7 Signs Your Social Media “Expert” is Not So Social…

7 Signs Your Social Media “Expert” is Not So Social:

1. You ask them about measuring metrics and they say, “Metrics, metrics, we don’t need no ‘steenking’ metrics.”

Helpful Tip: Measurement of social media activities should be happening using tools like Radian6, HubSpot Grading tools, and some from Mashable’s list here.

2. Early on, you ask the expert how often you should tweet and they say, “As much as you like, just keep in mind never to do it in mixed company.”

Helpful Tip: See Guy Kawasaki’s post on Twitter Cluelessleness.

3. You search for the profile they were tasked to set up on LinkedIn.com and when you can’t find it, they say, “LinkedIn.com isn’t cool anymore. We set up your profile on Hookedup.com but you’ll need to lower your browser security to ‘hit that.’

Helpful Tip: Keep up with the actual LinkedIn.com blog for great insight on how to empower your profile.

4. You find the Flickr.com account they created for your company, but to your surprise it is populated with photos of horses named Flicka.

Helpful Tip: Use Flickr to build your brand online – see tips here.

5. You ask for strategic insight on what you should add to your blogroll and their answer is, “I don’t know, I’ve never tried that sandwich.”

Helpful Tip: See Dave Taylor’s timeless piece on blog rolls here.

6. They send you a large box of organic pea pods the week before the debut of 1st company podcast, with a note that says, “Only the freshest peas possible will do for your first cast.”

Helpful Tip: Read “Podcasting for Dummies” and Evo Terra’s blog to keep up with everything you need to know about podcasting and how it does not involve casting peas.

7. The expert says the best way for you to build online buzz and loyalty is to give away free pairs of shoes like that Zappos.com guy because everyone loves him and shoes always make people happy.

Helpful Tip: See Tony’s presentation on building real customer loyalty offline and online here.

Bonus: They rent a dog to do tricks in the background of all the company YouTube videos they’re producing for you. When you question their judgment they exclaim, “The better the tricks, the more the clicks.”