Comments on: Should You Hire a "Certified" Social Media Consultant?

By: Bazooka Joe

Bazooka Joe — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:00:45 +0000

How about anti-social media?

By: RedheadVA

RedheadVA — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:49:45 +0000

Thanks for bringing this up. Just like any other "trendy" thing there are people out there who are going to take advantage by learning a few key words and then "bamboozling" their potential clients. Unfortunately, the word "certified" doesn't hold much weight when the certification is just being developed by someone and doesn't have any regulation.

There is a similar struggle happening the coaching and virtual assistant (administrative support) industries as well.

Just like everything else, there is the need for Buyer Beware, do your research and trust your instincts as they're usually right.

By: Karen Rogers-Robinson

Karen Rogers-Robinson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:53:53 +0000

Loved your article! After spending the past year researching this new industry that I have enetered it boggles my mind how some people just matter of factly state on their websites and marekting materials that they are an expert and can certify someone else to be an expert. I am all for certification, I mean I received my PMP certification some years ago . However this industry is so new and growing so quickly who would be qualified to certify anyone at this point? The univeristies, some locally known social media company? Who?

In my limited time in the industry (past 12 months) I have found that things change daily and until the industry has weathered itself so to speak certification means nothing. Really the best way to validate someone's capability is not how many followers they have or certifications but networking with them to see first hand their level of knowledge about the social media tools available today and how to use them effectively. Not to mention the tools on the horizon.

The 4 points in the article above are a good starting point for sure. But certification as most know it is going to be something to look for in the future. Today University Real World USA is the only way. :-) Karen Rogers-Robinson CEO Onyx Mobile Marketing LLC

By: TJ McManus

TJ McManus — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:24:55 +0000

Many excellent points:
~ Caveat emptor – the buyer should always beware. When ever there is a brand new space, there are those who claim expertise.
~ Even better than claimed expertise, a certification. Main pre-req is the fees. Those taking the courses to become certified should be asking many of the same questions asked above.
~ Real world results – the proof is in the results, and unlike many other endeavors in life, you likely can measure the results of social media work in terms of followers, communications, and possibly added results to the organization.
~ However, better that people attempt to study even if they aren’t seeking certification. The field is very new, and changing fast thus making any real certification of expertise in the ‘knowledgebase’ very time specific and quickly outdated.

By: James Tanner

James Tanner — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:26:55 +0000

It would be nice to have a certified social media consultant on staff, but I don't think the expenditure of sending one to certification class would be warranted. These things are not really a hard science, and there is plenty of talent in the consulting world, again it's hit or miss. I actually think anyone can do a pretty good job at social media, it's just the volume that is required, and a clear traffic driving strategy. James Tanner CEO, Comvigo, Inc. IM Lock Internet Filters

By: Make Digital Marketing Work » Blog Archive » International Social Media Association and what to ask your social media expert

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:25:41 +0000

[...] I am cheating slightly because I have already written a fair amount of this entry on another blog entry by Aliza Sherman [...]

By: Aaron Savage

Aaron Savage — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:21:27 +0000

It seems to be that as soon as someone creates a new defined boutique discipline in the wired world, then the first thing that happens is that someone decides to create an ad format for it and then writes a book, then someone declares themselves a consultant or expert and starts touting themselves around the exhibition circuit and also writes a book, then someone else simply cashes in on the growing hype and only writes a book (and gets most things wrong in it), then someone creates an Association of (enter boutique name here). Usually (not always) all three of these people are chancers who are making it up as they go along.

I’ve been wondering for a while what with the recent adoption in SEO of a well known phrase in academia, whether if I started an association of Digital Natives and offered training at a thousand bucks a pop together with a certificate whether

A) Any idiots would send me money
B) Whether anyone outside of academia would get the joke.

This pretty much sums up my attitude (as someone who has been a digital marketing professional for fifteen years working for top agencies all over the world) to most certification programs.

