Manhattan Beach Momma

I just have to get this off my chest. It’s seems that at least once or twice a month I hear that so-and-so has decided to open their own business as a Social Media “Expert.”  Ugh.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, asserts in his book that in order to become an expert or a professional in any field – be it sports or business – you must study or practice for at least 10,000 hours.  Say it with me – 10,000 hours.

10,000 hours = 417 days.  Whole days.  Like 24 hours straight times 417 days.

Do me a favor?  The next time someone approaches you, a small business owner, and tells you that they are a social media “expert,” ask them how long they’ve had their Twitter account.  Ask them how long they’ve had a Facebook Business Page.

Yah, I thought so.

Here’s the thing – as a small business owner – I get that your time is incredibly valuable.  I also know that money is probably tight.  The lack of money and time makes it real tempting to consider turning over the reigns of your Facebook page and Twitter account to a so-called expert who can do it for you.  I get it.

Here’s why you shouldn’t do it:

1.) Your customers want to hear from you.  Period.  End of story.  They want to know they are chatting with the owner of the company when Tweeting or posting on Facebook.  It matters.

2.) If you feel like you don’t know what you are doing or you don’t know how to do it well, there are resources out there to help you.  Many Chamber of Commerce groups and networking organizations run social media marketing seminars – often for free or at a low cost.  (My friend, Ann Evanston, runs an amazing course that walks you through the entire process of Social Media Marketing.  Great resource.) 

3.) While I’m not dissing the entire field of social media marketing “experts,” I have personally experienced this at a small business level:

Many have had limited success with their own business and their social media marketing.  These experts may have done some social media marketing well for their last boss or their business, but it doesn’t mean that their techniques will work for you.  Many of these people often run two or three businesses at a time (like MLM type things) hoping that one of these endeavors will succeed.  I believe your time and money is too valuable to hand it over to someone who is experimenting with a second career.   If they don’t do this full-time, run!

And, a note to those who call themselves “experts,” check and see what your potential new clients’ Facebook and Twitter accounts look like.  I triple pinky-swear to you about this – every single person I’ve met with who claims they are a a social media expert and that they could help our business never, ever checked our Twitter or FB acct.  I’m serious.  I asked each and everyone if they had and they’d sputter and say “no,” but I will after this.  Guess what?  Our Facebook page was noted by Inc. Magazine as one of “20 Awesome Facebook Fan Pages,” alongside national brands.  Shouldn’t they know that ahead of time?

So, even after reading this, and you are thinking about working with someone to amp up or start up your social media marketing, please ask the following questions:

1.)  What makes you an “expert?”  Why should I work with you rather than doing it on my own?

2.) What other forms of social media do you think I should be on with this business?  Youtube?  Pinterest?  Why?

3.) Check their references! Talk to previous clients (and make sure they aren’t friends) to see if they are happy with their results.

4.) Cyber-stalk them for a while.  Follow their Twitter account.  Watch their activity on Facebook.  Do you like what they are doing?  How they handle themselves?  Can you see this person representing your business?

5.)  If you do decide to work with someone, put together a contract with clear expectations about what will be posted, when, where and how.  Do this for a limited time so you can measure your results.

Are you a small business owner? Do you have other tips you’d like to share about working with Social Media experts?  Have you successfully done it yourself?  If so, share with us so we can support you!

* This is a sponsored post, brought to you by Pro Dunk Hoops.  Pro Dunk Hoops, a very professional and experienced company, creates and installs bad-ass basketball goal systems.  My husband recently started coaching our son and his yet-to-be-named basketball team.  Boy, could we use one of these Pro Dunk Hoops at our house for practice.  Larry Bird has nothing on our kid!