Everything that is wrong with social media in one video
Before I launch into this I just want to say that what I write on this blog is my opinion. What I write about on here is how I use social media and the techniques I use not THE way you should use social media. Increasingly I have read and watched people telling others THE way to use tools out there and the advice they are giving is usually so off target or ill conceived that I cringe.
I came across this video the other day when someone tweeted about it and frankly it kind of worried me.
First of all I just want to say that Perry obviously has some charisma and is passionate about social media, which is great. I didn’t know anything about Perry until I saw this video. But what Perry is talking about in this video is not only wrong on a lot of levels but is dangerous to new social media users whom the video is primarily meant for.
1) There isn’t one way to use these tools- In the video Perry tries to relate using Twitter to going to a party and says that you wouldn’t turn your back to someone that came up to you at a party. He may have taken this example from the book “Horrible Analogies.” You can’t relate the two things together. The mediums, the approach, the connections, and the techniques are completely and totally different.
How you use these tools is your own choice. If you want to follow ten people that you find interesting and that is it then so be it. Even if other people are approaching you and adding you because they find you interesting you don’t need to reciprocate. This whole quid pro quo approach to social media is something I find disturbing.
Does this make you anti-social like Perry states? No, it means that you want to focus on a certain group. You have a purpose for using this tool this way and you are using it as such.
2) This breeds stupidity- Telling people that this is how they should use these tools or they will be branded as an “asshole” or a “snob” gives people the wrong approach and wrong ideas. When you try and express that these are the social norms around social media you have other people that are going to go out, apply them, and possibly teach others. That is dangerous.
3) Not following people is wrong but automating responses to them is ok- About 4:30 into the video Perry talks about using tweetlater to autofollow anyone that adds him and to send them a message. “I don’t send them out something real spammy.” An impersonal message to promote your other platforms is still an impersonal self-promotional message and is totally counter intuitive to his party analogy. If we are going to run with this analogy it is akin to meeting someone at a party and having them just chuck their business card at you and walk away.
The community in general looks down auto DMs. I don’t use them but if you get results with them then so be it; again it is how you want to use the service. But I find it funny that he is telling people how to use the service yet uses what is considered the most annoying technique out there.
4) Self-branded Social Media Experts are dangerous- Perry has a long career of Internet marketing and copy writing specializing in a lot of network and MLM marketing. He also has an arrest for computer fraud, imitation of a licensed professional, and deceptive business practices. (He did plead guilty to some charges. Here is a video he made to explain what happened.) I see this and read about his background in Internet marketing I understand the mindset behind his technique a little bit more.
Just because you have background in Internet marketing it doesn’t mean that you are a social media expert. While I think that Internet marketing, social media, and other skill sets blend together the philosophy, strategy, and understanding of it all is very different from each other. When I see his large twitter account I think that he is a perfect example of using Twitter to create false authority. (I know a lot of network marketers hold him in high esteem but he is stepping into the world of social media, which I find troublesome.) There are a lot of people like Perry popping up. People that used to work in PR, Internet marketing, or people that were in other fields and see the booming use of social media so they rush into it. The issue is that might have certain skills but not the broad vision or knowledge.
The entire point of this is just a reminder to be extremely mindful when you consider the source of the information and the lessons someone is teaching you. Think for yourself, question your source, and read multiple opinions.
Hey Kevin-
I think what guys like this are doing is preying on social media newbies. The number one thing I find when I go out on client meetings is a tremendous lack of awareness and understanding of a lot of SocMed tools, buzzwords and techniques. More than anything else what I see is fear, which leads to inaction or resistance. It’s sort of like there’s this club of cool kids who are doing the SocMed and what I sometimes perceive is, “Hey, I have a good business, I went to college, I think I’m pretty smart, but I TOTALLY don’t get this stuff yet.” So what happens? In the effort to not seem uninformed or out of it, people do their research and sometimes come across guys like this.
You’re right: not EVERYTHING he says is wrong or misleading. But enough of it is to further muddy the waters and make things tougher for those of us who are trying to educate and show businesses and organizations how they might benefit from integrating SM into their overall marketing plans.
