What Is An Expert?

June 9, 2009

'Experts Only' by Ross Mayfield What is an expert?  Is it a guru?  Is it someone who has thought deeply on the subject?  Or is it someone who has actually performed work and generated results?  So many people today are scrambling to become a social media experts, then it’s quite confusing to businesses looking for talented help.

The reality in social media, as with any burgeoning industry or trade, there are none.  Or at least, there are only a handful who truly have the skills, but will never call themselves experts.  I’ve really enjoyed Christopher S. Penn’s explanation of experts in social media.  Relating the rise or growth of individuals who have explored the space before many others got there.

In two of his posts from June 2008, Who is a social media expert? and  How to Become a Social Media Expert, he recaps the analogy of Japanese martial arts to social media and (ironically ;-) expertly describes why it’s difficult in the world of social media to identify a true expert.

There simply isn’t a better description of what it takes to start down the right path to be a viable social media professional than those two posts.  There’s a lot of great content on the Internet to help folks figure it out, and experimentation is a great leaning tool.  But as a professional practice, there are many pitfalls to claiming expert status.

As with project management methodologies, there are just too many ways to do the same thing.  What works for one client, for one project, for one product, isn’t necessarily what will work for the next.  Even if it’s an update to the previously successful product that enjoyed a thrilling viral marketing campaign.

There are talented folks out there though, and these are the one’s that you want to seek out.  Whether it be for a contract job, hiring for training purposes, helping change the culture in your company, or running that stunning viral campaign.

They’re not hard to find, but they are hard to get scheduled as they’re often in high demand.  So don’t hesitate to ask consultants who inspires them, who they learn from, or what resources they use to learn new things.  Their answers are indicative of professionals who know their stuff.  For true experts realize that they don’t have all the answers, they are aware that surprises await in every endeavor, and they have the resources to deal with everything that is thrown at them.

So while you should be cautious of those who claim (scream?) expert status from their online profiles, you’ll also find a growing group of real professionals in social media that come from all backgrounds… and that’s for another post.

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Categories: leadership, social media, social web

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  • I also think it's important to say what an expert isn't...

    An expert is not necessarily someone with a degree. Someone with a high degree is supposed to be an expert, but this is not guaranteed. It is also possible to get a degree by simply doing what you are told and following others' coattails but without ever truly applying deep mental focus or coming to real understanding. Likewise, it is possible to become an expert on your own (although this is easier in some areas than others) if you are willing to apply sustained mental focus. There are plenty of expert hobbyists, particularly in areas like computers, electronics, visual astronomy, etc. where the tools are within economic reach of private individuals. The strict equation of degrees with expertise is what I call credentialism. In a debate this is a form of appeal to authority.
  • Good point! An expert does not need to be certified by an elitist board of professionals, nor do they have to go to a 4-year school, or hold a masters degree to know their field. Many experts are the ones who spend their time figuring out the how's and why's without the overhead of someone else's agenda. While there is benefit to professional organizations, it can also be demonstrated knowledge in the public sphere.
  • @股票群
    While social media may have a broad definition, or even a consistent one, I think experts still tend top emerge. The point really is that most people promoting themselves as experts in social media, in fact, are not.

    Makes it hard to find the folks a person may need to hire, but if anyone follows the social media trends, real professionals tend to surface.
  • I think the broad definition of social media itself is a problem we face to identify the right social media expert.
  • An expert is someone who has the respect and admiration of other practitioners in his field.
  • Very nice and attractive post What is an expert? its much informative.
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  • Our expertise is not limited now and door are open for all. I think we can consume our time on social media and sites to achieve our goal. Of course we can do what are others doing but we can't predict results.
  • These are our standards and knowledge which we use to measure someone. A expert might be a newbie for another person at advance level. I always try my best to be expert of my own. I have my own standards.
  • @Daniel,
    I'm starting to think that "expert" is mainly in the eyes of the beholder. Meaning its what peers view you as rather than some exact measurement stick that we compare everyone to.
  • Expert is a very complex word which needs a very long criteria to be qualified. Experts in everything are difficult to find. I like your term psudo experts because they are everywhere.
  • I think the broad definition of social media itself is a problem we face to identify the right social media expert.
  • Tai,
    That is a problem, I've often thought "social media" was not the best descriptor of the social and technical evolution of the web. Since its stuck as a name, however, there are likely multiple types of social media professionals. Those focusing on marketing, pr, collaboration and such come to mind. Others may focus on learning and communications. The teambuilding aspects for companies and non-profit organizations are important as well.

    I'm sure it'll sort itself out over time - most fields of interest usually do.
  • Ari,
    I suppose it's because I see a ton of psudo experts in social media at the moment. Moreover, I see a lot of companies scrambling, trying to hire and "expert" and not getting what they need.

    You're right of course that there are charlatans in any industry, and Chris' analogy is relative to any new industry.

    Yes, takeaway is the same.
  • Why do you specify social media experts and not experts in any industry, online or off? The takeaway is the same, no?

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