Be Wary Of Any Expert Shopping Their Class To You Where They Only Focus On *The Big Three*

So, You’re Looking For Training In Social Media Management
by Leanne Boyd

Just about everyone involved in social media jobs right now, came up through the ranks… the school of hard knocks, so to speak, of ALL-things-Internet. We’ve been in here since the get-go, and we’ve struggled up every tall ladder that the Net could produce.

And we jumped into the “social media” platforms within nano-seconds of them showing themselves online.

I guess you could say, we were the ones to “build this thing.” There really is no training like hands-on training! And I still feel that this may be the best way to go…

This is how most of us learned Web design, writing for the Net, graphics, or multimedia. You just get the tools and hop in. Some of us, like myself, then opted to go for some training/education. Mine was in Computer Sci and Education… but, then, back in 1995 and up to even very recent years, those were the ONLY academic places offering anything resembling what we have today. Only because of CBT (computer-based training) and then WBT (Web-based training) by about 1997, were we able to jump in, in any fashion.

Comp Sci and Education were a hard pill to swallow for a die-hard artist who’d suddenly “seen the light” for what computing could do for ART. That was 1989 so I was an early runner with the vision.

I digress. Ten years of education, BA through PhD/ABD (two upper degrees online), was the experience of a lifetime… no regrets. But since laying that aside in 2003 and returning to what sent me spiraling down that path in the first place… art and marketing… I am back in this driver’s seat, and have landed solidly in the Land Of Social Media.

Don’t get me wrong… education is never a mistake! However, for this career path, what you need to do is to (thank you Nike) Just Do It. Customize your learning path, and customize what ends up being your unique set of skills.

My Advice For Educational Needs And Social Media

1. Start with the experience you have right now! I doubt you would be on this page unless you went looking for ways to expand your existing knowledge.
2. Learn any/all professional “tricks” and methods… presentation, networking skills, technical abilities. Put a professional sheen on everything you DO and ARE.
3. Remember Nike. Just Do It.

Excerpts From: There’s More to Social Media than Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

by Adrienne Graham – June 14, 2010 – Work In Progress, Forbes.com

Figuring Out Where Things Fit

“Social media and social networking are not the same. Social media are the tools and social networking is what you do in the communities. You can use one to enhance the other, but they are not the same. It’s common sense. Any expert who doesn’t define that for you from the beginning isn’t an expert.”

Is That All There Is? …Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

“I’ve been inundated with free tele-seminars and high cost training programs on how to harness the power of social media to build your brand. There are classes for beginners, executives and everything in between, but they mostly focus on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

“Don’t get me wrong. They are the front runners in social media. Twitter leads the way in micro-blogging, Facebook dominates “community” and LinkedIn still holding it’s own (barely) in the professional arena. But social media is so much more comprehensive than those sites…

“Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are the holy trinity of social networking strategies for individuals and recruiters alike. But what happens if they stop being the ‘cool spots’ for the ‘in crowd’?”

Experts… Or Just Talking Noise?

“To be successful at establishing your brand, you need a comprehensive social media plan in place before diving in. Without a strategy, you will wander aimlessly around on the Internet.

“If you need to, find an expert who truly understands social media who can help you define your goal, create your plan and implement your strategy. Anyone else is just talking noise. Be sure they are teaching you the correct way to use these tools. For example, you can’t just set up a Twitter account and start blasting tweets with the hopes of people embracing you.”

You Have To Be Engaged

“Are you engaged? If you’re not engaged, how will people know you exist, or worse, feel compelled to pay attention to anything you have to say? Think about these points as you create your plan. Get out there and tap into the power of social media.”

Adrienne Graham is CEO & Founder of Empower Me! Corporation. Bio.

© 2010, 1SocialMediaManager.com. All rights reserved. The format and presentations here are creations by this Website owner: ©1984 - Leanne C Boyd. All people and products reviewed here own their respective copyrights.

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