I continue to maintain that 99% of the population does not really get blogs, RSS, Twitter, podcasts, etc. (OK, maybe 99% is a little high, but you get my drift.) And it’s not because they’re dumb or don’t want to know or anything like that. Hell, 20% of US households DO NOT EVEN USE E-MAIL! This stuff is still germinating in the conscience of most people. People who are out in front need to remember that it’s best to take the “crawl, walk, run” approach.
Matthew thanks for the well thought out comment.
You are right, so many people starting out are afraid to wade in and get overwhelmed. What worries me most about a guy like this is that he has painstakingly built some authority on twitter so to the blind eye people are going to think he knows what he is talking about. When you watch his videos or one of his 5 blogs you really get to wonder what knowledge he has. Anyone can build numbers using multiple techniques… true knowledge about the ideas behind it, ETHICAL execution, and how to leverage everything is what sets him apart from people that know stuff.
Read up a bit more on our boy Perry:
http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Perry_Belcher_is_a_Douche_Bag_and_Felon
Perry Belcher is in no position to be mentoring or lecturing anybody about anything.
He’s bloody lucky he’s not behind bars for a very long time. See @PragueBob’s shocking fact-checked expose on this individual:
http://tr.im/perry_belcher
I saw that yesterday after I wrote this for today and thought it was a really interesting read.
This guy is a total douche. By his reasoning I’m supposed to reciprocate and follow every numb nuts, tween and german national that decides to follow me even though I have ZERO interest in what they tweet about, do for a living, their hobbies, etc.
I think it’s very telling that he is on Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter AND has two blogs. Sounds like someone didn’t get enough attention growing up. Maybe he just needs a hug.
He actually has like four blogs… The whole adding just about everyone is a bit much. I actually want to find the person interesting or have them be some sort of informative sharer. Oh but that makes me a snob or a asshole according to Perry…ugh.
I’m a social media newbie, but one of the things that bothers me is that Perry refers to himself on Twitter as a “Gift of God.” The gurus, the experts, the superheroes and the ninjas and black belts, really send the wrong message. Brogan (who I might have a crush on) doesn’t use any of that terminology. If you have to tell someone you’re all that, you might not be all that.
It is like sports. If you have to create your own nickname you shouldn’t have one.
Hey now… I was a Ninja Nerd LONG before I knew anything about Twitter. Just saying…
- Daiv
Ok you can still be a ninja.
A hooker sleeps with a lot of guys, but that doesn’t automatically make her an expert in sexual behaviors. As for how many “followers” he has, um, yeah, Tila Tequila has a lot of followers too, but that doesn’t make her anything more than a skanky ho.
Great post.
It is funny you mention TT because I am tackling something about her next week.
Popular isn’t always good.. I know there is some logic to “Wisdom of the Crowds” but when your numbers are goosed because you obsessively add people it really isn’t the cream rising to the top.
Responses like this are important for us newbies that would see something like the video above, and not know any better. Thank you for that. And thanks for all the background info.
I felt it was a little important to clear up who this person is….
Guy Kawasaki is following 30,000 people because he probably has a script to follow people in hopes they follow back.
Or he is like you who uses a service to auto follow back if someone follows you. Geesh.
Kevin Rose maybe actually interested in the 120 people he is following. Guy is not and cannot keep up with updates 30k people, he is not interested either, twitter is a numbers game and marketing tool to him.
He’s like me? I don’t think you read this right.
I understand getting to a point where you auto-follow. The thing is Guy would have a lot of followers just because who he is and having to shift through all of it would probably be a pain.
I think with Twitter, like any tool in your life or business, you have to discern your motives and how it benefits you best.
I auto-follow. I do not MASS follow in order to gain followers, but if someone follows me, I follow back. I like to engage in dm conversation if they have questions, etc. I find it more personable.
However, I don’t teach or preach that you MUST do that. That is just MY style.
I also have a video or two about Twitter and have been interviewed re: social media.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IdMEnu376s
HOWEVER, I always, ALWAYS correct people if they call me a social media expert. I absolutely am NOT that.
I am a busineswoman who is utilizing the TOOL of social media to further my connections, have conversations and build community.
I am very clear on that.
I have different methods than some and if you ask my opinion, I’ll share them. And if you ask 8 other people, you will likely get 8 other opinions. Does that mean that 8 of us are wrong and 1 is right? I don’t think so. Does that mean that we’re breeding stupidity? I don’t think so.
