You’re Not That Big a Deal

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mehSo you’re on a couple of thousand Twitter lists. So you write for on online social media news portal. So you got a couple of hundred Diggs of your latest blog post.

So what?

In the grand scheme of things, you’re not that big a deal. If I share your name with Joe Public, they raise eyebrows and look puzzled. If I compare your “claims to fame” with those that are really famous, there’s a huge difference in perception.

You may own a little piece of the Internet, but the Internet’s a pretty big place and your little piece is swallowed up by it.

So… get over the hype. Stop believing you’re someone you’re not. Stop using the same buzzwords and the same tired reasons why you get it and everyone else doesn’t. Stop pretending social media is rocket science – it’s not.

Start being real and less bragtastic and we might stop calling you out on your claims, then you won’t have to write about it to elicit sympathy. Really, you’re not that big a deal.

But you could be.

If you want to.

And we believe you…

Creative Commons License photo credit: Яick Harris

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About Danny

Danny Brown is Chief Technologist at ArCompany and an award-winning marketer and blogger. His blog is recognized as the #1 marketing blog in the world by HubSpot. Danny is also co-author of Influence Marketing: How to Create, Manage and Measure Brand Influencers in Social Media Marketing.

129 comments
credit unions
credit unions

Coming to this post it was a very knowledgeable experience.It teaches us how to stay down to earth and simple in life.

credit unions
credit unions

Coming to this post it was a very knowledgeable experience.It teaches us how to stay down to earth and simple in life.

Dantomato
Dantomato

"Stop pretending social media is rocket science – it’s not" Sweet short blogpost: http://bit.ly/1mBhR4 (via @Urbanverse)
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Rouxbe_foodie
Rouxbe_foodie

RT @Dantomato: "Stop pretending social media is rocket science – it’s not" Sweet short blogpost: http://bit.ly/1mBhR4 (via @Urbanverse)
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Danny Brown
Danny Brown

Hey there Joe, and thank you for following such numerical advice ;-)

Perhaps it's time we stopped the mindset of "no-one remembers second place" and accept there's a place for all levels of "competitors"...

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

Hey there Joe, and thank you for following such numerical advice ;-)Perhaps it's time we stopped the mindset of "no-one remembers second place" and accept there's a place for all levels of "competitors"...

Joe Hafner
Joe Hafner

Hey Danny. I had like 15,000 of my fans send me a link to this post. Since my huge following is the second most important thing to me, and roughly 1% of them think this is worthy of my valuable time, I figured I'd take a look.All kidding aside, this post is a fun read. Isn't it interesting how we tend to compare ourselves with others, regardless of which end of the scale we fall?

Joe Hafner
Joe Hafner

Hey Danny. I had like 15,000 of my fans send me a link to this post. Since my huge following is the second most important thing to me, and roughly 1% of them think this is worthy of my valuable time, I figured I'd take a look.All kidding aside, this post is a fun read. Isn't it interesting how we tend to compare ourselves with others, regardless of which end of the scale we fall?

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

Hey there Joe, and thank you for following such numerical advice ;-)Perhaps it's time we stopped the mindset of "no-one remembers second place" and accept there's a place for all levels of "competitors"...

Joe Hafner
Joe Hafner

Hey Danny. I had like 15,000 of my fans send me a link to this post. Since my huge following is the second most important thing to me, and roughly 1% of them think this is worthy of my valuable time, I figured I'd take a look.

All kidding aside, this post is a fun read. Isn't it interesting how we tend to compare ourselves with others, regardless of which end of the scale we fall?

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

"A beautiful pirouette" - love the way that flows :)

Ct Kingston
Ct Kingston

Great post Mr. Brown. That fortune cookie tells the true story of social media fame ;-)Thanks for keeping everyone on their toes. Some people do their best work while on toes... leading into a most beautiful pirouette. Keep dancing.

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

"A beautiful pirouette" - love the way that flows :)

Ct Kingston
Ct Kingston

Great post Mr. Brown. That fortune cookie tells the true story of social media fame ;-)Thanks for keeping everyone on their toes. Some people do their best work while on toes... leading into a most beautiful pirouette. Keep dancing.

Ct Kingston
Ct Kingston

Great post Mr. Brown. That fortune cookie tells the true story of social media fame ;-)
Thanks for keeping everyone on their toes. Some people do their best work while on toes... leading into a most beautiful pirouette. Keep dancing.

ochojoe
ochojoe

RE: @DannyBrown Hey Danny. I had like 15,000 of my fans send me a link to this post. Since my huge following is the … http://disq.us/3vk3s
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Danny Brown
Danny Brown

"A beautiful pirouette" - love the way that flows :)
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Ct Kingston
Ct Kingston

Great post Mr. Brown. That fortune cookie tells the true story of social media fame ;-)
Thanks for keeping everyone on their toes. Some people do their best work while on toes... leading into a most beautiful pirouette. Keep dancing.
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Danny Brown
Danny Brown

What's the saying, "Everyone else but me"? An ostrich, head and sand spring to mind, Jim. ;-)

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

What's the saying, "Everyone else but me"? An ostrich, head and sand spring to mind, Jim. ;-)

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

I can imagine that to very well be the case, Cindy :)

Cindy C.
Cindy C.

