Don’t you get frustrated by seeing or hearing about the same conversations over & over again on Social Media? What the so called Social Media Expert, the Social Media Guru, do we even know what those terms really mean? I’m sure the frustration is only with those who have been around a couple years already, those who have been watching this environment fragment, morph, change shape and even become mainstream.

I took part in Mack Collier’s #Blogchat tonite, what fun that was, if you haven’t taken part or even heard about it, you are missing something. Tonights topic was, How social media consultants should use SM themselves. It was a wild conversation with many people tonight, but thats what it’s all about, sharing and helping answer questions. The chat tonight got me to thinking, so here I am sharing my thoughts.

The fact we are still having the same conversations about Social Media means that a large part of those in the work force still don’t understand or know how it works. When we are still asking questions like, How do I get an SM job, and those asking that question barely know how to use the tools. They want to know because it sounds like a fun job! The truth is, it may be fun, but it’s much harder work than many believe.

Tomorrow’s Social Media Consultants or Advisors must have some experience, must be able to show that they have done what they are selling, teaching or preaching. Just knowing how to use the tools does not qualify them, at best it’s a hobby at that level. The most successful SM consultants have done something in the field of communication, have some marketing experience, understand business and how it truly works. The push & pull of Social Media isn’t going away anytime soon, at least not until we as a people understand it better.

On Tonights #Blogchat was about how Social Media Consultants should use Social Media themselves, that question alone raises the question, is Social Media understood?

Beth Harte made a profound statement tonight, “If you are a consultant that isn’t driving business using smart MKTG that includes SM, how can you do it for me?’ Mack Collier responded to Beth “I think it’s a balancing act, if a consultant has no SM footprint, how do they know what they are talking about?” Beth is on to something there with her question, but this is only one part of the problem, there is more to being a Social Media Consultant than just one expertise of having a footprint. Beth also shared the following, Social Media is more than just tools… Blogs are more than just blog posts/content. Sometimes we have to keep it simple for those asking the questions.

I threw out some bait in the chat and had some interesting exchanges, I said, The truely successful SM Consultants have one characteristic in common – Humility – they know who they are. While that may be true, Eric Urbane also made a great point by responding with, With due respect, this humility stuff has little to do with Results, What CEO hires someone because of humility?

Eric’s point is valid, my point was not about tactics and strategy but more about the person, the softside of the consultant. I said, If a SM Consultant has to look good, they don’t have humility, they have vanity. Humility is rare at the mass level. If SM Consultants know their stuff, there is a quiet calm, peace, and humility within… they will be well liked and hired far more often than not, looking good and being right is not important to them. Solving problems and helping people (clients) is.

The same holds true for SEO Experts, Shannon Evans shared, I also get frustrated by SEO ‘experts’ who don’t even have decent seo on own site! They gotta eat the dogfood too!

Social Media Consultants have to bring something to the table more than knowing how to use the tools. Danny Brown said, Ask for tangible results – any SM consultant worth their salt will have physical results to show you.

A true Social Media Consultant is a student of the works, finds and builds results to back them up, they know who to call and where to look so they can bring accurate sound data to share before promising anything. A good consultant rarely promises, he walks along side of the client and teaches them.

I’m being very general in this post and you need to know this could go much, much deeper, I would recommend contact Beth Harte & Mack Collier to get real insight into what was talked about tonight. They are smart, well grounded humble people that understand the seriousness of what Social Media Consultants should be. They might even be able to answer the question of the night, How social media consultants should use SM themselves. Oh, and they do understand the Push & Pull of Social Media.