If someone starts talking about Social Media I would say ask them about what the two words mean… both of them. If you practice in the media you should at the very least know what the word means even if you do work in a particular segment of it.

So much of what I hear about “Strategy” this and “Strategies” that isn’t strategy at all, its tactics. Using Twitter isn’t a strategy, neither is Facebook. Digital marketing strategy is about deciding what success looks like and how to measure it and then using the tools at your disposal to achieve your strategic goals.

So much of social media that I see amounts to nothing more than a few people having a chat with no clear objective in mind. If that was suggested in a boardroom as a sales tactic it would be laughed out of the room quicker than a Wall Street banker vanishes to the Hamptons at weekends. Aimless tactics of this nature might be something some companies want to waste money on but they should be under no illusion that any of that activity adds up to marketing.

By: links for 2009-12-03 | Don't mind Rick

links for 2009-12-03 | Don't mind Rick — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:06:39 +0000

[...] Should You Hire a “Certified” Social Media Consultant? [...]

By: Bill Rice

Bill Rice — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:17:55 +0000

Good point Shane.

Oh, and by the way I have worked with several educational institutions and most are not leaders in the field of social media. This should also bring to question the quality of that certification.

By: Bill Rice

Bill Rice — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:14:58 +0000

That’s kinda the beauty of social media. Any potential employers can do a quick survey to see if they are any good, have influence, and fit their corporate culture. Here is the simply test I suggest:

-Search Google for name and your topics
-View Twitter profile
-Check who has them on Twitter List(s)
-Review blog
-Review any other specific social media tools that are important to your potential social media strategy

I think the proof is not in the certification, but in the “doing.” It’s all out there, take a look.

By: lhkellett

lhkellett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Maybe we should stop worrying about people being “experts” and just focus on looking at what they have done, what their references say and actually talking about what they think – then decide if they can do something good for your company. I have been consulting in many business areas for many years, but don’t consider myself to be much of an “expert” in anything – just good at many things. This is sometimes exactly what a company is looking for. “Experts” sometimes don’t listen to what the customer really needs – since they already know everything!

By: Mike P

Mike P — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:17:14 +0000

This is so true. Recommendations are key, as is your experience in the field. Those that are new can get up to speed quick, and learn a lot, but certification is bogus IMO

By: Aliza Sherman

Aliza Sherman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:23:49 +0000

Wow, I didn’t even think in terms of certification being outdated 20th century (or older) thinking. That is an excellent point!

And I think everyone who mentioned that today’s way is through RECOMMENDATIONS are spot on. Our fans, friends, followers and contacts are publicly available for the whole world to see. Those looking to hire us only has to tweet or FB the question: Is this person worth hiring?

By: Dave Saunders

Dave Saunders — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:38:18 +0000

Certification is a throwback to the days of guilds in countries ruled by kings. The King chartered the right of the guide to exist based on the concept that all rights were anointed to him from God. Rights were only then granted to others at the pleasure of the King.

What does certification mean in the US? It means that some random person set up a company and called in a certification “authority.” There is no king to anoint the rights of the certification body because WE THE PEOPLE created the governments which manage the creation of these organizations on our behalf.

YOU can create a certification group of your own today. The only thing stopping most people from doing it is the belief that they aren’t “worthy” enough to do it.

By: Jeff Yablon

Jeff Yablon — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:00:49 +0000

Spot-on. Your detail points are correct, and make a pretty decent map for making hiring decisions.

AND the issue of who is offering this certification (umm . . . seriously . . . who made THEM “experts on experts?”) is important. I mean seriously.

Jeff Yablon
President & CEO
Answer Guy and Virtual VIP Computer Support, Business Change Coaching and Virtual Assistant Services

By: Johan

Johan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:46:14 +0000

Shane I agree. There will always be opportunists trying to control chaos. And some people sitting on the edge of this storm would like to jump in and they will create a market for so called certified people.

That I believe is not our concern.

All we need to do is focus on what we are good at and continue to be better.

Have fun.