How Do You Find A Social Media Expert?

Image by Intersection Consulting via Flickr

It seems to me that there are so many people who claim they are a social media “expert.” And the truth is, can you really be an expert in something that keeps changing every day?

That’s why many of the “father’s of social media” say that they are social media enthusiasts or social media mavens but you never hear them say they are social media experts.

That being the case, people who say they are experts in social media are oftentimes people who I once knew in the Search Engine Optimization fields, the IT fields, the Graphic Design fields, and even the Media Buying fields.

Many of my friends have asked me what I would look for when seeking a social media consultant. Here’s a checklist:

• Check the consultant out online — If the consultant has 10 followers on Twitter and 50 friends on Facebook and is not listed anywhere else, I think you have a problem.  You may want to consider someone else.

• See how often the consultant posts updates — If the consultant has 1,000 followers but only posted updates 10 times in the last month, you have a problem… Look elsewhere.

• Has the consultant written anything? — Make sure the consultant has at least a blog.  A published article or book would help in the decision making process.

• Has the consultant done anything special in the social media world? — Find out what case studies he or she has to offer.How does this relate to your business?

• What does the consultant recommend? — If the consultant tells you that you just need a Facebook page, you’re in trouble.  Make sure that the consultant provides you with a real plan that is feasible and doable for your business.

• Finally, if the consultant brags about their Followers on social networking sites… Make sure they have followers.  If they have 50 or even 500, is that really enough to call them a social media “expert?”