How to QUALIFY a Social Media Expert or LinkedIn Expert

There seems to appear a new self-proclaimed expert, Social Media Expert, LinkedIn Expert or Twitter Expert about every hour or two. They shout it out, present what might be their first Webinars or presentations and seem to forget that the world can see whether or not this is true.

One’s profile and network are among the truest indicators of expertise. Here are some things that you can do to see if these claims are brick solid or a house of cards about to fall under their own weighty claims.

LinkedIn:

Is their name clean, free of Non-name Text like an E-Mail address?

Do they have a Professional Photo? Any photo at all?

Is their Profile Complete?

Do they list Web sites and are they NOT defaulted to “My Company”?

Is the Personal URL to their profile personalized?

Does their Summary reflect their abilities?

Do they even have Specialties listed?

Are Jobs and Education listed all the way back with real data included?

Are the Interests and Groups/Associations sections completed and “formatted”?

Are they a member of any LinkedIn Groups? How many? More than 20?

Does their Contact Settings area tell you how to reach them?

How BIG is their Network? If it isn’t at 500+ you can stop right there…..

True LinkedIn experts cannot have small networks. Should probably be 2,000+.

Are their connections being shared?

Twitter:

Is their Twitter ID something that makes sense?

Can you find them when you search Twitter (try their name)?

Do they have a respectable Picture showing?

How many Followers do they have? Should be 1,000 or more AT THE LEAST!

How many are they following? Should be within 50% of the Followers.

How many updates have they done? Should be well over 500.

Does their Twitter profile tell you what they do? Free of mis-spellings, Include URL?

These are the requirements for a B-level Social Media Expert, LinkedIn Expert or Twitter Expert. Maybe we will do a posting for an A-level Expert sometime (see the A-level players below).

We suggest you use this as a litmus test to gauge tour experts. Here a few we recommend you look at.

Check out these true LinkedIn and Social Media Experts:

Mike O’Neil, Denver, 25,000 connections, 12,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeoneil – Twitter @mikeoneildenver

Lori Ruff, Denver & Charlotte, 11,000 connections, 12,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/loriruff – Twitter @loriruff

Viveka von Rosen, Ft. Collins, 6,000 connections, 13,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/LinkedInExpert – Twitter @linkedinexpert

Dave Westfall, Denver, 9,000 connections, 1,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davewestfall @dewpointe

Dave Reingold, New Jersey, 7,000 connections
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davereingold

Brad Hanks, Denver, 13,000 connections, 3,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhanks – Twitter @bradhanks

Chip Lambert, Phoenix, 3,000 connections, 1,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondchiplambert – Twitter @chiplambert73

Rich Fiene, Minneapolis, 12,000 connections, 1,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/richfiene – Twitter @richfiene

Lonny Gulden, Minneapolis, 9,000 connections
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lonnygulden

Neal Schaffer, Los Angeles, 15,000 connections, 9,000 followers
http://www.linkedin.com/in/nealschaffer Twitter @nealschaffer

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Tagged as: LinkedIn Expert, Social Media Expert

Jon Severson

Mike,

I'd disagree that "followers" numbers should be a driving force behind who is an "expert" While I know you are in the field with laptop in hand day in and day out so that justifies why you have as many connections as you have, but in general it's hardly a measure of Mastery....just means you are good at following people.

In reality, if you are looking for a Social Media "Expert" to hire to consult for your company or product these as these questions:

-Do they have REAL world business backgrounds?
-Have they done any marketing before outside of Social Media?
-What experience do they have in buying/selling traditional advertsiing?
-How familiar are they with the ins and outs of each Social Media medium?
-What is their background in using Social Media for Business?
-How will they teach you to use hardware based solutions (Mobile phone, AppleTV, Ipod Touch, etc...) to maintain your connection?
-Can they monetize the solution they present?

Other things to consider:
-A Social Media Expert should know more than just Facebook or Twiiter or Linkedin to consider themselves an expert. If they only know one well or two, they are just an expert on that particular medium and are NOT a Social Media expert.
-They should have success stories on how in their own business (not just as a newly self proclaimed Social Media Expert) or have helped a clients business use 2 or more Social Media Outlets.
-They should have previous marketing experience that can help you integrate your current/traditional marketing to help educate your clients of how to use these mediums and that you are on them.
-Ask them about how they propose Efficiency into their solution. If they balk at it or are unsure at what you mean by that...run.

I know from talking to Mike, he definitely knows the basics at least in many and is a Black Belt in Linkedin. I know he has the client list to prove it too. But does everyone with 1000's of followers qualify as an expert? No. And I have seen "solutions" or "suggestions" from Experts waste $1000s a month or quarter as a result of such self proclaimed status as being a Social Media Expert.

In short, be careful.

Sincerely,
Jon T.O. Severson
Founder, Sevolutions (Social Media, Marketing, Concepts, Products, Ideas)
Colorado Springs EDC Social Media Committee Chair

Find me on:
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Lisa Hendrickson

cheers to Brett!

I am an "expert/guru" too with my lonely 1900+ contacts!!

http://www.linkedin.com/in/callthatgirl
Denai Vaughn

SIGN ME UP!!!
Brett Borders

I don't think that having thousands followers is significant metric for expertise aptitude. It shows some experience using the site, but almost anyone can get a lot of followers by reaching out to enough people and networking.