If you call yorself an expert then you’re putting yourself up to be shot at, no? So why do it? We’re not all rampant egotists in the agency business, are we?!

I always say ‘I can tell you I’m funny, or I can make oyu laugh’.

If I make a difference to your business by my recommendations, and we all make money and hit our KPIs, then call me what you want - expert, guru, opinion leader, saviour, mentor, or just plain Tim, I don’t care!

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What qualifies a person to the title of ‘Expert’?

Spending lots of time using it, or spending lots of time developing the media? I think there are plenty of ‘Experts in Use and Abuse’ and very few who actually understand the complete workings behind the scenes.

Interesting article and couldn’t agree more with more than a few points you made, but we (socmed types) must also accept that businessmen wish to deal with those they feel secure working with e.g. an ‘expert’ if you will. This is why I feel the adjective gets so much air time on business cards, etc.

Also Bobby makes a great point that relative knowledge is an important factor when being referred to as an expert.

Personally I think we spend way too much time on this topic and have made a mountain out of a mole hill. Many of my peers have agreed (privately) with me on this from Twitter and in emails. It seems to me to be only discussed by those within our industry, it is not in fact an issue for the vast vast majority of clients. Never once has anyone (client or otherwise) ever questioned my credentials, most know me before they meet me and often I get introduced as the ‘expert’.

Finally, I seriously question what you were thinking when you referred to those two individuals as ’social media’ experts. In fact I found it amusing. Isn’t that like saying that the videographer is an expert broadcaster?

Sure these guys built tools that are great for social media professionals but they are hardly experts of social media. Social media is not a ’social platform’ it is a media. What expertise or mastery have they shown outside of being associated with their ideas?

Long before I would have named them I would have picked someone like Jason Calacanis who’s ability to generate massive marketing results from his use of social media or Mark Cuban who has done a great job getting access to innovative startups through social media, promoted his teams, etc.

These guys probably even aren’t great examples but they were the first that came to my mind and these guys I believe ‘get’ social media far more than icons you mentioned.

What hammers home my point home best is just acknowledging how FB is making news for screwing up far more than they are making the news for their successes. 2009 is all about FB botch jobs not innovation.

Cheers
Roger