Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Want to Vent About Chris Brogan? Of Course You Do.

October 6, 2009 by Mark McLaren  
Filed under Social Media Experts

Who is Chris Brogan? Ha! If you have to ask that question, then you are in the right place. But you have heard of The Social Media Expert, have you not? Well, if there is such a person, Brogan is it. To his credit, he says in his book that people should not call themselves experts. And he does not.

I like what Brogan is up to. He talks about TRUST, being a “Trust Agent”. This is what social media does well. When you use it in an honest way, it works. It may not make you money. It may not sell stuff. But it can help you earn people’s trust. What you do with that trust is a different question.

Now, if you think the whole “Trust Agent” thing is just another way to sell stuff, I’m all ears. You might just have a point.

  • @Joe Thanks for your comments, Joe. I was quite bummed not to be able to see Brogan and Smith when they were here last month. The "Trust Agents" book is well-written and compelling. I'm a member of the "choir" to whom they are preaching - about transparency and helping others first using social media. But I think there is some tension between that position and the driving force behind most corporations, which puts profits above all else. One good thing: if social media really is putting more power in the hands of the little guy, then corporations may have no choice but to be more transparent and help others, even if it's not the most profitable way to act.

  • I've heard Chris and his co-author Julien Smith speak a couple of times in the last month or two and really appreciate how 'real' and transparent they are. It shows a lot to me that despite their experience and success in social media that they do not claim to be experts or know it all.

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