Does anyone else hate the term "Social Media Gurus"?

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Drinkut on November 24, 2009 at 12:09pm

Agreed Paul. This is mainly a term the boomer set uses.

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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on November 24, 2009 at 12:45pm

Hey Paul,

I just hate the word "guru" in general. It sounds weird.

However, there are those who argue that there is no such thing as a social media "expert," because social media tools have not been around for the requisite 10,000 hours (see Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers.") Others, like me, argue that the expertise doesn't lie in the knowledge of the tools, but in the knowledge of message creation AND social psychology.

Someone who uses Facebook and Twitter a lot is not an expert. Someone who can create a message that persuades people to take an action is more of an expert than someone who plays Mafia Wars 20 hours a week.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Waltz on November 24, 2009 at 12:51pm

Excellent thoughts Erik.

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Dukehart, II on November 24, 2009 at 4:11pm

Erik,

Don't be afarid to admit it.....you always liked the title of Social Media Sage and Excel Guru

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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on November 24, 2009 at 7:18pm

Sage, yes. Sounds very wise and scholarly.

Guru sounds like "goober."

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Permalink Reply by ashan jay on December 2, 2009 at 2:23pm

Erik, Guru would actually sounds like Goober to you and to other Americans, but Guru means Teacher, professor in India and in my country.

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Permalink Reply by Loree Everette on November 24, 2009 at 3:00pm

Sorry to disagree, Paul, but we use an outside "guru" for our social marketing and it has helped our brand immensely. There is no way our staff would have the time or knowledge to gain the type of recognition that our provider has shown. Social media does help business and is not just for connecting with friends and networking. If used strategically, an "expert" can help take a business to the next level. If handled haphazardly, you are correct, it means nothing and does nothing. Like riding a bike, anyone can do it, but there are those that know every in and out of how to use this simple system so that it becomes a seemingly natural extension of their being. For a true professional - a guru, if you will, social networking is an art and a science who can build a brand beyond what a standard user ever could.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Waltz on November 24, 2009 at 3:12pm

I am not doubting the effectiveness of social media and the importance of having someone knowledgeable to manage it. I was more referring to the term "guru" in and of itself.

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Permalink Reply by Loree Everette on November 24, 2009 at 4:08pm

Oh, okay - I don't have any issue with it.

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Stultz on November 24, 2009 at 4:49pm

I completely agree with you. It's almost comical in a way, for people to title themselves as a social media guru. :)

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Permalink Reply by Jack Shepler on December 1, 2009 at 5:24pm

When I see "Social Media Guru" I think to myself "Social Media Spammer".

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Permalink Reply by Paul Waltz on December 1, 2009 at 5:29pm

Yeah man. Exactly this.

If I see the words "Social Media Guru" on Twitter I immediately ignore it.

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