Word on the street is at Affiliate Summit West Gary Vaynerchuk started some discussion about whether social media was REAL work. Of course Gary said it was, as he get’s his hustle on everyday in the social media world. I’d really like to hear what @garyvee said in depth about balancing social media with ‘real work’.

“Social media IS real work”, but it’s got to be done with a purpose. One of Gary’s main points when i saw him at Web2 expo NY was ‘YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A BUSINESS MODEL’. That’s what I consider “real work”; your business model, making money and doing income producing activities.

The social media world is very confused becuase it operates ass backwards from “real work”. Let me explain: Social Media is the marketing channel; your platform to broadcast your message, to harness a tribe,gain a following, etc. So many people in SM develop killer marketing channels without a business model like Gary’s. If Gary wasn’t selling $50m in wine, his tv show would still be a hit, but far less of a business model.

Gary continued during his Web2NY keynote, to say “getting a bunch of users and flipping it, is NOT a business model.” Tons of people see their video blogs or social networks as a way to control a bunch of eyeballs and flash some advertising in front of their user base. While this IS a business model, they aren’t selling a product or a service. Combine a “real business model” with “advertising” and your golden.

Gary, if your listening we’d love to hear what you have to say on the subject! Readers, please comment and let me know your opinion: is social media real work? How much of your time is allocated to real work vs. social media?