Beginner Blogger v Problogger, When Do You Become an Expert? – Guest Post

by theinfopreneur on January 5, 2010

Sarge is from BeginnerBlogger which is a resource for bloggers and beginner bloggers alike helping those achieve blogging success. A university graduate from Brisbane, Australia recently left the 9-5 corporate world as a web designer/developer to pursue an online venture to create an ideal lifestyle for himself through blogging, social media, web design, online marketing and more. Follow him on twitter or subscribe to his feed. Sarge over to you;

What The Heck Is An ‘Expert’?

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of comments and discussion about people starting blogs ‘pretending’ to be an expert in their chosen niche when they’re not and that they’re not ‘qualified’ to write about it.

If you’re labelling yourself as an ‘expert’ then watch out for heavy criticism. Make sure you’re armed with plenty of qualifications and years of experience.

But what makes you qualified? Is there a degree in blogging out there? If I do a course that someone with no qualifications has put together does that make me an expert now I’ve done their course? Is there a certain number of years experience required before you’re an expert? Is there a certain amount of money I need to make per year before I can be an expert? Is it the amount of twitter followers you have?

Or is being an ‘expert’ simply being able to help someone out and solve a problem?

According to dictionary.com an Expert is:

a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field

So really the term ‘expert’ is really a term loosely defined by the individual claiming ‘expert’ status or the person giving it. Otherwise we’re all ‘experts’ right? Maybe the word expert isn’t so highly regarded as we first thought?

The ‘Real World’

Personally I would love to see a qualification, a test, a course, a genuine education for blogging. They’re highly regarded in the ‘real world’. Something that is approved by an education department for bloggers would be great to actually prove you know what it is you’re preaching. Perhaps there is something already out there?

Having worked in the ‘real world’ for a few years people really dig that you have a degree and experience. This seems to make people label you as an ‘expert’ in your field.

Why not use the ‘real world’ principles of how they determine income. If you’re a beginning blogger (in whatever niche you’re in) offering a product or service – charge a low ‘minimum-wage’ based price. The more experience you gain the more you can then raise the bar of your prices. Is this a good idea?

Do I consider myself an expert in blogging? Hardly. There are many many areas I need to work on and want to learn more about. But I do know I’ve been able to help other people out and as long as I’m helping others solve problems that’s all that matters to me. I’m using my knowledge I’ve learnt and the experience i’ve gained to help others.

Conclusion

I believe there are different scales of ‘experts’ and that you are an expert if you are able to help someone out in an area that they’re unsure of and solve their problems. It’s what other people perceive you as. As you can see from this post and I’m sure from the comments that will follow everyone has a differing opinion of an ‘expert’. What is your view?

I believe there are different scales of expertise. I could teach my parents how to sign up to a twitter account and post a ‘tweet’. To them that makes me an expert at twitter. Some may even pay me to help them set up a twitter account and get started in the twitterverse. But can I get them 20k followers in a month and start making a living from their twitter account? Probably not. I’ll leave that to the other ‘experts’.

Personally, I think we’re looking at the wrong word here. Bloggers should be out to help others SOLVE PROBLEMS. Don’t label yourself an expert, let others label you as an ‘expert’ for you.

What does everyone think?

Please Comment

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Tagged as: become an expert, beginner blogger, problogger

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2010 Goals for Beginner Blogger | Beginner Blogger: January 9, 2010 at 00:07

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Ben Lumley Twitter: benlumley6 January 5, 2010 at 19:37: Sarge

I think you’re right here on two very key points.

1) Others should label you an expert not yourself. That’s a bit too self-gratify for my liking.

2) You should be working on solving problems for people rather than trying to become an expect.

When I started 6aliens.com only a few weeks ago I went looking online for blogging experts. I subscribed to every nearly every site I came across. I’ve only ended up actually listen to a small handful, including yourself and James but not because I thought you were experts bug because you both helped me solve my bloggings problems.

Great post dude

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:57
Thanks Ben.

Yep – Stop worrying about being an ‘expert’ and start solving peoples problems. Let others determine your status for you.

Glad I’ve been able to help
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Matthew Needham Twitter: bigredtomato January 5, 2010 at 21:59: Qualifications are one thing, expertise is something else.

