What makes someone a social media expert?
Recently I was questioned about my social media expertise because I'm not a major Twitter user. That led me to wonder, what is it that really makes someone a social media expert?
It seems to me that many equate extensive use of a service to expertise in that service, and then go on to equate extensive use of multiple services to a wider breadth of experience. I find this rather interesting, because high school students spend ungodly amounts of time with Facebook, YouTube, and other social media, but I don't see many brands seeking them out for marketing plans.
With that in mind, I came up with a little thought exercise that I think we can all relate to:
- How many different makes and models of automobile have been produced in your lifetime?
- How many of those cars have you ever driven?
- How many of those cars do you own and/or drive regularly?
I think for most of us, the answers will be something like:
- Several thousand.
- Several dozen.
- Less than three.
Now ask yourself - would having more cars make you a better driver, or help you better navigate your way around town?
When a client has a need, it's my job to recommend the right vehicle(s) and give them the best possible route from point A to point B.
That means that I test drive a lot of cars, but it doesn't mean I own a lot of cars and drive them daily. Doing that would detract from the time I can spend on the more important goal of finding effective paths to travel, and matching them to the best vehicle(s) for the terrain.
posted on 01.24.09