Selling to Your Friends? Again?

When and Where Not to Be Selling Your Soap

Social media can be provide great venues for you to get the word out about your cool and awesome stuff. But do you sell to everyone you know? Every time you see them?

Of course not.

“Hey man, can I talk to you about a great business opportunity….”

I remember a time when my (ex)wife and I invited another couple over for dinner one night. It was one of my wife’s best friends and her husband. We had expected a casual night, just hangin’ out with friends.

When they knocked on the door we answered only to see that they were both dressed in business suits. He had on a nice suit and she was wearing something similar. (only with a skirt instead of pants – probably an official name for this?)

My wife and I were in “just hangin’ around the house” outfits – jeans, casual shirts, tennis shoes, etc…. Obviously not trying to close on any power plays that evening.

Anyway, the whole night was one non-stop pitch for an organization that starts with the letter “A” and ends with “Y” (and has “mwa” in the middle). I know for a fact that Amway sells some pretty great stuff. (I’ve seen the stuff that removes rust from a car bumber!) But, this was not the kind of setting to be selling it.

Okay, lesson learned, right? Well you would think so, but…

Recently I’ve been experimenting with a plugin on my website that automatically adds my blog posts to my Facebook page as soon as I publish the post. Pretty cool, right?

Wrong

My Facebook profile is used primarily for “social” interaction with friends, family, acquaintances – maybe a even a few business relationships, but on a social level. For at least a week they graciously put up with having their news feeds punctuated with my billboards pointing to my business’ blog posts. Not cool. The majority my blog posts are meant to educate, not to sell, but still….

That would be like every time you attended a family function or dinner with friends, you would show up in your coat and tie and try to sell them something all night! Not the best way to win a place at the table for the next event.

Taking This Approach With Social Media

Think about this when you’re using your social media platforms. Facebook makes this easy. Just set up a business page and post your wares there. My Twitter activity is different.  Although it can be very social at times, it’s mostly for business related conversation but is still geared to be helpful rather than sales oriented. But you get the idea.

Anyway, my apologies again to the innocent bystanders that I bothered with my “How To Do Great On The Web” posts. (do you think I should publish this on my facebook page? 😉