Comments on: If I were hiring a social media “expert”…

By: Steen Seo Öhman

Steen Seo Öhman — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:08:11 +0000

I would definitely use a social media expert for building social networks, and to tap into and use the experts networks if your own network isn’t sufficient or not in place.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:55:12 +0000

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Ruth

http://besttoddler.com

By: Chad P

Chad P — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:27:28 +0000

I agree with most of this, but also side with people like Amanda and Jesper. A bike company could certainly benefit from hiring someone who has no clue about biking, but is an active community member in other places that have no direct correlation to biking. That person may already know how to play well inside a community, maybe how to be a forum moderator, maybe how to be a blog editor. That expertise can be transitioned to the bike company’s team members much quicker by someone like this, rather than figuring it out on their own. Its been my experience that companies know how they should act in the SM world, they just need someone to remind them of the rules sometimes. Obviously, if you have two equal candidates in every other respect, but one has their own bike blog or is a forum admin on a popular bike message board, that person is clearly more qualified. But I wouldn’t rule out someone just because they have no previous experience with that product. IMHO its much easier to catch up on a bunch of biking terms than it is to go out and learn how to be an active community member across the net.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:40:45 +0000

I read and thoroughly enjoy some blogs but not having one of my own, I’m not experienced with how to build a following and I’m not aware of all of the behind the scenes stuff that goes on in the blog world.

I’m sure if I were to start one and were able to nurture it into a wonderful forum with lots of readers and commenters (like Kate has!!)I would have a different appreciation for the complexities of the blog and social media universe.

And now.. going off topic.
@Amanda: I too, am a teacher. I earned positive evaluations before I had children as well as after.
I’m saying that for me personally,it was an eye opener to watch my own children develop. Even though I earned “A’s” in every early childhood and adolescent development course I took, it was amazing to live through it with my children. It had a significant impact on how I teach and relate to my students and their parents.

Having said that; I too, have had to work with teachers who are parents that struggle in the classroom.

The art of teaching (and of doing any job well, really) is a wonderful and mysterious thing. I commend you on being a good teacher. I know it’s not easy.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:26:18 +0000

Well, then Marjorie, it looks like we agree! I totally shouldn’t have bogarted the comment space to air my own pet peeves–I hate it when people do that, so that was pretty hypocritical. I can stand behind the statement that almost all the time, personal experience of any nature in the field in which you wish to work makes you more prepared for a job in that field. (It actually seems kind of silly to even say that out loud, but I’m trying to stay on topic here! Sheesh.)

By: Marjorie

Marjorie — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:07:05 +0000

Amanda, I’m a little chagrined (sp?) at my misstep, esp. seeing as how I myself fought the fertility wars for 8 years and have all the same sensitivities. Sincere apologies for the unintentional slight. My son’s best, BEST teacher was child-free, and his worst teacher had two kids, so big oopsie on my part.

I think the general point still stands – *personal experience* enhances *professional ability* (however you define those terms).

By: Gavin Baker

Gavin Baker — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:51:22 +0000

Katie – well said! You also bring up the great point that social media is really just online community which exists in popular form now via twitter and facebook, but has existed in the enthusiast realm for years on the forum level.

Well stated!

By: Jesper Åström

Jesper Åström — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:49:42 +0000

@Craig McGill – Yes I completely agree. Word of mouth travels across media formats as it is a result of people with relations exchanging stories with eachother. Those kind of relations are usually built over time and so it is a huge advantage if the person is allready anointed (my english fails me at this hour)

Cheers,

By: Craig McGill

Craig McGill — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:41:42 +0000

Jesper Åström, I can see your concern there – and it’s fair enough – but I would expect any PR team that I hired to get up to speed on a subject. Sometimes being the more indepth can be handy but sometimes you want a PR team that can spread across media.

At the end of the day, as we’re both saying in our own way, each case and situation is unique.

ps – nice site. Can I link to it on my blog?

By: Jesper Åström

Jesper Åström — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:36:57 +0000

@Craig McGill – Offline I am keen to agree with you. And online too if the person has contacts that are able to provide the kind of insight/work needed to communicate with the targeted ambassadors that should help build the brand.

But, if I was to choose between two consultants. One who knows the jargong, and one who knows the medium. Then I would choose the one who knows the jargong.

But as I said. It is equally important that they can show that they can work with other brands than their own.

//J.