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Srsly? My Google+ Seminar Was a Joke, Apparently This One’s For Reals
A couple of days ago, I created a fun, fake joke post about how you could attend my seminar on how to become a Google+ expert. Most thought it was real (no idea why) and some were very upset and/or angry that I would offer a course for a social network that has been live for less than a month, has already been notified changes are coming and is only used by social media experts to talk about social media experts and Google+. Of course once they realized that it was a joke, everyone had a good laugh.
But apparently one person saw a gold rush and decided to actually offer a one-hour course so soon post launch — that person? Chris Brogan. Before I continue, let me say that while I have never met Chris, he does come across as genuine. I’d place him second in terms of being able to round up the sheeps – and unlike the person I’d put first, Chris appears to have built his following organically which is awesome. He’s also been one of the few people to be able to post paid affiliate links into his streams without huge backlash. My issue isn’t that he is offering this course, but rather that he should have waited at least six months for the network to balance itself.
Chris is offering a one-hour session for $50 on, “How To Learn Google+ for Business and Networking”. He plans to teach attendees the following:
- Profile tips and tricks.
- Organizing people in circles.
- Finding the good stuff.
- How to post engaging material.
- Keeping up with comments.
- Making the most of your time.
Funny enough some of his agenda items match mine – and the others on his list are very general. He is also going to offer a Q&A session for an hour after the learning takes place.
I currently follow Chris on Google+ and he’s done a great job of posting content that helps him maximize and build the farm. He posts silly posts, silly polls, photo posts, etc (he does post a lot of useful content as well) and with the size of his audience, these posts provide him with amazing stat padding (shares, +1s, comments) as well as to recruit new users. The casual user has no idea that there is more going on than just, “post a photo of yourself right this minute.” I am guessing he will teach attendees some of these tips during the course.
Why do I think it’s absurd to offer a paid course for Google+ at this point? Here are just a few reasons why:
- Google+ is not open to the public — you still need an invite to get in.
- Business pages for Google+ haven’t launched yet and we don’t even know how long before a regular, non-suggested business will be able to register
- So far the users are basically social media experts and agency people, normals aren’t even interested yet
- Once the normals arrive (if they do, I still question this), Google+ will be a very different place rendering Chris’ course even that much more off-base
- Everyone has said that major updates are coming to Google+
- Somehow Chris has logged over 250 hours on Google+ since it’s launch less than 22 days ago as of the time of his seminar ad posting
At the end of the day, this is America and Chris has a right to peddle his wares anyway he wants. Is he taking advantage of his farm? Sadly I do agree to some point (and I hate to say that). I think the attendees would be better suited donating the $50 to a relief organization. There’s plenty of time to become a Google+ expert once the system stabilizes.
Nothing in his agenda is anything the attendees won’t pick up just by using the service (without any extra effort!). I think his decision to jump so quickly will tarnish his reputation a bit but in this Internet world, that should only last a quick minute.
And trust me, Chris’ course is just the beginning — we will see plenty more people who want to get some of the Google+ gold.
Further Reading: Gini Dietrich at Spin Sucks covers the discussion very well – I suggest reading the nearly 250 comments as well.
Hi Allen,
Seriously? Someone thought your first (awesome, by the way) post was a real seminar? Oh, people, really need to get a grip.
As for my opinion on this whole topic, it’s pretty well encapsulated very early on in the avalanche of comments on Gini’s equally smart post.
yes just do some searches on google+ or twitter – people very much thought it was real :) i always try to plant a few clear clues in my fake posts that the post is a fake but i guess people just saw the headline
Great dialogue….I just have one question for you Chris….Why did you leave Facebook? How do you intend to consult businesses on social, digital strategy when you entirely left (Seriously, he has abandoned his FB account)…
Anyone that just leaves his “trust agents” to me is an epic fail..Don’t know how or why anyone could ever pay you to speak, teach or consult a biz when you just wiped out a billion strong network… :)
Excellent response, Chris. I think that many of the former commenters are missing a major point. In many cases; plopping down $50 for a course of this nature is ALSO a vote of confidence for other content that someone has produced. There have been many cases where someone that I have been following online for a long time and who has provided me valuable content comes up with a “product” and I will purchase it simply to let them know I appreciate what they have provided me in the past. I’m actually not a follower of Chris Brogan; but I presume that a number of the people who have signed up are doing just that.
“Nothing in his agenda is anything the attendees won’t pick up just by using the service (without any extra effort!).”