When someone takes their driving test they are qualified. But they aren’t experienced.

So, to my mind, expertise is represented by paper except it’s a CV, not a qualification that counts.
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..How to be a better leader in 2010: The best of The Big Red Tomato Company 2009

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:55
Great point indeed. Maybe the idea of qualifications is the wrong one. Probably due to the way I’ve been brought up, it was always about completing high school then going to uni and getting a degree. I wish I didn’t go to uni in some ways – I have a bunch of mates then went straight into the work force after high school that are making tons of money based on their ‘experience’.

I honestly wish I self taught myself the ways of web design than learning it at uni. I would have learnt what I wanted to learn about and participate in projects of my interest. It’s unfortunate that a lot of jobs in the work force (in multimedia/design at least) require a degree to apply.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 18:09
Hi Sarge,

I always find it curious about degree’s. Here in the UK a degree can cost 10’s of thousands, which can take years to pay back. After all that time paying back the student loan they are no better off than say me who has no qualifications at all.

[Reply]
Rose January 5, 2010 at 23:11: Is everyone righting on this subject or what? Hmmm!

As I said in my post yesterday.

I think that one of the biggest problems with blogging is that some bloggers get that little bit of success and they become so arrogant that think they know everything there is to know about blogging.

I believe knowing your own limitations is important.
Rose´s last blog ..Understanding Google PageRank

[Reply]
Rose Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 23:16
Righting? OMG Writing. lol
Rose´s last blog ..Understanding Google PageRank

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 23:20
ha ha, Did you do that for me Rose! lol

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 23:25
Knowing your limitations and weaknesses is really important. Good tip Rose
theinfopreneur´s last blog ..My Promise to You

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:51
Great point about knowing your limitations. It’s wrong for those to preach or blog about subjects that they haven’t done or had any success in themselves.

Sorry if it seemed I stole your blog post idea from the other day. I honestly didn’t see it until after I’d written it (after seeing this comment) James just gave me the topic to write about!
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Dave Doolin Twitter: websiteweekend January 6, 2010 at 01:36: The only real issue is who’s posing and who isn’t.

If you do a Google search on “relative versus absolute expert” you can read my opinion as written on There Is No Box. I’d leave a link, but it’s not my blog and I don’t want to hijack.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Made to Stick: Earworms for your brain

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 08:57
Dave that’s how I look at it, posing or producing.

Good call

[Reply]
Jordan Cooper Twitter: NotAProBlog January 6, 2010 at 05:36: You really want to see a qualification test for bloggers, Sarge?

So, instead of reading someone’s advice and determining their expertise for yourself, you’d rather have some entity outside of your control telling you who to trust? I’d think that’s even worse than having no “certification” standards at all.

Take a look at a large proportion of people who have degrees in a field and still seem to have no “real world” or “common-sense” clue about anything. Then take a look at those who dropped out of high school and see what innovative new ways of thinking they’ve blazed in an industry. A piece of paper that says “you’re an expert” doesn’t mean anything. All it says it that you fulfilled a requirement set down from a self-appointed authoritative body.

Certification in blogging I feel would make for MORE cookie-cutter types and ruin what blogging is supposed to be all about. Being yourself, sharing your experiences and hopefully, helping people in the process. Don’t ya think?
Jordan Cooper´s last blog ..Google Updates Pagerank, Blogger Intelligence Remains Unchanged

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 08:40
Hopefully Sarge will get onto this soon,

I totally agree with your Jordan that certificates tend to pigeon hole and force mould the person, which as you say would make identical websites all over the place

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:38
Sorry, comments on this blog seem to be moderated before being taken live. I was all ready to go with replying to comments yesterday!

The comment about qualifications for bloggers was more to accommodate those that are getting a bit peeved at all these self proclaimed ‘experts’ when they’re not. A form of qualification may help that in some way in the minds of others. People can still decide whether to trust them or not, it’s up to them. In my educational background of multimedia the degree means nothing to most, it’s all about your portfolio and experience.

I have nothing against education as long as it’s in the areas you want to learn more about. The piece of paper you get can go to hell. I’m not even sure where mine is. Use the information you’ve learned and take action upon it. People will determine your status for you.

