I am a Social Media Guru.

I am a social media guru. You may bow. And kiss my feet while you are there.

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In all seriousness, I have been witness to some pretty shoddy “advice” lately online. While I am in absolute support of people making a buck AND finding a creative way to do so, be careful of who you are purchasing from. Much of the information that is “sold” can be easily figured out from Google or for free in exchange sites like Mom Bloggers Club, Type A Mom, and the MomDot forums.

Recently on MomDot, several girls came to the site very upset that another blogger was saying if you suck, you should just quit. Although, I think we vary on the definition of “suck” cause I think her advice sucked. No one should ever leave a session feeling bad about themselves. Its counter productive to “teaching” someone to grow.

EPIC FAIL.

My advice to you is that there is no such thing as a method to blogging. There are ways to fine tune and make your site flow better, yes, but there is no amount of technology that is going to replace personality.

If you work hard, if you find a niche, if you’re the best in that niche, if you get lucky, if you’re like-able or hate-able, and you work harder then you have ever worked before, you may pull in $500 a month and 3,000 visitors a day- a year  or two from now. It won’t happen overnight and you will probably quit or change focus before you ever get there. Think of blogging like charity…you do it because you want to, not because you expect anything back.

Don’t give up on who YOU are, your fun, your community, your willingness to share, to grow, to enjoy yourself because of some pre-bought definition of online success. And be careful (in all facets of life) of fooling yourself into thinking you can purchase that success.

You may find that you are just purchasing a hard earned lesson.

~Trisha

Oh “experts”, I haven’t left you out, here is some advice…and its free *gasp*:

1) Don’t use the word ‘retarded’ while giving out blog advice. Its insulting. And ignorant.

2) Don’t tell people to quit if they suck. You suck. You quit. You quit for saying that. Cause you suck.

3) Don’t insult the audience you are talking to by pretending you are better than them. If you were better, you wouldn’t be in the same space. If you don’t like it, LEAVE. Don’t let the red X hit you on the way out of the blogosphere.

4) Be successful BEFORE you give advice. 200 visitors a day to a site doesn’t qualify as chargeable rates.

5) Humble yourself. This one is going to be pretty hard, but I thought I would throw it out there.

P.S. I would link this person, but my links cost $25 a month.

About Trisha-admin

Trisha Haas is the head of MomDot; a sometimes controversial (but always fun!) mom blogger community. Trisha has a beautiful daughter, Charlotte and an often crazy (but lovable) husband named Chris. Her family encourages and inspires her to blog in this personal and professional online dialogue. You can follow Trisha on twitter @MomDotRocks.
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73 Comments

  • 59
    November 11, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    YOWZA! I happened to watch the vlog you are mocking, and I couldn’t get through it. A kid screaming, chewing on food, telling people to quit blogging, a husband giving out false information, etc. etc. etc.

    I don’t know anything about the woman who did that vlog. I don’t read her blog or follow her. So, I am not one to say if she should charge or not for social media services. I don’t know if she is successful or has any knowledge that is valuable.

    All I can say is that as a first time viewer of her vlog series, I was very turned off. I just couldn’t get through it. I stopped part of the way through and haven’t been back since.

  • 58
    October 24, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    We couldn’t agree more!

    Our one piece of advice on all this is, DOUBTERS exist everywhere. No one that’s ever done anything ever listened to these people. And be aware that they are often the people closest to you.

    OK, you caught us. This is the pep talk we give ourselves!! :)

  • 57
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    LOL luv your P.S too funny.

    if your not uploading to youtube are u loading directly to WP?

  • 56
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    My name is Tricia and I want to hang out with you and be cool just like you.

    HOW much was that ebook again do you have a link? LOL

    LUV IT! I need a webcam like that and like comment 71 said can answer all those ?’s
    thanks much

  • 55
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    And this ladies and gentlemen is why Trish f’g ROCKS! You know I love ya!

    2 Questions: What program are you using to upload your vids – are you just doing it straight via WP? and What software are you using to edit these most awesome spectacular vids?

  • 54
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Lol, Trisha! Your videos always crack me up. If someone is feeling a little uptight about the video, they really need to check themselves. Anyone in the MomDot Community is free to speak up and we’re not afraid to. Some just choose a different method and not involve their readers, but that doesn’t mean we don’t stand up for ourselves and agree with you. Sometimes standing up for ourselves is about supporting someone else who can bring attention to an issue to a larger audience. Kudos to you for standing out and letting it be known that people can’t get away with being unprofessional, putting others down, spreading negativity, and charging for it on top of it.

  • 53
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Okay this has little to do with the whole discussion but I gotta bitch here.
    At this point there are 3 pages of comments. When I come here it starts me on page 3. Well obviously if I want to know what the hell is going on I need to go back to the beginning.
    I am pretty clever so I click on page 1 except that it starts at the last comment on page 1 so I have to scroll down to the bottom to read the first comment.
    So then I click on page 2 and once again I am at the last comment on page two and have to scroll down to the first comment on that page and then I scroll back up while reading them, to the top where I started.
    Then I go to page 3 which is where I started in the beginning. It is like starting at the back of a book and reading from the bottom up.
    Okay I am done.
    Carry on.

