Ten Questions To Ask A Social Media Expert

Everyone is an expert in social media these days, or is looking for one. A recent survey of Twitter found that over one hundred thousand people have the phrase "social media consultant" or some variant in their Twitter profile. That's a lot of people looking for work.

Here’s a check-list of questions that may help you whittle down your thousands of potential advisors to the one you need.

• When did you start using social media?
• How many companies have you helped, and can we see testimonials?
• Have you ever managed an online community?
• What articles/books have you written?
• Do you have a blog?
• What social media tools do you use regularly?
• What's your Twitter name?
• What are the top five social media sites?
• Who are the top five social media experts?
• What can we expect to achieve in three months?

How do you assess the responses? There is no list of “right answers”, but any shuffling of the feet and embarrassed mumblings will reveal a great deal. In my opinion, demonstrable results and testimonials rank high on the selection criteria, but it depends exactly what your business is looking for, or can afford.

Some social media consultants will tell you that you can’t measure the results, but you “have” to be involved in social media. That’s two kinds of nonsense. There are many tools available to help you measure the impact of social media on a business, and there are some companies, that don’t need a presence on social media to do well. Many businesses thrive solely on personal recommendation (I know of one kitchen planner who is booked for two years hence, and has never advertised). Others don’t want to grow any larger than their current business load.

If you decide that you do need social media advice, the first question should be to yourself – “Do I really need it?” If the answer is yes, the checklist above will help you make the most of it.

Originally contributed by Alan Stevens on www.Freshbusinessthinking.com.