Thank you so much for your comment. Looking back at my post, I do see how I may have come off as patronizing – which was unintentional. My husband actually told me not to write this post. He said I was overacting. However, to me social media is also about being transparent. So, I may have overacted, but as you said… I got my feelings off my chest.

I love your point about USPs. You’re right, each one of us does have a unique selling proposition to offer. And I have found myself revising my services and USPs as I move forward in this industry. PS. I do accept your mission.

I’m kinda with you and kinda over it too… I’ve been helping people with social media marketing since early 2006 and on twitter since 2007 and I felt what you are voicing well over 18 months ago now.

Here are my thoughts on it and where I am now…

On using the word expert…
There are those who consider an expert to be someone who knows more about something than the person learnng from them. I see their point, but don’t buy into that philosophy. So the first decision I made ‘way back when’ was never to call myself a social media ‘expert’; the speed with which the industry and technologies move makes staying on top of EVERYTHING a ridiculous proposition – if you actually deliver services too. Back when I had my own marketing agency servicing blue chip clients I always used to say “Knowing all the answers is not what’s important. It’s knowing all the questions that is.” I think that still works.

On what that means for the industry…
The continued competition (from whichever quarters at whatever quality or level of service) is actually a fantastic opportunity for us to get really clear about our USPs…

I used to work within what I considered a tight enough niche – coaches and solopreneurs. But it’s not, and in fact, many of my early clients are now ‘experts’. So, I’ve been working on refining that niche around what and how I do what I do, who I really am and who I want to do it with. Despite the strength of the BlogAngel brand, and initial pain and resistance around doing so, I’m leaving her behind.

I’m Claire Raikes, I’m an Authentic Marketing & Personal Branding expert and I work with spiritually minded entrepreneurs and conscious business owners. Social media marketing is just a tiny – albeit fundamental – part of what I do. And you know what Patti? That love you talked about – I’ve fallen in love with my work all over again, I’m in my flow and work feels like fun again.

It’s good that you wrote this post – got it off your chest – and now, your mission Patti Fousek, should you choose to accept it, is to ask yourself – so instead of getting angry and feeling dirty, what am I going to do to rise up and shine through?