I don’t know if I’m an Expert or Guru (definitely not a novice) but I hope I’m someone who other people trust the opinion of and value. If I’ve reached that territory of helpfulness, that’s plenty good for me.

@jasonwiser I always like to say “Advanced Beginner” or “Student.” I’m a student of life and an advanced beginner with social media (2-3 yrs) and horseback riding (20+ years).

not sure…ive  been managing our stores  facebook    for   about  2  yrs and have  2400  fans….  so i guess ive  got a lot of ideas on  growing a page.and making money on  a  page……  also  have a blog and  website…no training   tho…

“I am well versed in the language of social media, but I would never consider myself an expert. There are history experts or math experts but no social media experts. Math and history are math and history, but social media is ALWAYS changing”. Let Facebook be used as a very relevant example right now. 

I consider myself a motivated beginner. Plan to be up to speed very soon. I am becoming a student of FB and social media strategies.

@lievetubbax i think  facebook would  be  great  for a  b&b….. and its alot  easier  than  building a website!!!  good luck.

@jasonwiser Hey Jason, you never did classify yourself. Which would you call yourself? By the way, great paraphrase of Scripture, but destruction of brain cells can never be a good thing.
Recently, I have heard it said if you read five books on any subject that you will know more than 95% of the public, and that you will become a “subject matter” expert. Mark Twain defined an expert as ‘an ordinary fellow from another town.’
I consider most people who are reliable sources as more expert than myself.
Seize the day and make it extraordinary!!

No expert or guru here. Am I a social person? Well, yes, to a certain extent. Mostly, I use social media online, like the clubs here, to meet people.  :D

How about Professional?  I’m with the ones who have said that experts don’t call themselves experts, just like the truly wise don’t consider themselves wise because they realize just how much they have to learn!  So, there you have it… I’m creating a new category called, Social Media Professional.  ;)

Guessing we’re defined more by who we’re hanging with – to the novice I might be an expert; to the expert Iikely a novice, and when it’s just me I’d say just plain old insatiable learner. But, sure I’ve learned as much from “novices” as I have from “experts” — every unique perspective brings more food to the table… Anyone stuffed yet?

@promotionsocial I too use the term Social Media Professional and have learned there are two categories of professionals in our industry. Those who hold a social media title in a company, and those who manage other businesses social media working for themselves.

I agree with all others in regards to being an expert. Being an expert implies mastering your field and I don’t believe it’s possible to master social media or anything online for that matter. Technology changes so fast and we’re always learning. I like to say I’m proficient with social media.

… Scott

Since we have so many new members, i want to resurrect this thread and hopefully hear what some of our new clubbers have to say. 

Jason, glad you brought this back up to the top. The answers are quite insightful and worth re-reading. To a first grader, even a fourth grader looks smart!  One of the values of these threads is learning from every student, K4-doctorate! @jasonwiser

@deairby I guess I’m a fourth grader then   To my friends that barely know anything beyond the basics of FB, I’m a guru and amaze them with my insights.

In my marketing job though, I feel like the kid in the back of the class that’s been looking out the window daydreaming, and just got called on…I know enough to muddle through an answer, but is really the right answer??

There is so much to learn, and so much changing so quickly, that I will probably always be in elementary to middle school

Dude.

Hello All,

I am a professional internet marketing strategist, relationship marketing specialist  and a life long learner/student-especially in this ever changing industry. Certainly I have a deep level of knowledge – I have trained and work with some of the best -  but a day does not go by without several new app, platform, plugin, program and community offers filling my in box. I could be an expert if the internet would just stop for a month or two. hehehe  That is the benefit of a community like this – helps you keep up. I look forward to the interaction.

I think I would be an intermediate.  Not a novice but certainly not a guru!

I used to own a company selling digital products on ebay. Then one day PHP, Google Adwords, Affiliate marketing, SEO, blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Iphone and mobile apps, etc. etc. etc. 

Honestly, I can’t say i’m an expert on any Internet these days. Technology is changing the world at the speed of sound. Thus I have to keep learning new things and find out what works now and in the future – and determine where I should put my time and energy into. 

I’d say that I am intermediate  

Definitely a beginner, I manage a couple of accounts and am looking to expand my reach locally as an advisor to small businesses. Any help will be appreciated and most likey used immediately.

Ugh, people aren’t over the self-proclaimed “guru” tag yet? Why stop there? Can I be a Social Media Rabbi? A Facebook Pope?

@jasonwiser

Please, have at it. Send me a link. 

I work in India for most of the year — if you find the guru tag silly you can only imagine what the folks here think of it, where there are actual gurus.

Best, 

@hildaalanisgonzalez no Ninja happening here. ha ha

Huge high five to Shari for her answer, which is so true – it’s always a matter of perspective. Though I have to admit I’m a novice still, from any perspective, but I’m learning more each day. @jasonwiser @sharistauch

I would say novice. Although I have been doing an immense amount of research, study, and implementing I feel that once I have seen some real big ROI then I will be able to move myself up the intermediate ladder as that has shown what I have learned in terms of understanding and applying concepts has been a successful way of proving my knowledge of social media!

I dont think anyone is an expert or guru, unless its your designation where u work. when you think you have entirely figure out social media, something new comes along which pulls you down to an intermediate (at least for short period of time till you figure that one out).

My knowledge level is always varying, for certain aspects of social media i am an intermediate and when something new comes along i am a novice till i figured it out.

A Novice SME . Want to learn from the experts here. Hope to get help from all.

No guru, but definitely not a beginner. But I always believe we should always be open to learning new things and approaching things like a beginner. You see things differently that way. Besides, what we know now will be irrelevant tomorrow. So in a sense, we are ALL novices. 

No guru, but definitely not a beginner. But I always believe we should always be open to learning new things and approaching things like a beginner. You see things differently that way. Besides, what we know now will be irrelevant tomorrow. So in a sense, we are ALL novices. 

Well as my friend and sometimes sales coach Dave Fellman said just this week. If the definition of an expert is that, when there are 2 people in the room talking about a particular subject matter, and you know more than they do, then you are the expert….in that room.Sometimes I is, sometimes I isn’t – depends who I’m talking to at the moment.but true dat, If I’m being paid for what I do, then Professional is the right term. if I’m not being paid then, as my wife is want to tell me, I gave too much away for free “’cause you like to hear yourself talk”…Oh well!

Looking forward to exploring this group and picking up some great tips. I teach Social Media at a university.