I think that twitter, facebook, blogging, etc – like in business – the audience has to discern for themselves who they resonate with, which methods feel right to them and how they choose to use it for themselves.
Carrie Wilkerson
The Barefoot Executive
http://TwitterBarefoot.com
Carrie people that don’t know what they are talking about, like Perry, that have created false authority and are talking to people just diving into social media are beyond dangerous. People look at these users to set the standards, norms, and be a guiding light and Perry leads you down the wrong path.
I am not sure about rest of your response here if you are defending how you are using the tool or just plugging yourself?
What the HECK did Carrie W. say? That sounded like some wandering, stream-of-consciousness internal dialog that should have stayed internal. Or to put it more bluntly, if you’re gonna spam someone’s blog comments, at least try not to sound like an airhead. Sheesh.
Good post btw, Kevin. Frankly, the “Twitter authority by sheer numbers” game Perry plays is revolting–because I believe it actually DOES fool the general public. That same thinking is also behind Belcher’s littering the internet with a vast array of insignificant personal blogs–he’s making a concerted effort to displace the informative search listings which reveal his very sordid past. Good to see at least a few people really see and comprehend what’s going on with these questionable tactics.
The guy’s pretty obviously a twonk.
You twisted his party analogy to being like chucking his business card at you and walking away. It’s not.
What it IS like is feigning interest in someone at a party and getting your cellphone out and exchanging numbers. The thing is, you only ever use that cellphone to send out mass-broadcast texts, never check your own inbox, have it divert to voicemail 100% of the time where they hear a recorded message selling them something you made.
Of course, in your OTHER pocket you have another cellphone that only 10 people have the number for. 10 “technological geniuses” like Rose & Kawasaki. You gave THEM your number in the vain hope that one day they’ll send you a message. That phone never rings by the way. Can’t imagine why…
Those three account examples by the way tell me this;
Rose uses Twitter and follows some interesting people.
Kawasaki doesn’t (how can you practically follow that many people or even sift through to the ones that really interest you?), but hasn’t just subscribed to everyone who follows him – so at some point at least he was picky about it.
Perry is the kind of ass who wants you to like him, so gives you his phone number, only it’s a fake number because he doesn’t think you’re important enough. Which sounds a lot like snobbery to me!
(apologies for the mini-blog rant in a blog. i must be on my period.)
A) You can rant anytime you want. Great response…
B) Your analogy was dead on.
C) I wrote the book “bad analogies 2″
D) I can’t think straight because I am exhausted.
Oh – and little note… I didn’t actually realise this was your site til I went to the main page. You should still sign off your blogs ;->
Kevin,
The value you provide just paid for itself in full with this eye opening expose. Without mincing words, Belcher is the “poster child” (his words not mine) for NO transparency. What you see is definitely not what you get. From the “glamor” shot pic on his Twitter bio to the video attempting to explain away his legal troubles. His explanation sounded as unscrupulous as A-Rod’s explanation about his steroid usage.
I don’t wish ill will on anyone. But it pains me to see the avalanche of people calling themselves social media experts. The vast majority of these “experts” have no credentials and less integrity.
Thanks for doing the homework to as the Wizard of Oz said “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.” @stoweboyd for that line!
Thanks Dean… Well it was the governments fault… I mean when they see that someone has money they can get they just go after it… Ugh.
There are a lot of people that are self proclaimed experts and it seems like this is one of the few fields that you can do that in. You don’t see other professions really doing that. Someone that created a Facebook page and has a few hundreds friends then maybe posted a handful of blogs is all of a sudden a social media expert in their mind. I find that scary.
This is an interesting discussion. Just posted 2 posts on this exact subject. I believe that there is no such things as a “social media expert” and most of these “experts” well- are not. Do not know Perry Belcher except what I have observed. But thanks for the eye opening info. I googled him. LOTS to read! Great blog by the way- love your style and GREAT content. I know Carrie and she seems to be a very stand up person. Never have seen anything different in her from what I have observed – good stuff on this blog-. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks…. Yeah I mean I didn’t know about Perry until I watched this video and it made my head exploded. I deal with a lot of small businesses each day and it makes my head explode when I hear people give out horrible advice.
Oh, please. Belcher has as much right to call himself a social media guru as anyone else. It’s, at best, a nebulous phrase which means nothing.
