Jennifer Fong
Today’s post is firmly tongue-in-cheek, however it contains an essential message. Those that have been through my training know that I am a firm proponent of content marketing through social media channels, which means that you do NOT spam the world with your products or your opportunity. Rather, you provide valuable, actionable content that people can use right now without spending a dime, in order to draw people into a relationship with you. Once they know, like, and trust you, then you have a much more potentially successful opportunity to share your business.
So in today’s post, I am going to share with you the very WORST types of status updates and tweets you might find from direct sellers. Keep in mind these are all fictional. But if it sounds even remotely like something you’ve posted lately, take heed! You’ll be a lot more successful with content marketing.
Here we go…PLEASE don’t let this be you!
Bad Facebook Status Updates
- XYZ Company is having a SALE! Buy my products right now and you’ll save 50%. Shop now! Here’s my link…
- I have the greatest business on the planet! Have you thought about direct sales? Are you living your dreams? Join my team today!
- XYZ Product cures cancer and will save the world (UGH! This one had BETTER not be you!!!)
Bad Twitter Tweets/Direct Messages
- I saw you mentioned “Product.” I sell product! Here’s my link!
- Thanks for following me! Click here so you can buy my stuff:…
- You should join my company because it’s the greatest company in the world. Here’s my link…
Notice that all these are “me” focused. They’re all about me and my product/opportunity. Consider now some messages that are YOU focused. People respond a lot better when it’s about them.
- Let your white wine warm up a bit before drinking. You’ll get better flavor.
- This makeup tip will bring out your eyes…
- Need a quick dinner tonight? Try this quick and easy recipe (Link to my blog)
See how now the messages are solving a problem for the reader? Not all the messages immediately send people somewhere. Instead, they are relationship builders that help a person know, like, and trust you before they ever spend a dime with you. Once they like you and opt-in for your messages, they’ll be a lot more likely to buy or join. Just like you can opt-in by clicking here for my newsletter. 
And that’s just smart social media marketing.
What do you think? Have you had experiences on either end of this type of marketing? Would love to read your thoughts in the comments!
Jennifer Fong
Jennifer,
Great article. However, we have started a blog to promote our online software product to the direct-selling industry. Is it your recommendation (based on your comments above) that we avoid out and out promotion of the product? Then what kind of things should a product-based blog touch upon?
Jeff Aronson
RoqLogic, Inc.
Jeff,
Great question! I’ve found that the most effective strategy for any online marketing is a content-based approach, which is strictly YOU-centered. So after you’ve identified your targeted niche market, and the common problems they have that are related to your product, your blog should provide solutions your target market can use right now without spending a dime. This helps to position you as a thought leader that your prospects want more information from. When they sign up for your newsletter, essentially opting-in, then you are able to provide more specific information about your software, along with more content. But the more VALUE you provide, the more likely people are to do business with you. Your website is designed to provide features and benefits of your product. The purpose of a blog is different.
Hope that helps!
Jennifer
Jennifer, you make such excellent points. I’m highlighting important direct sales blogs this week on the WAHM Talk Radio blog and I’m sending readers your way!
Angela,
Thanks so much! I appreciate it!
Jennifer
Jennifer -
this is great perspective and helps me stop and take stock of what I’ve been doing with my business. I appreciate this so much!
Excellent post. I myself use social media but you ave offered different dimension which will really help. Keep it up.
I do not do direct sales anymore, but these are so true, and I cringe whenever I see those bad examples.
I agree, Jennifer, and it takes time to retrain bad habits. On my blog, I have topic pages for those who want to know more about my business and me. I my blog, I try to keep it to story telling, more personal and more loosely related to my business.
As a direct marketer, it’s hard to not talk about my business or products. While online I do find other interesting things to pass on but ‘when you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail’.
I think that we can talk about ourselves and our business. That is how people get to know us, like us and trust us. We just have to make the purpose of telling the story an example of how we, our business or product can solve a problem for someone else.
Excellent points and I will definitely use this information to post differently. Maybe instead of posting spa deals, I should focus on weekly skin care tips that can help people with their skin issues. Is that along the lines of what you are talking about? Thanks.
That’s exactly it Nadine! Good for you, taking the info and running with it. Your business will be better for it.
Cheers!
Jennifer
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