Facebook Sales Tactics….NOT!!

I have to laugh…..

Today I witnessed a great example of bad sales behaviour. In fact. It was even worse. Let’s say it was just bad human behaviour.

I should know better than to roll out of bed and check my email before I have even put my glasses on, let alone had a coffee. But hey! I am in Seattle, and it’s  6am here. So 9am on the East Coast and stuff is happening already at the office. My first emails this morning were a shock, and then a laugh.

The first email was a rude email from a man who signed up to our newsletter in August. Let’s be clear about the facts. He answered a Google Adword Ad. Went to a our site that clearly states you are signing up for a twice a month newsletter. He signed up and stayed in our database for 2 months while receiving the information he asked for.  Then he decided to send me a note that said:

“Stop bothering me bitch”

….Me bothering him? He signed up. He received the product we promised to send. But I am bothering him. Oh well. 

But it gets worse. Less than 15 minutes after he sends THAT email, he sends a second. This time a friend request on Facebook asking me to be part of his personal and professional community! I couldn’t help but respond. Normally I ignore this stuff but come on….how could I let this one go!

“Dear Octavio…what gives……”  + a passive aggressive lambasting

Suffice it to say I have not heard back from him.

Sales lesson?  Facebook is a great way to build a profile and a network for your business, if used correctly. My advice: if you want to build a Facebook following of friends, and an online professional network , start by being nice to people first. Calling them names and then asking to be their friend will not work at building a network nor will it work at building sales.

Rant over. Thanks for indulging me. Back to recession proof sales tactics tomorrow. I promise.

Cheers Colleen

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