Is Social Media Consulting For You?

The gush and growth of web based businesses has been off the charts over the past few years. The Internet has taken over our personal and professional lives, leaving old-fashioned paper work to collect dust in the filing cabinets.

As a result, Social Media Consultants have come to the rescue. Or logged on to the rescue, rather.

A Social Media Consultant is a web savvy professional who helps technologically stunted companies use the various social media platforms on the Internet to market and promote their business. 

Recently, the profession has been trending among young 20-somethings who know their way around the web. It's become a popular pastime to use our Internet obsession as a way of earning income. The digital world is both fascinating and addictive. To create a career out of your daily online junkie fix seems like a dream come true and looks easy enough. But is it?

Companies seeking web help and individuals looking to be web helpers should be wary of the reality checks. Here are a few things to consider when  hiring or offering the services of a Social Media Consultant: 

Social network use
By now four year-olds, grandmothers, and cocker spaniels are all on Facebook. The novelty of the phone-to-computer transition has more than worn off, it's older news than MySpace. Just because you have a busy Facebook page and more followers on your Twitter feed than calories in your diet doesn't make you a Social Media Manager. This is not only a misconception assumed by aspiring social media consultants, but by the people who hire them. Maybe you and your Mac Book are so inseparable that a moment away from it makes you feel like you've been caught with your pants down. Your Blackberry is practically an extra appendage and you can update Tweets from it at lightning speed with your eyes closed. Guess what? It doesn't matter. A Social Media Consultant is hired for their in-depth knowledge of social media platforms and how to use them effectively for the purpose of business marketing. 

'Online presence' is a popular term for consultants to use and advertise. It's an important factor to consider when hiring or social media services.  However, online presence is not the same as being online all the time, it's the ability to establish a unique and personal brand for a company and strategize ways to make it stand out. 

Blogging 
While an extensive history of active participation within the blogosphere may spice up your resume, it doesn't carry much weight on its own. Websites like Tumblr and WordPress are easily accessible and spending a lot of time on them doesn't make you a 'guru'. 

Experience 
How much experience do you have? Do you consider it a field or a hobby? If you are trying to garner attention from potential clientele, you should have some substantial experience to advertise that goes beyond personal use. Professionalism is key. Clearly describe how your skills are a definite asset to the progression of your client's business on the web. In addition to experience, a business card that reads "Social Media Rockstar of Awesomeness" is not going to translate as professional. For some reason 20-something big city dwellers have decided that the advancement of technology requires, by default, the decline of class. If you consider social Media Consulting as serious as any other business, treat it as such.  

Quality vs Quantity 
Your exorbitant fan following on Twitter is not a testament to your social media skills, therefore flaunting the numbers to your clients is not going to make a solid impression if you have nothing to back them up. The quality of work you do should out shine your Internet notoriety. Make sure you have references and testimonials from previous clients to reinforce your credibility. 

The Day Job
If your day job is your "real job" and you consider your consulting services more of an occasional hobby, you might not be taken as seriously as you'd like. Also, it suggests that the time and effort needed to fulfill your responsibilities as a consultant are minimal. There's no denying that you need to make ends meet and holding down multiple jobs is not out of the ordinary. But if it's only a part time endeavor, avoid advertising it as such. Let your clients know that you make their business a priority. 

Image from MorgueFile

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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