So You Call Yourself a Social Media Expert?

Today I am speaking from my soapbox…

This morning I was meeting with a client who I do some on and off again work for. They mentioned to me that during a meeting they were told they needed to do more with their online marketing. A person at that meeting proceeded to try to give them another business’ business card. At which point they were told him no thanks.

Thing is, this business considers themselves an expert in social media when in fact their own accounts say the opposite.

Okay, okay, I know that is a harsh thing to say, but today I am speaking on something I am extremely passionate about: In the business of social media, you have to walk the talk to be taken seriously.

Who would you rather work with…

Person A, who says they are an expert and they know all about the different social media entities, has 400 fans on Facebook with 3 talking about it and 300 followers on Twitter.

Person B who does not like to be called an expert and also knows all about the different social media entities, has over 700 fans on Facebook with 295 talking about it and over 2000 followers on Twitter.

Should be no-brainer, right?

Well, there are people out there selling businesses on their social media services that they are not doing themselves. I get that you can argue that you are so busy working for your clients that you do not have the time for your business, but your business and how you present and do it is your resume!  Businesses who are serious about hiring someone to handle social media look at how that prospective social media consultant handles their own business (and if a business does not do that already, they should).

If you are not doing for yourself what you do for others, how can you be taken seriously??

Personally, I use myself as a guinea pig. I try everything out on my business before taking it to a client. I am so passionate about this that I make it a point to continually build my business so people who are looking at me can say, “She knows what she is doing!”

If you are not walking the talk, how can you sell your business and services to others?  I will tell you right now, you can’t. Everyone is now checking everyone and everything out online first. I do it. I know you do it. So why should we think prospective clients aren’t?

I would love to hear your opinion on this!  Stepping off my soapbox now…