Social Media Snake Oil

Posted on 11. Nov, 2009 by admin in For Students, New Media

I wish someone would explain to me why there seems to be a new so-called profession of social media experts. First of all, we haven’t had social networking long enough for any of us to be true ’experts.’ Yet, I see loads of people charging huge amounts of money to teach others the fundamentals of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc…when in fact, if you sit down and focus on each one of those for a few hours each day, you’ll learn it by doing just like most of us have. So, I ask you – are they selling snake oil? Now, let me be clear, I DO use social networking tools and I DO see good value in them for business and I DO understand people charging for their transfer of knowledge (expertise) about how best to use these new tools in Public Relations and Marketing for different industry sectors. On size does not fit all especially when you make the leap from personal social networking to your business. But that’s about sharing professional expertise in Marketing, for example, not ‘how to upload a photo.’ And if I could send a message across all my social media networks, it would be for everyone in various groups to which I belong, to STOP selling themselves in every post. And beware of the snake oil and the price of it.

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Tags: Facebook, linkedin, Marketing, public relations, social media, Twitter

Skyways Communications

Skyways is the company I co-founded in 1999 with the goal of producing high quality online media for corporate clients. We create customized corporate marketing strategies that include new media solutions, professional production and consulting on a wide range of internal and external messaging priorities with the style and quality of Television and Radio. Skyways' clients benefit from our decades of experience knowing 'how to tell your story.' Our services are high touch and on target with an emphasis on measured success.

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Legal Talk Network was launched in 2005 from the mothership, Skyways Communications, LLC. The idea was to create a B2B 'network' for legal professionals to communicate on important issues. We produce all the content (podcasts and video) on Legal Talk Network, broadcast style. We've turned traditional media into new media with regularly released podcasts on legal issues, trends and timely information. The podcasts, all hosted by lawyers, are free to listeners and available in iTunes, legal blogs and other portals in a viral marketing success story!

Med Talk Network

Med Talk Network is brand new - launched in late 2008 with the goal of bringing new media to an audience of medical professionals. Similar to Legal Talk Network, we produce podcasts hosted by top medical professionals in a global B2B environ. Each podcast is centered on a specialty in medicine with the latest developments, research and treatment analysis. We are currently developing more medical categories everyday, so check back frequently. Med Talk Network is dedicated to my Dad, E. Dean Canan, M.D., who was a general surgeon in Louisville, Kentucky.

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