Yes, I do know Perry Belcher, and I’ve known him for a long, long time. He is guilty of being one hell of a marketer — he sold the same things as GNC, only more aggressively. So arrest him.
I am both pleased and impressed with the way he has picked himself up and survived the genuinely vicious media onslaught that was unleashed on him.
By the way, I think it is you, sir, who best exemplifies what is wrong with social media.
You take yourself and the medium much too seriously. To be quite frank, you can’t write a lick. I took the time to look over some of your posts. If I was too lazy, or too thick, to learn to use proper tenses in what I write, I certainly wouldn’t crow about it.
It looks to me like you are upset with Belcher’s success in the medium you choose to write about.
What has Belcher ever done to you?
Why this attack on him? And make no mistake, that’s what it is.
You see, the real trouble with social media is that it tends to glorify the mundane. A good example is someone as stunningly mediocre as you dragging someone with Belcher’s talent through the mud.
Ah, the wisdom of crowds.
He is also guilty of fraud. But I mean that is just what the legal system decided.
Really I take this too seriously? You couldn’t be anymore off than that. I just find people that are giving other people the wrong information very troubling.
Perry has never done anything to me. I am sure he is a nice person but when someone presents themselves as an expert and gives wrong information out that is a problem.
This isn’t an attack it is an analysis. I link to Perry’s explanation of the events in his life. I tried to balance the information about his arrest on both sides, which I think I did fairly.
As far as jealously, you probably should look at my resume. The last thing I am is jealous, I don’t need to resort to MLM schemes or network sales to make a living.
Gunner Sykes looks to be either Perry Belcher or someone deeply invested in one of his opportunities. As a noob, I quite enjoyed his video and put it in a blog post . I later found out some of his tweets are an affiliate link to Frank Kern, who is an MLM power sales scammer. That kind of dropped the ball for me. Seeing this post, does something to confirm the suspicion.
Yeah I am not shocked that he is dropping affiliate links in his Twitter stream.
I’m seeing alot of talk about “self-proclaimed” social media experts. The fact is, like any profession, if you get paid to do it, you’re a professional. Being on Facebook and Twitter, talking alot about how you WOULD use SoMe, is not the same as developing and executing a social media engagement for a paying client. But, like web design, the cream will float to the top, but you’ll still get companies looking for the cheap way out that will keep non-professionals coming out of the woodwork.
I have no financial ties to Belcher and am certainly not him.
By the way, I did a little digging and found out that you work for a corporation shilling for other corporations to help build their presence on social media sites.
Talk about the pot and the kettle.
I am amused.
Oh, one more thing that should be brought to your attention — Your company’s site is rated as dangerous by WOT.
What’s up with that?
What company? I have consulted for a luxury brand PR firm, everything I do is transparent and helped small businesses use the social web.
As far as the website in question of the PR firm I have nothing to do with that. I helped craft social media response plans for their clients.
Sorry Gunner I don’t hang out in the scum filled world you do.
Furthermore this blog was a breakdown of Perry’s video that has incorrect information in it. I mention his background briefly because I think it is important. It isn’t a personal attack on him, which you have painted it to be. If you continually want to personally attack me I am just going to delete your comments. You can criticize my writing, which is fair to do so, but don’t try and paint me as a dishonest business person when I have never done anything to warrant that.
I completely agree the excessive social media “guruism” out there that is going around, scooping up social media newbies who thirst for the “HOW” and the “WHAT” about social media.
I don’t claim to be an expert, I am just in the world, I use the tools, and I guide our company through engaging in it.
Personally, I find examples like Perry Belcher give a questionable name to social media, especially as he promotes products with affiliated (financial) interests at hand. He is no “expert” compared to the next guy.
I’m not attacking him or his advice, but just self-proclaimed “expert” status that he assigned himself. Earn it and stop self-describing yourself as an expert. That’s my beef.
~Joe
Joe you are right. Self proclaiming yourself as anything doesn’t make you so. A track record, a good reputation, and respect in the community will. That is all earned through hard work and knowledge, not manufactured.
Come now. What was incorrect? It is plain that you work to bring customers to corporations.
It’s what you do.
Nothing wrong with that.
I’m just amused that you want to condemn Belcher for doing much the same thing.
By the way, the remarks about “scum-filled,” etc., are simply uncalled for.
It is plain that you are trying an underhanded guilt by association tactic, and I don’t think I’ll let it pass.
