Ah yes, I should have seen this one coming. Here they are, your latest version of social media carpetbaggers: The Government 2.0 Expert. Hey Obama is here, let’s cash in (original image by brtpropshop)!
This is not to demean the many notable public sector projects and efforts that are now under way. It’s just really amazing watching many people in the national and particularly the metro area marketing community suddenly became Government 2.0 gurus.
Let’s hope the Obama procurement process can intelligently vet such newcomers. It’s hard to believe anyone can be a true gov 2.0 expert at this stage in the game.
Disclaimer: I don’t profess to be that guy. I’ve chatted with many people who are doing this work and have given speeches to government agencies on social media best practices, but they are the ones doing it, not me. My social media experience is national and local, and yes, I’ve done some public sector marketing for DoT and GSA, but no direct public sector social media experience.
Geoff,
Really, this was inevitable. The entire landscape of social media will change within the next year or sooner, with only some people remaining as relevant as they might be now.
What is sometimes missed is that it is not only dependent on the tools. President Obama was a dynamic person with the right message at the right time. Social media helped accelerate that image and message.
If John McCain did everything Obama did in terms of social media, the outcome would have been the same. It’s not that McCain isn’t dynamic (consider how much more interesting he seemed against Bush), but his handlers did not allow him to be and his messages, many of which were the wrong ones, took so very long to get out by comparison.
It will be an interesting year ahead. I’m glad you are acknowledging it.
Best,
Rich
I don’t fault people who want to capitalize on this stuff. They should, as it’s the only viable way to have strong competition in this new marketplace. I do agree that there are very few “experts” at this stage, though, and that people should take the approach of being willing to learn as well as provide services.
Good comment, Rich, and you are right. Social Media does not make the value. The person, product, or service was already valuable. Or not.
Government 2.0 is so 2008. Now everybody’s doing it like cosmos and Magnolia Bakery. I’ve moved on, and so should everyone else.
It sure is easier to tear down than to build up, isn’t it? Time will sort the wheat from the chaff, and snide comments don’t really improve citizen engagement or help people make a living.
@Adriel Kind of like liberals who made comments abouthow Bush was not doing a good job in 2002-3 and were called unpatriotic for their “snide” comments? Sorry, dude, but I call it like I see it and won’t be brow beaten into letting snake oil salesmen “make a living.”
In talking with Aaron last night, both he and I agree there’s nothing wrong with selling to the government for social web services, but don’t position yourself to be something you’re not. Or really that almost no one in the world is. Be frank and tell it like it is. Do you really think Obama’s web poeple aren’t going to be able to see through that?
sigh.. and here comes the “too cool for school” NMDs complaining.. yet again.
Common now… just because you had a twitter account “back in the day”, doesn’t make YOU anymore of expert an on social media than the next guy.
Jealousy is a nasty emotion and it always make me wonder if that’s the subtext when I read stuff like this.
Ultimately this post has very little value, typical of “New Media [EXPLETIVE DELETED - GL]” material.
Hi Geoff,
I wouldn’t call myself an “expert” in Gov 2.0, but I have been writing and speaking about it for the past year…and learning alongside agencies.
I hope it wouldn’t be considered opportunistic after gaining a level of knowledge about it to continue in the effort to help agencies adopt social media tools (where appropriate) that improve their communication and engagement (the emphasis here being on eliciting information vs. just pushing it out) with the public.
For what it’s worth, Geoff, I’d like to add a comment as I recognize many names of those commenting above me, I live and breathe social media. That doesn’t make me a social media expert. I also have three years of management experience working in state and local government, and picked up a master’s along the way, but that doesn’t make me an expert either.
My government background are indications I can speak the language, perhaps more than others can. Mark can, Adriel can, Andrew can. I agree and defer to them that many are trying to walk the walk or talk the talk but failing miserably.
There’s also the possibility that people are just so excited that they want to be involved. Of course, wanting to and being qualified to are not the same thing, but still.