27
Oct
2008
Evaluating Social Media Street Cred
As I have blogged before, time is not a luxury for me. I am begrudgingly finding a lot of value (not to mention, pleasure) in saying “no” to voice projects that people offer to me. It’s not that I don’t want to do them. I just can’t. Not at the present time. Then there are ideas that I want to develop, be they short stories, full-length novels, and podcasts; and I’m saying “no” to myself because I still haven’t wrapped up or updated my current stock of creative endeavors.
Sunday, on Twitter, I saw this post. As sailors acquiesce to the siren’s song, I clicked on the link and followed it to this photo. Based on Casey McKinnon‘s expression and her Flickr comment “The simple fact that it’s written by people I’ve never heard of makes me snear.” she is less than approving of this book. I felt compelled to slam on my brakes and put together my own reply here instead of on Flickr…
Just because you’re a Web 2.0 pioneer doesn’t make you a household name.
Now, in now way am I painting Casey with a brush of green here. She does say in her Flickr comments “I don’t REALLY have a problem with it… it was just a WTF? moment… nothing personal to the guys who worked their asses off making it!”, reaffirming her as a class act. I do think, though, we pioneers of this field need a reality check now and then.
Speaking as an author of two podcasting books (that feature chapters on video podcasting), I’ve also picked up books on podcasting by people I have never heard of. I have also seen seminars offered by “Web 2.0 and Social Media innovators” that I’ve not heard of. There are workshops corporations are paying top dollar to host, led by authorities I have no early idea who they are. Does that mean they are not qualified to speak on this topic I know so well? Of course not. These authors, speakers, and presenters are traveling in different circles than I am. While I could easily give a presentation or a keynote on podcasting, these expo organizers, publishers, or company CEO’s currently do not listen to any of my offerings. They were familiar with these other Web 2.0 illuminaries and therefore made the offers to them, not me. Opportunities are all about timing, but in some cases it is all about who you know.
However, it is a good idea to question street cred if the experience doesn’t back up the swagger. On discovering a new pioneer (which there seems to be an abundance of) in podcasting circles, I immediately look up the author’s/speaker’s bio to find out what makes them a leader in this emerging media. Was it their time in the trenches? Their accomplishments? Their various projects? More importantly, what are they working on now? Granted, my approval and six dollars will cover the morning coffee from Starbuck’s, but I do scoff at the Web 2.0 pioneers who sport a static HTML website, are not currently podcasting or blogging, and use Twitter as a spamming tool. In those instances, I have to wonder who are the watchmen on the corporate battlements, and if said watchmen are the French Knights from Monty Python and the Holy Grail?
The truth about the whole Web 2.0 movement is we are famous in our own social media circles. There are some independent podcasters (Scott Sigler, The Midwest Teen Sex Show, Ask a Ninja, and Grammar Girl to name the ones I know of…) that have managed to nudge their way into the mainstream. I say “nudge” because while the breakthroughs are high rollers in our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts, they are a far cry from established names like Dan Brown, Dr. Ruth, the cast of The Office, and Eats, Shoots & Leaves‘ Lynne Truss. It doesn’t mean it won’t or can’t happen, it just means it hasn’t yet. Whether or not we have heard of an author or an authority in Web 2.0 shouldn’t matter. What should matter is what their accomplishments — past, current, and future — are in this field. This is the real validation of someone’s expertise not just in Web 2.0 initiatives, but in any of life’s pursuits.
Personally speaking, I think it’s better to be known for one’s accomplishments rather than one’s name. It makes things more genuine. That is, any fan or admirer you have is not because you’re a household name. You have than fan because they genuinely like your work.
Besides, just going off a name doesn’t guarantee a good product. I’ve picked up a few books here and there, some of them by these world-renowned best-selling authors, and you know what? Most of the time I feel fully and completely ripped off. There was a level of expectation when I purchased that book because of the name, and I was left sorely disappointed.
I hope that the Web 2.0 community doesn’t lose sight of that fact as some of their members (like you, I imagine) are elevated in status to that of household name.
Excellent post. You said a lot of things that provoked a lot of thoughts. I have to agree with your conclusion thought, despite our best efforts, Social Media is largely dismissed when compared to mainstream.
I have to wonder, should we try and change that? And if so, how? Or, should we “find our niche” and be content there?
Anyway, thanks for the post.
Chris: Me? A household name? *whew* Perhaps one day, but that one day isn’t today. I can cross my fingers and hope for the best though…
Jonathan: I do think that social Media has a place in the mainstream, but the problem is perpetuating its shelf life as opposed to making it an online fad. The emerging “Web 3.0″ fascination scream of the Dot-Bomb days, and we still have a good portion of people not grasping Web 2.0. We just have to work at making Social Media less geeky and more accessible. How we do that remains to be seen, but I think people podcasting for the love of it and becoming active members of Twitter are a huge plus.
[...] organizers of these events who don’t take a few minutes before planning their schedules to evaluate a speaker’s street cred. When you carry around on your blog, website, or resume a publishing credit, there is a measure of [...]
tee, this is very well said, and I just want to repeat, dito, dito, dito to all of these points! It summes up my feelings quite well. I say keep kicking ass, keep working hard, and don’t make your own bed of nails! Many of us have built the reputation, the cred and the respect in our own circles. Maybe it’s time to start breaking down the circles and reaching out! Damn, man! Lets do this thing!
Excellent post. Particularly liked the strong, closing line. The merits of one’s efforts are validated first by the simple act of completing them, second, by the eager acceptance of those who really count in any endeavor—the customer.
The quantity in circulation is not an accurate indicator of the quality. Look at Apple. Hanging in for twenty years with 7% market share, but continuing the insane tuning of it’s product to the needs of the customer. Look where they are now.
[...] remain practicing it while those who have been crowning themselves as experts, oracles and mavens will be called to task. What are they doing in Social Media now? Where are the blogs they manage? What podcasts are they [...]