By Gini Dietrich
Do you know I have yet to meet Mack Collier in real life?
It’s kind of crazy. We’ve been following one another around the web for years now, but have never been in the same spot just once.
I’ve even been to Alabama and still. Nothing. But I did have a really good milkshake there. That’s something.
Mack is a social media celebrity. He is a highly sought-after speaker. He founded and moderates #Blogchat (where I will be a guest on November 2nd at 9 p.m. ET). He is the author of Think Like a Rock Star: How to Create Social Media and Marketing Strategies that Turn Customers into Fans.
And today he sits on the Spin Sucks Inquisition hot seat.
What is the Biggest Mistake You’ve Made in Your Career?
I am terrible at promoting and marketing myself. I just hate it, I tell clients they need to do it and don’t follow my own advice.
What I’ve learned over the last few years is that the best time to promote yourself is when you are busy. I used to make the mistake of not promoting myself at all when I was busy, which meant when the current projects ended, I had fewer new leads because I hadn’t been marketing and promoting myself like I should have been.
What is One Thing about Yourself that Would Surprise Most People?
I am very much an online extrovert and offline introvert.
I love social media because it’s so much easier to connect and communicate online. But if I am at an event with a bunch of strangers, I hate it.
Even when I am at an event where I know a lot of the attendees and speakers, after a full day I just want to be along in my hotel room and recharge.
Other introverts will understand what I mean here.
If You Could Achieve Everything You Ever Wanted in Life, but Had to Die 10 Years Sooner, Would You Make that Trade?
I started to say I would take the 10-year haircut, but I am stubborn enough to think I can achieve everything I want anyway, so no, I wouldn’t make that trade.
What Industry Advice or Practice Would You Most Like to Cry Foul On?
Social media experts/ninjas/gurus who say that all companies need to do to win at social media is to “create awesome content.”
That’s like saying all you need to do to be rich is win the lottery.
The true experts are the ones who can SHOW you how to create awesome content, not just tell you that you need to.
What is the Best Book You’ve Read in the Past Six Months?
Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky.
Why Does Spin Suck?
Because spin assumes that the people hearing the spin are dumb enough to believe it.
That’s never the case, eventually we all find out it was just spin, and your reputation is hurt as a result.
Where You Can Find Mack Collier
As a true social media strategist would be, you can find Mack all over the web. Choose your poison!
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Slideshare.
You also can find him blogging on his aptly named site and, of course, on #BlogChat on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET.
You can read his book, Think Like a Rock Star.
And, while he won’t toot his own horn, I will!
He may be busy right now so let’s help him fill his pipeline.
If you need help with social media strategy, a brand ambassador program, social media engagement, or social media effectiveness, you can reach him here.