Great post, once again. Freely admit I'm a nobody and I'm okay w/that. To the people that really matter...I matter. Nothing on the web beats "Mommy's home!!!" at the top of their lungs, arms flung wide. ;)

Cindy C.
Cindy C.

Great post, once again. Freely admit I'm a nobody and I'm okay w/that. To the people that really matter...I matter. Nothing on the web beats "Mommy's home!!!" at the top of their lungs, arms flung wide. ;)

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

I can imagine that to very well be the case, Cindy :)

Cindy C.
Cindy C.

Great post, once again. Freely admit I'm a nobody and I'm okay w/that. To the people that really matter...I matter. Nothing on the web beats "Mommy's home!!!" at the top of their lungs, arms flung wide. ;)

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

I can imagine that to very well be the case, Cindy :)
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Liz Pullen
Liz Pullen

It's just been my experience but most of those typically called "gurus", "experts", or "rockstars" don't call themselves these titles but are called these names by other people who are trying to gain their favor & attention. I've also see small level consultants adopt these titles in their Twitter bios but I don't think people take their claims seriously because they don't have the track record to back it up.I agree that it's satisfying to see pompous people taken down a peg. But I don't think anyone will see themselves in your description. When people see someone basically called a jackass, they will think you're talking about "that other guy", not them.

Liz Pullen
Liz Pullen

It's just been my experience but most of those typically called "gurus", "experts", or "rockstars" don't call themselves these titles but are called these names by other people who are trying to gain their favor & attention. I've also see small level consultants adopt these titles in their Twitter bios but I don't think people take their claims seriously because they don't have the track record to back it up.I agree that it's satisfying to see pompous people taken down a peg. But I don't think anyone will see themselves in your description. When people see someone basically called a jackass, they will think you're talking about "that other guy", not them.

Liz Pullen
Liz Pullen

It's just been my experience but most of those typically called "gurus", "experts", or "rockstars" don't call themselves these titles but are called these names by other people who are trying to gain their favor & attention. I've also see small level consultants adopt these titles in their Twitter bios but I don't think people take their claims seriously because they don't have the track record to back it up.

I agree that it's satisfying to see pompous people taken down a peg. But I don't think anyone will see themselves in your description. When people see someone basically called a jackass, they will think you're talking about "that other guy", not them.

CEPC
CEPC

Great post!I am not saying that just because I'm on very few lists. If I didn't care about this, my self-esteem would be in the toilet. Lists may have been created for the common good, but it so easily turns into a measurement of popularity, and who doesn't want to be popular?Funny world we live in.

CEPC
CEPC

Great post!I am not saying that just because I'm on very few lists. If I didn't care about this, my self-esteem would be in the toilet. Lists may have been created for the common good, but it so easily turns into a measurement of popularity, and who doesn't want to be popular?Funny world we live in.

CEPC
CEPC

Great post!

I am not saying that just because I'm on very few lists. If I didn't care about this, my self-esteem would be in the toilet. Lists may have been created for the common good, but it so easily turns into a measurement of popularity, and who doesn't want to be popular?

Funny world we live in.

Jim Connolly
Jim Connolly

Great post Danny. I bet anyone who spends a little time on Twitter studying the 'social media rock stars' knows exactly who you are referring to.I bet 'they' have no idea they are being referenced though. After all, 'they' tell their fans (they don't have readers like we do), how humble they are all the time - right?Keep up the good work Mr Brown!

Jim Connolly
Jim Connolly

Great post Danny. I bet anyone who spends a little time on Twitter studying the 'social media rock stars' knows exactly who you are referring to.I bet 'they' have no idea they are being referenced though. After all, 'they' tell their fans (they don't have readers like we do), how humble they are all the time - right?Keep up the good work Mr Brown!

Danny Brown
Danny Brown

What's the saying, "Everyone else but me"? An ostrich, head and sand spring to mind, Jim. ;-)

Jim Connolly
Jim Connolly

Great post Danny. I bet anyone who spends a little time on Twitter studying the 'social media rock stars' knows exactly who you are referring to.

I bet 'they' have no idea they are being referenced though. After all, 'they' tell their fans (they don't have readers like we do), how humble they are all the time - right?

Keep up the good work Mr Brown!

rosehughes
rosehughes

So what- So true. Thank you Danny. I like your thinking and will be back.

rosehughes
rosehughes

So what- So true. Thank you Danny. I like your thinking and will be back.

LesleyDewar
LesleyDewar

http://j.mp/4ekqjb. Here is one for your favourites list. "You Are Not Such A Big Deal!". - Save it for a rainy day :-) Pls RT
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Okami0731
Okami0731

RT @davidisbester: I likethis too RT @brianspaeth Amaaaaazing yet simple post from @DannyBrown - just read it http://bit.ly/1JY5TP
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rosehughes
rosehughes

RT @davidisbester: I likethis too RT @brianspaeth Amaaaaazing yet simple post from @DannyBrown - just read it http://bit.ly/1JY5TP
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rosehughes
rosehughes

So what- So true. Thank you Danny. I like your thinking and will be back.
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