Dodgy Social Media Experts …and Clients!
Follow @gapingvoid HO Ho ho.. ha HA ha Here’s a quick list of some ways to vet potential social media experts. 1) When asked about listening, gives you a blank stare. 2) Converses at people instead of with them on social networks 3) No tangible past experience delivering return on investment either for themselves or…

HO Ho ho.. ha HA ha
Here’s a quick list of some ways to vet potential social media experts.
1) When asked about listening, gives you a blank stare.
2) Converses at people instead of with them on social networks
3) No tangible past experience delivering return on investment either for themselves or others
4) Doesn’t understand how social media integrates into larger corporate communications or business strategy
5) First recommendation is to blog
6) Believes in delivering messages
7) Will ghostwrite blog posts and other social content for you
8) Is willing to impersonate you online in social networks
9) Trots in “social media expert” for sales meeting
10) Their blog is less than six months old or has no comments
Read all 25 plus the comments on LivingstoneBuzz. I don’t agree with all but close enough.
But the other side of the coin – Social Media Projects to avoid like the plague:
- Client calls it an “internet blog”.
- Client has a “hilarious” viral they want you to “seed”, which turns out to be their latest TV ad on YouTube.
- Bonus points if the above is a ripoff of a famous existing meme.
- Client demands that the viral use Mr T, David Hasselhoff, or both.
- Client wants something edgy “like that suicide bomber viral” – but first subject to clearance by their legal department.
- “I don’t see why we need to pay you so much when we could just email all these bloggers a press release.”
- “This Tom Coates guy, can we get him on board? I heard he’s really popular.”
- Client admits to anonymously posting links to their site on a range of forums.
- Client insists that you anonymously post links to their site on a range of forums.
- Client panics over a random blogger’s negative post about them and orders you to get it taken down. Won’t take “sorry, it’s impossible” for an answer.
All 20 signs you don’t want that social media project here.
First rule of charlatan bloggers – they make lists. Of other people’s lists. o.O Actually, I meant that seriously – some people’s blogs have done very well with no content, just a subset of other bloggers lists. I could list them here .. heh
Anyway, enjoy. Comment on their blogs please – I always feel weird quoting even part of someone else’s hard work in compiling lists.
Oh my God, this is o hilarious because its so true! Anyway kid, have a great Christmas and feel free to drop by for margaritas on the deck!
oooh. Margaaaaaritas. When? you me ‘n gary should catch up now we have a few quieter weeks 🙂
You mean there are bloggers out there who are making lists and checking them twice?!
Oh noez!
(I would suggest if your social media expert isn’t fluent in lolcatz speak then forget about it.)
Oh goody. I got the bonus point. Great stuff =)
Wait…I have to use Mr T AND David Hasselhoff? Where do I sign up?!
That is funny. I have been working with a client who has been very close to saying some of the above, but I always head them off at the pass. I like seeing it in writing thou.
Have a great Christmas and New Year to you and Gary.
I’m impressed with how quickly you got on to that swapped image.
I run as much as I can locally to minimise broken links, as I link to a lot of political sites which tend to move and cause problems. In the case of the regular I usually make agreements with the authors in advance (although for Hugh there’s no need):
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/about/
‘Cartoons reproduced from Gaping Void are subject to this Creative Commons license‘
I’ll de-SEO my post so that it shouldn’t embarrass you at all in future.
Cheers
Matt
haha too funny.
top of my list: “just send out this traditional media release to online!” and “can’t you just put links to our shopping cart into online forums?”
have a great christmas, Laurel.
http://bit.ly/wYOY funny look at both sides of the “social media expert” coin. I am suspicious of anyone who calls ‘themselves’ expert.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
I like this post…very useful. Bookmarked!
Dodgy Social Media Experts …and Clients! (LOL, hilarious posting!) ~ http://bit.ly/1QDyd
Guess who occupies the no. one spot for social media expert in Google AU? Why @silkcharm of course! Ironic it's this post http://bit.ly/wYOY
RT @KateKendall: Guess who occupies the no. one spot for social media expert in Google AU? @silkcharm! And it's this post http://bit.ly/wYOY
Great post and advice thanks