I totally agree with you. Why do you think I’ve popped out of the ‘rat race’ I don’t want to be the normal guy sitting in an office all day. I’ve got my own projects and aspirations I want to at least have a crack at. I want to learn the things I want to learn.

The education system is in place in my mind to keep society in tact and not let too many people stray off. It’s risky business, the rat race is the ’safe’ option and keeps the wheels of the world in motion.

Want to be the next google? Go on your own 2 feet, you won’t make it being an employee the rest of your life.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Don Power
Twitter: donpower
Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 10:34
I’ve been in the rat race for 20 years, Sarge – right up until Jan-July 2009 when I was working an executive IT sales job from home…

I got a taste of what it can be like doing a productive job from the sanctity (and I use that term deliberately!) of your own home – “Master of your own Domain” as @AllynPaul puts it!

And you are right – you will NEVER conquer the world as a salaried employee. Good on you that you’ve learned that in your 20’s – you’ve got a 20 year head start on me but I think our paths are still leading down the same destination – SUCCESS!

Cheers mate! Well done!

- Don
Don Power´s last blog ..How to Make Fire from a Block of Ice

[Reply]
Dragon Blogger January 6, 2010 at 06:13: Really well written article, we are all learning and few people are experts in this ever changing landscape. Most are lucky or have hit a niche. I am already following you on twitter.

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:46
Thanks Dragon Blogger.

I think it was Jordan that said we should be more conscious of who we’re getting information from and do background checks. It’s very easy to take information to heart on the internet without knowing where they’ve come from and whether they really know about the subject they’re discussing.
Show us some evidence!
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Tom Twitter: BuildThatListCo January 6, 2010 at 06:25: I totally agree with you point that we should be problem solvers, not experts! A lot of people are so busy pretending to be experts that they fail to help the people that they are able to!

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 08:35
hi Tom,

I agree too, giving advice is the only route to becoming an expert, but it takes time, years not months

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:43
Exactly, stop worrying about being an expert and just help people out. Find out how you can better help them, and do it. If you’re really after the ‘expert’ status I’m sure it will come eventually if you keep at it.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Eric Twitter: bluepop13 January 6, 2010 at 07:42: When you can help someone else improve their lives in some way and they come back to you for more information on that topic that’s the starting point.

When that person and others recommend you to who they know for the help you have given them, that’s when you’re getting somewhere.

Finally, when someone you have helped is known for what they have done and they make it clear that you were the start to where they are now, that’s when you’re considered a master or a pro or an expert.

Everyone has their own word and thoughts on this. This is mine.
Eric´s last blog ..Happy New Year 2010

[Reply]
theinfopreneur
Twitter: theinfopreneur
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 08:30
Hi Eric,

Great point, Sarge what do you think?

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:41
That’s a great way of looking at it and I like it a lot. We all have our own opinions and I can’t really fault this one.

If people are recommending you and you’ve helping solve problems and you’ve been at it for a while and have that experience then *I* would consider them an ‘expert’ in their field.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Kikolani Twitter: kikolani January 6, 2010 at 20:53: I agree that there are different levels of experts. Someone who has been blogging for just a year would not necessarily be an “expert” compared to someone who has been blogging for five years. But to someone who just started, the tips of a year long blogger would probably be easily digestable expert advice.
Kikolani´s last blog ..Reasons to Love CommentLuv Blogs

[Reply]
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com
Twitter: beginnerblogger
Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 23:40
It depends on who you are helping in the end. If they’re benefiting from your advice and solving their problems then you’re the ‘expert’ to them and they’ll love you for it.
Sarge | BeginnerBlogger.com´s last blog ..Feeling Obligated To Reciprocate In The Blogging World

[Reply]
Keith Twitter: kbloemendaal January 7, 2010 at 22:43: I became a pro-blogger the minute I decided to start blogging!

But really, my ecommerce blog is my source of income, but I blog because I am opinionated on everything and it allows me to have a voice…
Keith´s last blog ..6 Tips On Post Structure

[Reply]

Beginner Blogger v Problogger, When Do You Become an Expert? – Guest Post

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