I wrote last month why I’d rather be a dumbass than an expert in the world of social media.
Enter Monica Hamburg, who reached out to me last week for my thoughts on social media marketing and strategies for using its tools. I responded with some quick thoughts, which she extrapolated into a larger blog post with others knowledgeable about online marketing — and the result is in a blog post titled, “Experts Weigh-in with Social Media Lessons.”
I’m thankful for the inclusion, and as I commented at her social media roundup post, I’m grateful for the passive introduction to other people who I’d never heard of before. But I’m unsure how I feel being branded an expert when I don’t consider myself one.
Marc Meyer and I have had countless discussions about this in the past, and I’m sure he’d say something like because someone else thinks you’re an expert, you are, regardless what you think you are. Does this make me an expert, then, even if I’m also a self-confessed dumbass?
Have a great Friday.
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{ 26 comments }
This is great! I dig the duality. I feel that way all the time in regards to things people look up to me for; web programming, music, philosophy etc. For me there is a difference between knowing a lot and being an expert. As well, I think it’s always important to continually redefine expert. In this way there will always be room for improvement and learning.
…there is a difference between knowing a lot and being an expert
Intriguing.
I once read that being an “expert” is in the eye of the beholder……
.-= New from Keith@Need Information: Are You Writing About What You Know? =-.
In your beholding eyes, then, there are or are not experts?
There are so many “social media guru’s” these days… It’s ridiculous.
It’s beyond social media. Who doesn’t relate the term with doctors and car mechanics — yet how often are lawsuits filed regarding both?
Twitter: DebGorman
January 18, 2010 at 7:50 PM
Ari,
Your modesty is refreshing, compared to everyone else on twitter who claim to be experts.
.-= New from Deb: Thinking about losing weight– check this out! =-.
Twitter has tried to game the system with the ease in creating an account and the simplicity in creating a bio.
In my expert opinion I think you are an expert..
.-= New from Glen: Waking Up =-.
You prove Keith’s comment true.
Twitter Comment
@sarasocialmedia All kidding aside, dont you think Prediction Markets seem to be based on @ariherzog’s posts’ title [link to post] via
– Posted using Chat Catcher
I consider myself a bit of a dumb-ass when it comes to social media, however a lot of my peers feel that I’ve done fairly well for myself. I have even been called an expert on a few occasions!
Not only are you now an expert but your also my ‘friend’ I save the coveted “bff” for those who I have only a superficial relationship with. There once was a day when geeks did not rule the world. It was called the Age of Jocks. I’m sure there will be chapters in history books inserted right after the “Industrial Revolution”. I’ve been following you for a while now, not like a “stalker” cause your not on brightkite that I know of. In coaching the experts like to refer to themselves as the “wise elders”. LOL, Like anyone values the elders in American culture. Although I did cry watching Young@Heart last night, but I digress. Great, Now I’m loosing my train of though in the written word also.
I read because I find value, I glance because your in my inbox. You stay in my inbox because you are humble about how you share and indulge yourself in your dumbassedness.
Seth Godin says and I liberally paraphrase, ‘leaders are too busy leading to worry about labels’, so go forth and continue to lead. Being an expert is more about marketing than about listening and learning.
Don’t worry about what to call yourself, worry about what others call you.
Thanks for allowing me to step into the conversation, have a great day.
I enjoy seeing people create new words, such as your use of dumbassedness. Well done, and well received. Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Ari,
I hear you. I’m not a big fan of the expert designation myself. In general, because 1) I think people are always learning – especially with constantly evolving fields (e.g. social media, and as you so accurately noted, law, medicine – and a whole slew of other rapidly changing industries) and 2) because it’s tacky (and generally inaccurate) when one assigns the label of “expert” to himself.
That said, one of the reasons I gave the post that title is that something like, “Experts Offer Advice” is more attention-grabbing (and succinct) than, say, “People Who Know What They’re Doing Offer Advice”.
There are those who always demand more from themselves – they weigh themselves against the best and come up short. And, on the flip-slide, there are plenty who say, “I know everything. Just hand me your money!”. I admire the people who are knowledgeable and yet humble about who they are – and are acutely aware of how much they don’t know.
I have to agree with Keith that being an expert is in the eye if the beholder. This is why I believe no one should give the label to themselves – but that people should be able to assign it to others if they deem it suitable.
.-= New from Monica Hamburg: Experts Weigh-in with Social Media Lessons =-.
How do you respond to those who define/describe themselves as experts?
I’m not sure I do respond – except by saying “really?!” to the computer screen. Kind of like when I talk back to my television set.
.-= New from Monica Hamburg: Experts Weigh-in with Social Media Lessons =-.
It’s really up to the person themselves if they want to label themselves that way. It’s just not something I subscribe to.
I don’t believe that any one is an expert and everyone is always learning (ASK THE EXPERTS AT “FEDERAL RESERVE BANK” ) …..
If that’s true – that everyone learns so nobody is an expert – why is there an expertise debate?
Because there are a bunch of people who think that they have mastered their field and now are qualified to take part in expert debates or are the best available RESOURCE to tell others what is right or wrong in their field.
All the financial experts in IMF and World Bank could not save the world from financial crisis.
Expert is anyone who is right (even by chance). I don’t agree with this term at all.
No one is an expert in Wall Street, they all gamble with stocks and shares, anyone who comes up top is the so called “EXPERT”. Windows Vista was a flop from the world’s best software experts working in MICROSOFT.
In my eyes, true experts never actually self proclaim it…they’re too busy to care.
.-= New from Dennis Edell: Blog Move Is Imminent ! I’m Looking For Launch Partners… =-.
Ari, to be called an expert by someone other than yourself is an amazing compliment. From following your blog and meeting you in person, I see you are putting a lot of time and effort into experimenting, learning and utilizing social media.
The ones I question are those who are self-proclaimed social media experts and don’t back it up.
You put everything out in the open, whether you know it well or are just learning and are honest about it. That transparency has paid off. You are also very helpful. (Thanks for the tip on the plug-in for email notifications for new blog comments!).
Thanks for being you
.-= New from Anna Barcelos: Five Confessions of an Integrated Marketing Communications Marketer =-.
Aww, you’re too sweet.
Knowing you’ve also met Dan Schawbel, how do you react to his latest that if one is author, one is on his or her way to be an expert?
Dude your a pioneer because I have found so called social media Gurus/experts to be dull non engaging over rated social misfits ALL of them
LOL I mean ALL
So don’t sweat your status what you have is real what they have is SMOKE
I run from anyone that has 5000 friends on Facebook , who sucks up to the same old lame over rated social media GOOFS and I stick with the winners
.-= New from John Sullivan: Hey President Barack Obama stop thinking we’re stupid =-.
I agree with John completely, your writing is so much interesting and therefore educational because you do not fall asleep in the middle of a post.
.-= New from JR @ Internet Marketing: List of 128 Comment Luv Blogs by Niche =-.
LOL, Hey Ari, take your kudos where you can get them
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