How to Become a Social Media Pro

Photo: Rebecca Bollwitt
Most people fall into one of three groups when it comes to social media (roughly):  the virtually clueless, the aware/proficient, and the Pros. I’ll define and explain each below, but first I have a confession. I was not only a long-time hold out on social media, but a staunch and vociferous hater. I constantly railed against Facebook and Twitter as time-wasters that gave people another way to be self-indulgent and exhibitionist.

Now, I wasn’t totally wrong – narcissism is EVERYWHERE in social media – but my opinion was woefully incomplete and short-sighted. What I eventually learned (and what I still have to admit out loud to those who had to listen to me bitch about Facebook, which I now love) is that social media is an evolved and extremely sophisticated method of communicating. It’s an enhanced way to connect and learn. And, when done right, social media is a truly awesome tool (not “awesome” is in “cool” but “awesome” in terms of inspiring awe).

Anyway – I am a full convert, Kool-Aid drinker, and evangelist of social media (any family or friends reading this will relish the irony). So let’s talk about the various knowledge groups.

1) Virtually clueless – These are often intelligent people who simply haven’t gotten around to learning about the social space. Either their career doesn’t require it or they’ve just been lazy or disinterested up till now. Or, they’re over 50 – some studies show the use of Facebook by Americans under 50 as high as 96%. Also in this group are hold-outs who still think the social space is just Facebook and that it’s a passing fad. Eventually, these people will come around or be left on the outside looking in.

2) The aware/proficient – These tend to be people with a few social media accounts (probably Facebook and LinkedIn, maybe Twitter). The people in this group understand how social media works, how some of the platforms function, and generally what social media can do. These people are fairly active in the space, but still don’t understand its true power.

Most of us think we’re in the group below, but we’re actually here. We know that almost half of US adults use a social network and that 80 percent of companies use social networks when hiring. And we also know that if we don’t define our online reputation, someone else will (2,000 people on LinkedIn have the same name as one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted! Also, check out this story from Charlie Hoehn about what happened when he Googled his name). We know a lot, but there is SO much more to learn. Every time I take a webinar or online course I’m shocked at how much I learn, and how much more there is to learn.

3) Pros – The Real ones (not the hacks who litter the internet claiming to be social media experts or “gurus”). This category is reserved for the heavy hitters – not just people who are very active, but the people who know what kind of tools are available in the social media space and how to use them. They know their customers, deliver stellar customer service, form customer relationships and, yes, make money. Very few people fall into this category.

Doers and Teachers
I’ve been involved with Brazen Careerist for a while now, at first as a Network Roulette fan, then as a NR career coach, and most recently as a regular Brazen network columnist. I know the Brazen team personally and I know they are some of the brightest minds in the social media and career space.

If you fall into the virtually clueless or aware/proficient levels described above (or somewhere in between) and want to change that, you need to check out their Social Media Bootcamp. They’ve assembled a team of pros who are teaching what the pros know and what the pros do. By pros I mean people like Penelope Trunk, social media execs at Ford, Citi, Edelman, Etsy and others.

It’s a four-week online program that costs $245, which sounds expensive but it’s not. Here’s why: If you’re already behind in the social media game, and you want to develop or pull-off a meaningful social media campaign in the next 6 months or year, it’s a steal. The time you invest in this course will save you literally dozens of hours trying to go out and learn this all on your own (trial and error sucks, especially when measuring ROI). Another reason? If you don’t like it they give you your money back – tough to beat that.

Just a heads up though – the Bootcamp closes August 31 (5 days from now) so you should sign up soon.

Anyway, I’ve known the Brazen folks long enough to know this Bootcamp will put you light years ahead of where you are now in the social media world. You should check it out.

Sign Up For The Social Media Bootcamp Now

PS:  If you have a professional development or continuing education budget at your company, this is a great way to use it. If you don’t have something like that, you should ask!