Is social media an industry? Mashable asks the question … and the conversation that ensues from readers makes for some fascinating reading.

This comment from Aaron Richard is notable: “Anyone who claims to be a ‘social media expert’ is no such thing. Being able to use Twitter is not a ‘skill.’ Knowing how to communicate with an audience or an individual *is*.”

I think there’s a lot to that. I recently read a comment on another social media article (don’t ask me to find it; the Web is lousy with them these days) that said something to the effect that no one can claim to be an expert in an area that is changing so incredibly rapidly.

Indeed, there’s no way to definitively master the world of “social media” (which is coming close to jumping the shark and becoming a buzzword of the worst kind). It’s more about being in the game and figuring out what’s appropriate for the brand, task or product at hand.

Takeaway for marketers: If you’re not in the game, get off the bench, already. Social media isn’t any sort of silver bullet, it’s one more screwdriver in the marketing communications toolbox. Use it wisely.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 am and is filed under Internet Stuff, Marketing Stuff, Marketing Takeaways, Social Media.