#SocialMedia Peeps: Stop Using The Word GURU
Everyone that knows me is aware that I hate the word Guru in general but really in regard to Social Media. Everyone that is involved in any Internet Marketing and or Social Media type of Industry realizes that this industry is still evolving and we are all on the fast track to continuous learning due to the super fast growth of this technology. Everyone is trying to move ahead, grab business, compete for projects and set themselves above the many people that are claiming to be social media experts. However there is NEVER a need to use the (shudder) word GURU.
Social Media in regard to business is still a relatively new avenue of marketing a business, although many would argue the point with me if I were inclined to argue, which I’m not. LOL My point is that businesses are just now starting to realized that traditional marketing is really almost a thing of the past and that they’d better jump on that social media train. The need to jump into the social media fray is due to the ability to reach so many people by way online channels and by mobile devices.
The need to call ones self a Guru is a misguided attempt at creating a degree of self importance and an effort to get people to see that social media is an important part of any marketing strategy now. The last reason is very valid, the first one not so much. 
Although I am a Guru Basher, I do believe for the most part that a percentage of the people that label themselves gurus do have honorable intentions and they are just trying to set themselves apart from their competition. With that said, please people find a new way. Let your talent shine through without creating a label for yourself that makes you look foolish at best and incompetent at worse.
If you are a Social Media Strategist, Marketer or Expert these things will display by the content of your online presence NOT by labeling yourself a Guru.
Related articles
- Step Up Your Game Gurus: ARE You Rocking The World Of #SocialMedia Clients or NOT? (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- #SocialMedia Gurus, Building Trust and #Connect.me Trust Anchors (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- YOU may be a Social Media Guru but YOU DO NOT Have 10 years of Social Media Experience (anisesmithmarketing.com)
Posted on March 9, 2012, in Internet Marketing, Marketing, Social Media and tagged Business, Facebook, Google+, Internet Marketing, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Social Media, Twitter. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Comments.
Reblogged this on LibGrl and commented:
Love this!: Let your talent shine through without creating a label for yourself that makes you look foolish at best and incompetent at worse.
If you are a Social Media Strategist, Marketer or Expert these things will display by the content of your online presence NOT by labeling yourself a Guru.
reblogging
You ARE SO 100% correct Renee! Thank you for taking time to read and comment!
Reblogged this on txwikinger's blog.
Thanks so much for reblogging Ralph!
Reblogged this on New York City Marketing and commented:
Awesome article, Anise.
Thank you so much for reblogging Vitus!
You are welcome, Anise.
This Title Rocks…The picture is awesome, and the story hit the nail on the head Anise. Love it…If one is using “Guru” or “Expert”, they should know everyone else is laughing and running away….
HI Steve!
Thank you so much! The Title is an important part of posting, Gotta’ grab the attention of readers. I really think by calling ourselves Guru it minimizes our own credibility. This industry is becoming so important to businesses large and small and the term Guru is almost a form of sabotage to the entire industry especially when we all have to prove the value of services offered. If people have any ounce of intelligence they will indeed run from any self proclaimed gurus.
Great post can I ask we stop using the word “peeps” as well
Hey Ric!
Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment! I LOVE the word “peeps” in general but most importantly, it is great for posts that go to Twitter because it’s short and keeps the characters under 140
Perfect, Anise you are the *guru*
I am SO not a guru AT ALL…I am just a Internet Marketer like so many trying to provide valuable information, great content and post that provoke thought.
Everybody knows that an ‘expert’ is someone who makes EVERY mistake possible on the avenue and later not only publishes but also talks about ‘mistakes’ that should be avoided.
A GURU is just another kind of ‘expert’ who lacks in communication skills and skips the ‘talking’ thingy.
And besides that you should be careful who you invite for comments to make sure no Gurus show up.
Just sayin’ . . .
Hi!
Thanks for taking time to read and comment! Mistakes are a part of any process and most importantly you can teach others by way of writing about it, I agree!
I don’t mind Gurus showing up to comment LOL
Thanks!
You are very welcome and THANK YOU for taking time to read and comment!
Good reading and many good points! Tnx for sharing!
Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment!
You are welcome and my pleasure! Have a nice time!
I agree. The word Social Media “guru” really rubs me wrong.
Hi Kathleen!
Thank you for taking time to read and comment! I agree, it really does minimize what we actually do, not the opposite as they believe. Imagine if we went to a doctor and when we arrived there was a new doctor. This new doctor proceeds with ” Hi, I’d Dr Smith and I’m a Guru of Internal Medicine…” Ummm yeah Good bye! He would NOT be credible to me. I think the phrase “Guru” really minimizes what we do as Internet Marketers, and we SO need to move past it.
Hi Anise! Thanks for making us right from wrong that the phrase Guru doesn’t suit right adjective always. But I think in some case Guru is more suitable than using Marketer or Expert. After all you made a reasonable difference in between Expert and Guru. Thanks.
Hi Mary!
Thanks for taking time to read and comment! You are RIGHT Guru is not fitting for most of us but sometimes it really is. LOL
It’s just their egos these people are feeding. For most part many people online came online to earn an income on here, because of the break down in the job market and to rebound from a loss. They have in the interim used a good thing to make it bad for many others. Now the name guru gets a bad rap.
Great points! Everything is about income, social media is too although people try to pretend otherwise. Social Media has become such an important element to companies now and calling yourself a guru only minimizes your own credibility.
Reblogged this on AraBelle!.