I saw an advertisement this week for a course called:
"Social Media and online marketing for businesses taster course - for business owners looking to make the most of the internet!"
Who should attend? According to the ad: "Any business looking to get more leads, more clients and more business through social media and online marketing!"
Granted there is a wide range of social marketing skills amongst small business owners and this course is geared towards those who are on the "late adopter" side of the equation, but I was seriously upset that there are people out there espousing to be experts, charging $235/day to teach people to be obnoxious, transaction-oriented, list builders, who alienate their customers and blow it with potential prospects before they even get started.
What is social about "Carney-Barking" on social networks? Where is the "give to get" mentality? What happened to using social networks to building relationships with your audience?
The ad continues: "Looking to get more potential customers to your web site and grow your business?"
So social marketing is all about dragging people back to your own site and stuffing them in the marketing funnel? Let me guess, we will measure engagement with conversion metrics.
Finally: "Our one day intensive course will help you get to grips with social media and online marketing and add value to your business's reputation."
Reputation? The course should be called "How to Blow Your Reputation Online By Carney-Barking Your Wares in the Most Obnoxious, Disruptive Ways Possible"
I'm sure there are courses like this taught all over the world every day - people trying to make a quick buck off of buzzwords and trendy topics. I feel bad for the poor suckers that waste their money on them. If they implement any of the tactics supported, the cost of the course is likely WAY higher than just the cash outlay.
Have you ever attended one of these type seminars?