounts on social platforms. The irony in my case is that I learnt social media offline not online. My mentor called me up and we met at his house. He told me everything I needed to know about social media and I went off to apply them. I have people come to me today for advice not because I project myself as an “expert”, but because I engage, and share the knowledge. It’s an interactive media, and I believe in sharing original content just like you. Thanks for sharing, and I hope those “ninjas” will get to read this and learn.
Best regards,
Otoabasi U.
Otoabasi Umonting recently posted..The Power Of A Retweet In Online Marketing
Tony, I can certainly appreciate your transparency when it comes to the misconception behind the simplicity of SMM. You are so right on when you say it is not for everyone. I’m a techie girl myself, love social media and networking – it’s how I built my business, but it is a LOT of work and though I’ve considered that path, I know it is not for me…I prefer to coach/train entrepreneurs how to do it.
You can’t do it for the money because like you said, many of those self-proclaimed “gurus” and “experts” really aren’t even engaging and establishing their own social networks so why should I trust they would do it for me?
Great info!
Tamyka Washington recently posted..Being an Effective Perfectionist in Business
Here, here, Tony! Anyone who dares call themselves those names, are usually anything but those names. And the first place anyone should check to verify the effectiveness of a SMM, is their FB page or Twitter following. To me, this is a no-brainer.
Ty recently posted..Get inspired to attend networking events, again
As somewhat of a newbie to the world of social media, I can wholeheartedly agree with you. Just like any other business, a person’s interpretation of ‘expert’ can be totally different than the next. But here is a question, before you buy, what are some ways a person can identify a ‘real’ expert from an expert ‘in their head’?
It’s great that there are things like this which can help us earn online. Looks like from being a dino age in earning, we have innovated into something way too advanced yet comes with ease if we have the passion and the will to go through and proceed.
Tony, I really admire your thoughts when it comes to SMM. I salute you!
This is an informative post to everyone who consider themselves a guru, expert or ninja. It does not mean that you have access to the internet the whole day or you have accounts on all social media sites makes you one. This post helps them realize that becoming one is not for everyone. It takes a lot of effort and studies to turn into a social media manager.