Michael thanks for doing a great post which includes a blend of Social Media sources. This will serve to enlighten, challenge, and/or weaken the resolve of an agency. All of which can be good since if it weakens the resolve they need to do what they know.

One thing that I noticed was that the instinct will be to “bill accordingly” which is apt, yet I’d suggest being just a little more conservative. Quite frankly a new rep from an agency won’t necessarily be worth the billable rate. That sounds caustic, but I believe it to be a reality.

As a quiet observer and network at different levels, I’ve noticed blatant mistakes from some labeled as agencies and they are corporate. I’m not out to say a name or even suggest who it could be, but being in an agency doesn’t provide the mindset or the training for Social Media. I say it respectfully and not flippantly. There are some things that have to be learned by doing. There are other things that even if the intellect is there the personality type could be wrong.

It’s the naturally relational, authentically transparent, as well as conversational people would be the representatives the agencies need to train.
Ideally they should have already had multiple Social accounts with conversations as well as a broader audience that shares their interest.

I would suggest that the agencies stay away from the employees that will tell someone something to the face and then behind the back do the opposite. These exist in almost every company and since Social networking is on the front lines and when representing a company and their best interests there needs to be integrity. Otherwise there’s a possibility that the companies reputation and brand will be compromised.

I love social networking and enjoy seeing the interactions and conversing. If the agencies pick the right people and keep this all in mind they’ll have a couple extra tips to create a great experience for everyone.

Just my two cent!
@JRStratford

FYI, Seth GODIN > not Seth Goggin