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:
Linkedin (Linkedin.com/in/jontoseverson)
Twitter (@jontoseverson)
BrightKite (@jontoseverson)
ASmallWorld.net
Hyves.nl
Internations.org
Buzzherd.com
Plaxo.com

Also on Facebook (Friends/Business Associates Only for my profile) with the following pages:

DriveRightPassLeft.com (@DriveRightPass on Twitter)
Colorado Mobile Business Solutions
Peak Region Cyclist
Denver Young Professionals (Group and Page, @DenverYP on Twitter)
Colorado Springs Young Professionals (new, though organization has 2000 members, @CosYoungPros on Twitter)
Pueblo Young Professionals (new)
Colorado Springs Select

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:
Linkedin (Linkedin.com/in/jontoseverson)
Twitter (@jontoseverson)
BrightKite (@jontoseverson)
ASmallWorld.net
Hyves.nl
Internations.org
Buzzherd.com
Plaxo.com

Also on Facebook (Friends/Business Associates Only for my profile) with the following pages:

DriveRightPassLeft.com (@DriveRightPass on Twitter)
Colorado Mobile Business Solutions
Peak Region Cyclist
Denver Young Professionals (Group and Page, @DenverYP on Twitter)
Colorado Springs Young Professionals (new, though organization has 2000 members, @CosYoungPros on Twitter)
Pueblo Young Professionals (new)
Colorado Springs Select

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

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

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

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