This is you, right?
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpalmer
This is the company you work for, right?
http://www.evins.com/
So, just for fun, why is Belcher wrong and why are you right?
Sorry that is what seems to be the world we are talking about that Perry resides in. People looking for the next get rich quick scheme.
Where did I say I was right? I said the tactics that Belcher is talking about in the video are wrong and I clearly laid out the argument above. I condemn Belcher for telling new users HOW to use something when the social norms he is setting is wrong. Secondly what I do and what Belcher does professionally isn’t even in the same ballpark.
You were trying to infer something unscrupulous with what I do. I am not going to continue to play games with you. I do work with Evins, I don’t work for them, I mean it says that on my about me page.
Why am I debating you? I didn’t realize you were known as a far right crazy blogger… I’m done with this. The debate is about his tactics not Belcher versus me.
Kevin,
Since when did working for aka consulting for a company become “shilling”?
Let’s try this question. If the government was interested in going after money regardless of culpability, why would they choose a Perry Belcher when according to Belcher’s defender “GNC” was selling the same products?
Who has more money? Belcher or a corporation that is a national chain?
Last question I promise. What are your thoughts on people who call themselves Social Media consultants? I have consulting contracts with a few companies in which I am creating their social media campaign. Is that fair of me to call myself a social media consultant because I am being paid as such?
Well done!
Yeah there is a little bit of loopholes in the logic of the government coming after him just because he had money. Although in fairness that wasn’t his only excuse but it floored me to hear that.
Consulting is consulting. I label myself as a consultant if I had to put a label on what I do. I just don’t like when someone calls themselves an expert or guru. It is misleading…
Thanks for the constructive comments.
I have 1200ish fans on Squidoo, and many are now following me on Twitter. How the heck am I going to follow all these people? I guess I’ve become a Twitter snob! lol
I just listened to a 2 hour teleclass with Perry Belcher. He’s a marketing master and a seems like a cool dude too.
You have to disregard people like Perry Belcher completely. His use and opinions of Twitter are based on his mass market mentality and hustle mindset.
He is a MASS MARKETER, and although he tries to look “personal” and “available,” mass marketers don’t want individual contact. It’s too time intensive and not as profitable as MASS SELLING.
Thus, Belcher is simply “gaming the system” by using mass follow software. He, like many others, are HIJACKING Twitter and ultimately leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths.
Twitter is designed to be what YOU want it to be (as noted above) with as few or as many in your circle as you can comfortably associate with. Realistically, if you have thousands of followers, you have a mailing list, and not a Twitter account. Which is ok (for you) if you are profiting from it I suppose, and not wreaking havoc by ifiltrating the rest of the user space with spam and spam agents.
Want to know the REAL Perry Belcher? Study this:
http://mikeyounglaw.com/wp/2008/04/16/perry-belcher-the-arrest-of-an-internet-marketer/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBsS2BbkmlY
http://saltydroid.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/the-selmedica-scam-part-1/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLWvk2_KRSA&feature=channel
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22perry+belcher%22+scam&aq=f&oq=
I agree.
He’s lying through his ass. Most of his stuff is made up and wrong. And he’s selling a $3K product that people are buying into because he SAYS it’s true.
He’s a shyster and even Stompernet has bought into it. Just shows the professionals can’t tell a snake oil showman form anyone else. Shame as I thought they would know better.
I listened to his ridiculous pre launch call for his new course whilst updating a site and it was nothing but pure useless drivel peppered with a stupid jokes and clowning around with his sidekick Ryan. I can’t tell you how many e-mails I’ve received since the launch they’re sold out but wait, I can have one of 8 or some ridiculously low number of just opened seats available even though the wait list is 1700! Can’t people see through this FELON SCAMMER and his tactics? The biggest laugh I’ve seen reading through the above replies is the one proclaiming to be from his good friend BIG ASS Barefoot Executive, Carrie Wilkerson, calling herself a business woman no less!!!!! That’s way more than a strategic lie. I’d say she’s plant Perry and Ryan cooked up and trained to go after the fat, dumpy housewife market. That’s her own niche she must know so well. I saw her on video with Mr. Video, the other Perry, Lawrence that is, spouting such hilarious, nonesense I couldn’t take it. She and Belcher are the king and queen of the BS Scammers out there.