Couldn’t you say the same for twitter and facebook? I know a lot of people who pay for education/training on those social networks and are extremely happy that they invested that money.
Are you also saying everyone is on the same learning curve? I also know a lot of people who might not get circles or how to use them or might get g+ at first that could use those tips. I’ve been using G+ since the second or third day and I’ve even considered spending the $47 to learn any cool tips or tricks Chris may be using that I haven’t discovered.
I’ve been using photoshop professionally for 10 years, but i still pay for Lynda and Kelby Training classes.
You will still sign me up for the waiting list for your course. And Buzz me an invite. Everyone’s getting on the bandwagon now :)
I’m not surprised that someone logged more than 250 hours in 22 days. Pathetic, but not surprising.
All very fair points. And I’m certain not twisting anyone’s arm to join. My first few hundred people all mentioned that they just wanted some help with tidbits here and there. You said this:
Google+ is not open to the public — you still need an invite to get in.
> true. So only people who are in will buy. That # is currently over 10 MILLION, according to Larry Page. Not a bad market.
Business pages for Google+ haven’t launched yet and we don’t even know how long before a regular, non-suggested business will be able to register
>>I’m selling how to use it for business, not how to build a business page. I’m sure that’ll come in time. In my case, I’m already making business happen, and there are already thousands and thousands of Fortune 500 companies connecting with me, so they might want to know. If they don’t, they won’t buy.
So far the users are basically social media experts and agency people, normals aren’t even interested yet
>> I’ve got a grandmother with 14 grandkids following me, Steve Garfield’s mom (in her late 80s), and plenty of others who aren’t social media experts. I’m also having a really good conversation with a lot of the writers at Marvel Comics, none of whom are particularly tech-nerdy, per se.
Once the normals arrive (if they do, I still question this), Google+ will be a very different place rendering Chris’ course even that much more off-base
>>> Hard for you to say that, given that my information is pretty much going to cover how the tools work, not how many people are on the system.
Everyone has said that major updates are coming to Google+
>>> Have you held off using the site to wait for the updates? 10 Million people haven’t. Who cares?
Somehow Chris has logged over 250 hours on Google+ since it’s launch less than 22 days ago as of the time of his seminar ad posting
>>> Yep. That’s a LOT of hours of time. Google “No I don’t sleep.” I should still rank #1-ish. : )
–
So, I think it’s all valid. I’m selling a course. Who cares? Guess who will buy? People who have a sense of what I have offered in the past, people who might have benefitted from my free information (available daily at my website), and people who have an urge to get a jump up in their learning.
Know who complains about this the most? People who would never need my course. : )
—
I’m a fan, sir. : )
I still look forward to meeting you one day – assuming of course you aren’t a Red Sox fan because then it is war :)
I will reply to your comments tomorrow.
Well crap. I’m not *really* a sox fan, but I’m a Boston guy, so I’m not a Yankees fan. : )
We’ll let you be a Cubs fan, if you like. We always welcome new fans.
ok so I will leave that characteristic at “neutral”
Thousands and thousands of Fortune 500 companies?
I’ve followed Chris for some time now and I wouldn’t expect this. You’re right, just 15 minutes of tinkering and you have it figured out for the most part. Couldn’t agree more with all your points.
NIce post. One question though, are you sure you still need an invite? It you visit the Google Plus page (plus.google.com) without being signed in, in no longer talks about the field trial, instead it just has a sign in link.
It appears Google might have opened it up without telling anyone. :)
great post (too bad Chris Brogan isn’t bright enough to understand that he is being made fun of)
Just to be clear – I am absolutely not making fun of Chris.
And now it’s my turn to thank you! Your original blog post will go down in the history of one of my favorites. Especially after seeing a company offering a $1,200 six-week course on the use of Google+.
I’m with you – we live in America and God bless those who take advantage of people’s fears. I’d just rather find the value, learn the tool, and THEN talk about how it fits into a larger marketing strategy.
At the end of the day, it’s just another tool that may or may not fit your business strategy. Until we figure out what it is, let’s let the dust settle.
Agree – the best part of this is that I found a new blog (yours) to read.
Let’s return to this in six months…
And mine of yours! I have Shelly Kramer to thank for that.
About time you gave me credit for all the schizz I find and you steal to write about. #thatisall
Great post – again, Allen :)))
Oh my love. If it weren’t for you and Danny Brown, I’d have no ideas. Steal away, is my motto!