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I know I'm not the only one who is on BN who has been in this industry for years.
I'm sure some of you have also experienced this highly annoying 'habit' of the nouveau successful'

Let me try to describe the behavior without sounding arrogant... for it is their arrogance that is truly what irks me!

I get a friend request, and a letter of introduction from someone whom I recognize because I bother to NOTICE others on this board. The letter tells me how fantastic they are at social media marketing... and should I need their help, I should contact them.

I reply back with a little clue that should make them actually visit my profile before continuing the conversation... but they obviously dont. Because their agenda is all about THEM.

Now - I have been at this for a long time. I'm a constant student, and something of an expert.

If your posts are all written from a place of 'Im cool and all knowing" - and you approach a 'veteran marketer' with your cool and all knowing vibe... and you dont even bother to MEET me before you pitch me... you just LOST.

End of conversation. Door shut. Bye bye.

[Aaron Bennett Contribution Level: 2]

There obviously playing for numbers, just hoping to get the instant "buyers"...But it makes me curious why they would choose that line of business, and how many sales they have lost due to the lack of followup...

[Colin Durkin Company: Global Wealth Trade Corporation Contribution Level: 3]

LOL, it seems like most marketers internet or straight up MLMers aren't really what they may have you believe. One thing that I am starting to find out more and more. I understand where you are coming from Melanie (btw thanks for the add on facebook as a friend - I wasn't the one she is referring to either). But by the same token, yourself and other attraction marketing, top trainers have also created the monster that you are talking about. The same thing happened with people that learned street prospecting and the 3 foot rule. Decent ways of doing things when the approach is done properly but the problem is that people will interpret things differently. And some people took "old school" training to mean hound everyone, drop business cards to every waiter/waitress they saw without bothering to build like and trust with the person. Then came email marketing and we got spammers, then came social media and we got spammers on those platforms as well. The underlying problem with all of these things is the lack of like and trust being built and people vomiting their information (whether it is their opportunity/marketing system/training program) it doesn't matter what it is... spewing information on someone like Old Faithful is the WRONG way to do things. Create curiosity and if you are making a first contact with someone in a prospecting fashion and if you are doing most of the talking then you aren't doing it right. Obviously this isn't directed at you but more at the people that might approach you or another veteran in the industry. But like I said, attraction marketing is partially to blame for this as well so there needs to be some accountability there too.

[Chris Tryon Company: Jerky Direct Contribution Level: 4]

Hi Melanie, for the record I respect you. I don't you very well, but that doesn't matter. You are in a league of your own. Definitely NOT a pretender.

I was surprised last week, when I sent a couple of introductory messages and the individuals actually did their homework. Unfortunately, they did not follow-up. I am not looking for a new opportunity, but I was curious based on some of the info. they shared in their posts. Perhaps down the road, I might be seriously interested in adding a new business to what I am currently doing.

I am trying to do a better job of "meeting people" as you stated. That takes work. You don't build relationships over-night and clearly internet marketing is not a "quick fix." Like everything else that is worth having, if you really want it bad enough, you are going to have to work for it. Isn't that what netWORK marketing is all about?

[Aaron Bennett Contribution Level: 2]

Melanie,

You brought up a good point...So many people try to sell you on a product. They may even have researched your site, your info, and have done all the necessary pre-sales homework. You would think that when they have the opportunity to have someone like yourself (who is looking) respond to them after they have done so much work, that they would spend the couple extra minutes to try to seal the deal. I do a lot of marketing/sales training outside of this area (don't worry, fairly specific areas, so don't think I'm "pitching" you), but it amazes me how many people don't follow up. Usually, but not always, it's a fear factor - In this business, most people just hope you'll buy and never actually have to "talk" to you. That's probably the case in this because they seem to be doing the homework, but not investing the back-end time...OR...They get to a financial point where they are "getting by" and it's not worth the effort. In both cases, it's unfortunate and one of the big reasons why network marketing get's a bad-wrap.
In that same breath, I will also say we have all missed the boat here and there on followup, so we can't point the finger to hard without recognizing that sheer numbers indicate that just about all of us have missed followup on multiple occasions...

Good luck to you all!

I have a confession to make...
I DO NOT say hello to every new friend I make on FB!
I just dont have the time to send that pre-written introductory email. Nor do I have time to personally check out everyone's profile so I can be specific in my greeting.

I also dont go and paste my hello on every page.

Instead, I watch the status updates on my friends and interact genuinely.

And guess what- Facebook is where most of my business comes from these days. So I must be doing something right.

Colin, you may be right.
I actually taught people how to send the emails to their new friends in social networks ... back in 2007.
I created videos for my list on the art of a generic 'hello' with a well written sig file.
And now that same strategy irks me!

I really wouldn't point a finger-
but -
the person that pushed me over the line to post this is here all the time.
They post articles and call them forum threads.
They are self professed experts.
Their tone just doesn't jive with my sensibilities.

People don't care about you until they know how much you care.
Remember that!

Hi Melanie, for the record I respect you. I don't know you very well, but that doesn't matter. You are in a league of your own. Definitely NOT a pretender.

Chris, that made my night! Thank you so very much. Are we FB friends ? http://www.facebook.com/melaniemilletics

[Aaron Bennett Contribution Level: 2]

Good stuff Melanie...

A little hard-core, but you say what many think already...At least there's no guessing as to what's on your mind!

Best wishes,

[Mike Hutchins Contribution Level: 2]

Unfortunately, the Internet is full of small people who hide behind computer screens and stay anonymous. They simply play the "numbers" game, without regard to the "human" element.

They are just not very good at what they do. They simply don't know or care that they may offend a seasoned professional with offers of assistance.

All the better for us!

[Colin Durkin Company: Global Wealth Trade Corporation Contribution Level: 3]

Colin, you may be right.
I actually taught people how to send the emails to their new friends in social networks ... back in 2007.
I created videos for my list on the art of a generic 'hello' with a well written sig file.
And now that same strategy irks me!

Dually noted Melanie, and the point of my post wasn't to point any fingers at yourself or any of the other trainers on this network. It was merely to say that just like any other training, there are going to be people that take it the wrong way, and more importantly take a strategy as a magic bullet and never progress their education on the subject. I was happy to see your post about this subject because I think it is all too often overlooked. I'm actually surprised there isn't more conversation on this thread.

[Aaron Bennett Contribution Level: 2]

You guys all hit the nail on the head, and granted, we learn from our own endevours and failures...

I feel bad for the person starting online today. They need to study and learn how to do things the right way, but they get blasted with so many "follow my X step system" methods, that they unfortunately get told the wrong path is the right one, and end up spending a lot of money and end up just ticking everyone off.

I think most people mean well, but with all the "bad training", they don't know where to start. I remember when it used to be easy to catch the "black-hat" tips and tricks - and when you just new when something didn't seem "right". Same thing with "spam"...Man, those areas have gotten so convoluded that most newbies couldn't tell you the difference between marketing to the masses and spam (many old ones can't either), and I truly think that, for the most part, they are just doing what they are told, not realizing how much they are muddying up the waters.

I want to keep optimistic on those guys though. I have to keep my hopes up that they will realize that they aren't making the kind of money they can when they practice time tested, proven ways of doing good business, and keep the hope that some will come around. I have found that many do...

Anyway, I hope you all are having a wonderful night (or day - wherever you are)...

Kind Regards,