Social Media Specialist? Analyst? or What?

Jay Deragon, a columnist for Relationship-Economy in an article called What's A "Certified Social Media Specialist?", stated " If you haven’t noticed it seems that everyone is pushing out “messages” saying they are a social media expert or know more than anyone else about social media. The reality is that social technology is changing so fast that to be “certified” or self labeled as a “specialist or expert” is not relative or valuable and reflects a lack of wisdom." Over the past few years terms like social media specialist, social media analyst, or social media consultant have popped up across businesses' public relations departments. So it begs the question what the is this position do and even mean to businesses? 

Fab, Tech, and Media Blog

The general idea or conscience is a social media specialist is a "individuals who are specialists in creating and managing social media strategies and accounts often have moved sideways from their industries into what is still a new sphere. This generally means they have a wide and integrated skill set, usually public relations or marketing based, which really adds to their ability to see social media as serious and strategic element of modern business." This concept comes from "business should consider employing a social media specialist to coordinate campaigns." Which talks about the need for these "specialists" in the new progressing business world.

Fab, Tech, and Media Blog

Most companies are known to have set up a Facebook and Twitter accounts and "declare" they are using social media. The purpose of a media specialist to take companies' social media to the next level of declaring new promos, new products, or even getting feedback from the stakeholders and consumers on their companies' image or reputation. Social media specialists also address the issue by taking in value of content already existing in the organization and publishing it in areas that are cost effective but still effective. The blog Fab, Chat, and Media, states the true leverage of social media specialist is to creating a tapestry of conversation between your people and the entire market.


This position is new and the true value of this position has not been realized. This explains why the true understanding and benefits of this position could offer to business and the marketing of this companies. Once the value for this position is realized the demand, the benefits, and the salary of these positions will increase dramatically. The current breakdown of the title can be found in eHow.com's Social Media Specialist page.  


But nothing can describe this position better than someone who is it...

Changed as of March 22, 2012