This article is a follow-up to my deep dive into Excel and its relationship with social media influence, as discussed in my previous episode, The Absurdity of Social Media Influence in the Excel Ecosystem. That deep dive included an article and a podcast reading by Bill, exploring how Excel content is shaped by social media dynamics rather than practical enterprise needs.
In this follow-up, I will examine the potential backlash to my claims and address key arguments raised against them. A central point I made in my previous article is that much of the Excel content being produced caters to novices—who form the largest audience—but fails to meet enterprise management requirements. Without addressing the budget review challenge and similar real-world needs, the Excel training landscape is leading to inefficient practices, often termed Excel Hell.
Addressing the Backlash
1. “No One Is Looking for Your Content”
One common argument is that social media-driven Excel influencers are simply providing what the majority wants. The audience primarily consists of novices, and social media metrics (likes, shares, and comments) prove that these influencers are delivering popular content.
My response: Yes, the content aligns with demand, but that’s the problem. The training ecosystem is driven by engagement metrics rather than practical effectiveness in real-world enterprise applications. The largest audience may be novices, but the most critical users—enterprise managers—are being underserved.
Ninety percent of Excel use cases exist in enterprises, where spreadsheets are not created by novices but by professionals following management requirements. However, most training content does not cater to this audience, leading to inefficiencies that fuel the rise of ERP systems, FP&A tools, and industry-wide perceptions that Excel is useless. This perception exists because social media-driven Excel training promotes inefficient techniques that do not scale in an enterprise setting.
2. “Social Media Tricks Drive Engagement, Not Practicality”
Another pushback is that influencers succeed because they leverage social media techniques—eye-catching thumbnails, exaggerated expressions, and over-explained solutions—to maximize engagement. They are not necessarily providing the best solutions but rather the most engaging ones.
My response: Precisely. The primary goal is not education but engagement. Techniques that take seconds to explain are stretched into lengthy videos to maximize watch time. These influencers are rewarded with likes and Microsoft MVP recognition, reinforcing a cycle where superficial solutions dominate over scalable, enterprise-level techniques. This dynamic leads to inefficient Excel usage, reinforcing the push toward alternative enterprise tools.
3. “Aren’t You Also Using Social Media?”
Some might argue that by publishing this critique on social media, I am guilty of the same behavior I am criticizing.
My response: I use social media as a corrective tool, not a promotional one. If misinformation and inefficient techniques are being spread on social platforms, then that is where I must engage to correct them. The difference lies in intent—I seek to educate and correct misconceptions rather than chase metrics.
4. “This Is Advanced Excel—Novices Won’t Understand It”
A common defense is that advanced Excel features such as Power Query, dynamic arrays, LAMBDA functions, and Python integration are too complex for beginners, so influencers focus on simpler techniques.
My response: Complexity is relative. The real issue is not whether a technique is advanced but whether it is the right technique for the job. Many social media solutions present unnecessarily complicated methods when a more straightforward, scalable approach exists. The problem is not with Excel’s complexity but with the misrepresentation of what is truly efficient.
For example, I have demonstrated that problems taking influencers six to seven minutes to explain can be solved in under 30 seconds using first principles. These simpler, more scalable methods are ignored because they don’t generate engagement.
5. “You Are Hostile Toward Influencers”
Some argue that my critique is an attack on individuals rather than the ecosystem.
My response: This is not about attacking individuals; it is about calling attention to the misalignment between Excel training content and real-world enterprise needs. The issue is systemic. If an influencer’s content does not address the requirements of 90% of Excel’s real-world use cases, then that content is irrelevant in an enterprise setting.
Leila Gharani summarized it best when I spoke with her at the Global Excel Summit. She said, You’re showing Excel techniques for a different scenario—the enterprise scenario. Influencers teaching standalone Excel usage shouldn’t have a problem with that, as it’s simply a different focus.
The Bigger Picture
The fundamental question remains: Who is Excel training content really for? If it’s designed purely for engagement, then social media influencers will continue promoting inefficient techniques. However, if the goal is to enhance real-world enterprise productivity, then training must shift toward methods that align with management expectations and scalable workflows.
The current state of Excel training mirrors a well-known cartoon: one kiosk offers “Easy but Wrong Answers,” and another offers “Difficult but Right Answers.” The crowd flocks to the former, while the latter remains largely ignored. Social media influence has amplified this problem, rewarding popularity over practicality.
But there is hope. By highlighting these issues, we can begin steering Excel learners toward solutions that genuinely prepare them for enterprise success.
The question is: Are we willing to challenge the status quo?
Podcast narrated by Bill.
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