Every day there’s a new pile of “experts” cropping up on every subject imaginable. The key to differentiating genuine experts from frauds is to ask the right questions.

Warning: This post is a bit of a rant (but it does have a story and some practical advice). How many new experts are there today? Social media expert. Blogging expert. Communications expert. Strategy expert. Wingdings font expert. It’s enough to make me gag. Sorry, but having a bunch of social media followers or being at the top of the X elite for a podunk little town doesn’t make you a “social media expert.”

Even worse than the seemingly viral proliferation of these experts are the egregious rates they expect for their services. Just because you call yourself an expert doesn’t mean you’re entitled to the fee levels real experts charge. (Then again, if you’re the individual hiring an expert and paying them ridiculous fees, I can’t save you from yourself.)

Lastly, the worst aspect of these experts is the damage they can do to your organization. I’d love to sue some of these folks for malpractice of the trade in which they proclaim expertise.

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