Comments on: Lessons from a failed meeting with a Social Media Guru

By: Mike Newton-Ward

Mike Newton-Ward — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:32:07 +0000

An excellent cautionary tale for all who consult–no matter what the topic!

By: Jillian Wood

Jillian Wood — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:38:34 +0000

Great post! Has given me some food for thought in my next social media pitch…Think I will be subscribing!

By: Peeyoosh Chandra

Peeyoosh Chandra — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:02:57 +0000

HI Matt,

That post made me laugh. I have been in similar meetings where the consultant has not understand the “reality” that their client operates in.

And it has lead to the most absurd conversations about “engagement” and “particiaptory communications”.

To put a stop to it, we invited them to a bullshit bingo presentation. The laughs alone made life easier.

By: Regine Heidorn

Regine Heidorn — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:26:07 +0000

If you’re searching social media to find social media expertise, you’ll rather find a guru than a consultant.

By: Matt Daniels

Matt Daniels — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:54:07 +0000

@Joseph: Thanks for comment! Agreed–arrogance is something that possesses anyone that is given the power to consult on someone else’s business. I’m guessing that you had a bad experience with a financial planner? Yikes.

@Michael: Interesting stuff. Social media is so new that any “experts” must be charlatans. But give it a few years, and the ones with legit experience will bubble to the top.

By: Twitter Geek

Twitter Geek — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:40:10 +0000

Love it, so tired of hearing the arrogance of twitter people about others “not getting it”. I recommended someone for a big, easy job and my firm declined because of the arrogent twitter content and personal facebook page. Maybe there is a lesson learned here. Hope so.

By: How NOT to be a “Social Media Guru” › joshua paul premuda | man of leisure

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:51:31 +0000

[...] off, look at what they were to pay this guy!? Shit, where do I sign? Next, the whole point to social media, just like print and/or radio for that [...]

By: Michael McWatters

Michael McWatters — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:31:06 +0000

Thanks for the excellent example of how these “gurus” operate.

We are considering social media experts to collaborate with, and a lot of them are charlatans, plain and simple. Some are legitimately talented, with key insights and sage advice.

I recently posted about my encounter with one of the former types: http://mmcwatters.com/blog/?p=845

By: Eric Pakurar

Eric Pakurar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:01:17 +0000

Thanks for that, Matt. That made my day.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:00:32 +0000

I think this could have happened with any consultant or expert– not just someone from Social Media.

Try meeting a bad financial planner.