  • 52
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Haha love the video!

  • 51
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Nothing like a little bit of Tricia to make me smile=) And thanks as always for putting it out there for us all to see. Eyes wide open ladies!

  • 50
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    I am soooo :lol: right now! What a fab way to start my day!

  • 49
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    You speak the truth. I can’t believe someone charging for their advice told their “client” they suck and to quit. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! That’s just stupid!

    You’re right about finding it free on the internet. There’s so many places and great communities out there to find great information to improve the technical aspects of a blog. It’s one of those things that actually shocked me when I started blogging a year ago. I thought all the tech know-how was a big secret cracked by the brightest of minds out there. I’m totally blown away by how easy it is to find all the info I need to know for FREE!!!! I’ve actually gotten quite good at customizing my own blog and I have to thank bloggers like you who put together forums and build communities aimed at uplifting fellow bloggers.

  • 48
    October 21, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Now *that* was a video with a message. Great Job!

  • 47
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    this is sooo funny..

  • 46
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    LOL that was one freakin’ hilarious video!

  • 45
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Trisha,

    I’m three minutes in (I have to put the baby to bed) and you have left me w/a smirk on my face. You are a crack up, but I’m sure you already know it. I would probably pay you to perform. You’re quite awesome and funny.

    I don’t do the karma thing, but the genuine way you help other bloggers/people shows and it will come back to you. Oh darn, that’s the karma thing.

  • 44
    Mel
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Can I pay you for your advice, guru? That shoulder brush is hilarious by the way. Hope the other “guru” was listening!

  • 43
    Sharon
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Love the cat playing in the background too!

  • 42
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    I’m out of the loop again and don’t know what the hell is going on but that was one funny video!

  • 41
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    1. Props on the South FL Sweaty!
    2. Loved the shoulder brush!
    3. Who do I make the check payable to???

    Your huge balls kick ass!

  • 40
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    1. Props on the South FL sweaty!
    2. LMAO at the shoulder brush

  • 39
    Terry
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    This is Lisa’s hubby and I just watched you. I have to say| You are fucking awesome”

  • 38
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    WOW looks like Jen got another one of her “classy” friends to defend her tired ass whoa-is-me-I’m-always-the-victim side of every damn thing!

  • 37
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    To the chick that is trying to get her links on my page below (and yes, I took them out). Say what you want, but dont SPAM my visitors. thankyousomuch.

    And, this is in all seriousness, who are you? Call you names? I really (and quite obviously) have no problems talking shit TO someone. I really have no idea who you are right now. I don’t recognize your name or your blog. BTW, that would not be “third party”, that would be “chip on shoulder mom blogger”. I can promise you I don’t say things that

    1) I dont mean
    2) I dont care if someone knows I said it

    I mean, when your up, your up. You were giving me kudos in June on a post. I checked…

    *shrugging shoulders*

    Cant win them all!
    Trisha

  • 36
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Honey. Trisha. Honey. You are a capitalist. I just wanted to tell you in case you didn’t hear it the first time.

    and you are from alabama. Not sure how that is relevant but I wanted to remind you of that too.

    cause you put a bug up karie’s butt at some point. lol

    Oh and because you have such a loud voice in social media, you should post this stuff. it makes people nervous. roflma

  • 35
    Kim
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Ok, while you made me laugh(& everyone already said that), your cat was crackin me up! Walkin by with an “Oh man, what is she doing now?” attitude! What I learned today…By Kim~I need to quit. I don’t have the followers or the page hits! ; )

  • 34
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Wow as a member of VIP I didn’t know that was advice? I have NEVER seen advice given on there. and I’d totally pay $6 for it. But I’m just one of the voiceless sheep. BAAAAA

    • 34.1
      October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

      Thats only for VIP VIP members. LOL

      • October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

        I guess I’m just not “exclusive” enough yet for VIP VIP. How much is that again? 49.95 or my first born? LOL

        SERIOUSLY when the hell did you start telling people they can’t be a part of the community cause they aren’t exclusive? I missed that Memo in the EWEsletter!

        • October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

          LMAO!!!!!

          She got it wrong..we let everyone IN, we just kick people OUT. Sore feelings, blah blah. Cry me a river.

          • October 20, 2009 | Permalink |

            Guess they should learn to follow the rules!
            1.Monday-wear pink
            Tuesday-Wear pink
            etc etc etc
            2. sing We love Trisha everyday
            3. Never use your voice, EVER.

            :) It’s not that hard to follow right?

  • 33
    Tenille
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    Thank you Trisha for saying what many of us have been thinking, and saying among emails and forum chats for the past few days. Gotta love people who decide they are the experts and then decide to share their knowledge with us poor folk who can’t seem to be as er….classy.

  • 32
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    LOL! This seriously made my morning! I want to dance now! I bet if I do though I’d have to pay an “expert” to charge me on how I need to better my dancing or just tell me to quit!!!!

  • 31
    October 20, 2009 | Permalink | Reply

    WOW!! That was an ass-smacking, dorito-chomping, soda-guzzling, stripper pole vacuuming good time!!

    The only thing that could make it better would be an obnoxious egg timer for your 3 minute consultation. :)

    Super cute jeans by the way.

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