How to lose friends and alienate followers

How to lose friends and alienate followers

Have you ever felt frustrated by a fellow business owner?  You feel violated, annoyed or p****d off by the way you've been treated?

A few weeks ago I interviewed Naomi Johnson from Really Connect all about LinkedIn for Business, a resource for members of The Business Wow Factor. Sharing her tips, we looked at how to use this tool effectively, create a winning profile and how to use online forums to build relationships and create sales, but in a really effective way. Two of the questions asked by my members were 'What is the etiquette for building relationships online?' and 'How to you promote your services without being salesy?'

So today I'd like to turn this on it's head and here are the 7 tips you need to follow if you want to lose friends and alienate followers 🙂

Yes it's tongue in cheek I know, so I'd love your comments below and feel free to add any more that you've come across during your business journey!!

1. You add me to your list without my permission.  

Personally I don't like it if I'm added to someone's email list without being asked. Whether you meet someone at a networking event or connect with them online, I believe that it isn't good practice to add someone to your list without asking them first. As well as alienating potential clients, you also need to comply with Spam regulations.  It doesn't mean that I don't want to receive your valuable information; I'd just like to be asked first.

2. You try to sell to me without asking if it's OK. 

It is important to realise that selling is important when you are running a business, otherwise you won't have one.  But it's also important to get someone's permission first, even if it is likely to be expected.  Whether this is in a consultation, webinar or event, remember to get agreement up front, as then the other person won't be surprised when you make them an offer - actually they will be expecting it!

3. You contact me cold without getting to know me first. 

I recently had a call from someone I didn't know to try and convince me to sign up to join his Multi-Level Marketing team.  It would have been different if I'd met him at an event, and he was following up with me, but I hadn't.  He didn't take the time to get to know me or connect with me first, and I didn't like it!  Building a business is all about connecting and building relationships and I believe that you should always get to know someone first before contacting them.

4. You promote in online Facebook and LinkedIn groups without also adding value. 

Many people promote their stuff on social media - and this is fine in moderation, I certainly do - but I believe that it is also important to add value too.  You can demonstrate your expertise easily by commenting on posts and on your page, adding your thoughts and by sharing your advice or tips. Then when it comes to 'selling' what you do, people are more likely to buy from you as they understand the value that you provide for free, rather than you promoting blatantly or even in a thinly veined way.

5. You market to me every day. 

There is a fine line between marketing through your list and sharing great value - and I do try and get it right! It does, however, frustrate me when I've signed up to someone's list and all they do is sell to me. Even if it is great value, it turns me off!  I don't know about you, but I certainly quickly unsubscribe. So the morale of this story is to add value, share useful content and then promote something that people will want.

6. You change your message every day. 

I want to know who you are and what you stand for, and if you change your message every day, how can your followers support you? When you know what you want to get known for and all your communication supports this aim, it makes it so much easier for me to refer clients to you.

7. It's all about you! 

The best way to win friends and influence people, rather than losing friends and alienating followers, is to make it all about your reader or prospective client.  Of course, it's important to share your story, personality and style, but ultimately your clients want to know about how you can help them. So find out about them, where they need support and give them what they want (and get to know what they need).

What do you think? 

Do you have any more ways in which you've seen people lose friends and alienate followers?

I'd love your comments on this blog post, and please share using the buttons below. I feel a debate coming on!