1. Filling out a company's contact form on the website with ”contact me if you need…” Yep, I’ll get right on that.
Mike, for example, was able to jam an entire spam email onto our company contact form...impressive. Sure, I will take the time to read the entire message box and get back to you.
But wait, sensing that I might not take him seriously, he submits the form again 2 minutes later.
2. Sending an email blast with the generic intro of "Dear Sir." Forget everything you've learned about 1 to 1 marketing, personalization, relevancy, this just might work. Just get a list, and go.
3. Even better, the telemarketing version of the "no effort" approach. Cold calling and asking; “can you please tell me who handles…” Instead of you doing your job, you're now asking me to do it for you -- beautiful.
4. Some telemarketers have taken it to a whole new level. Love the folks who leave a message without saying why they are calling, but then ask you to call them back. And my personal favorite -- the rep who invented the "I'm returning your call..." It's like the guy you knew in college that spent hours figuring out how to cheat for a test, instead of using the time to study.
5. Advertising your services in the comment section of a blog. Let's take Jeff D, he didn't even try to hide it in a link. He went straight for the kill.
It's not all bad because he does give me "props" at the end of the ad..."I like your information it is helpful to me." Mmm, is it helpful because it gives you an opportunity to display spam? Apparently so, because Jeff D comes back 6 days later, this time pimping new services, Website design and development. Notice I get no "props" this time. Pretty tricky changing the name of the company, almost didn't catch him.
To Jeff D, and all the other spammers, know that bloggers decide whether or not to post your comments. The comments above never made it public, I saved them for my own personal enjoyment, and this blog post. Also, know that Blogspot, as well as other platforms, now have enable spam filters. Good luck on future postings. 6. Posting a discussion within a Linked-in group that isn’t a discussion, but rather, an advertisement for your company…it’s not a discussion; it’s spam, and it’s annoying.
Take Mr. Gupta for example, at Web Box Office. He's advertising "Learn the secrets to success with attendee-funded webinars." Sounds good, huh. Guess who's paying for the webinar...you are, Mr. attendee, if you register.
7. Using the yellow pages as your prospect database. I’m not kidding, people are still using it. Just wait until they find out about the internet.
7. Using the yellow pages as your prospect database. I’m not kidding, people are still using it. Just wait until they find out about the internet.
8. Offering something FREE, unless it is truly FREE. Taking a credit card number so you can start billing a customer after a "free" trial is not free. This is not selling, it's scamming. There are rules, some people call them laws, governing this practice. See FreeCredit Report.com for an example of how not to do it.
9. Any email coming from Nigeria, or any other country, offering a fortune if you could just help them by giving them your social security number, bank account number, etc. To good to be true, something for nothing? Any of this ringing a bell? Ok, maybe I'm a little bitter because I'm still waiting for my $1M from the British Lottery Authority.
10. Actually, couldn't think of a 10th, but I'm sure there's one or more out there. I'd love to hear your experiences. Add your "Top 10" story in the comment section, but please easy on the spam. Jeff D takes up a lot of my time.
These are classic, Scott. Great list - especially since most readers have experienced many of these techniques noted on your list. That said, if you take an economic perspective, the propensity of SPAM is directly proportional to the number of potential buyers and inversely proportional to the transaction size and complexity of the buy. Unlike true B2B selling with considered, 5-, 6-, or 7-figure purchases targeted to limited, niche buyer sets, the hit rate on consumer SPAM must work - or people wouldn't continue doing it. For instance, just one naive respondent to 50 million "Nigerian fortune" emails is considered a win for the month. With the Internet and social media, the cost of distribution has effectively approach zero. So, I don't expect the SPAM to stop - someone's making money off of it. On a related note, I was talking to a senior executive at LinkedIn, and I quipped "what happens to your model when everyone is connected to everyone?" Although personal egos (how many contacts do you have?) would suggest this phenomenon could occur one day, the executive agreed that SPAM and no-value relationships will ultimately cause a pull-back in people's networks - with members deleting offenders and being more restrictive on who connects.
ReplyDeleteFrom Katrina Lowes -
ReplyDeleteMy personal lazy selling technique - I joined the National Assoc of Professional Women two years ago and each week I get an almost identical email from different small biz service companies. Debt Collection, IT, Lead Generation. Clearly the same agency is behind the email and all they do is change the para describing what the company does.
Great list and thanks for posting. I've been in B2B new business development for +/- 20 years and here are a few additions to your accurate list.
ReplyDelete1. Researching names of corporate execs and telling the prospect that this exec suggested you call him.
2. Not knowing anything about the company. For example, when you actually get the person you called and he happens to ask, "Do you know what we do?"
3. Getting the prospect very well researched and TELLING HIM ALL YOU KNOW! You may think he's impressed but it's more like he's thinks your obsessed and stalking him.
4. Mis-pronounce their name. If you aren't sure, ask someone. Or ask the person. i.e. I see your name is spelled X-I-A-N but do not not know how to pronounce it properly. He will usually tell you and respect your honesty.
With these... I'll get back to the phones. Oh, if you use Salesforce, I'm trying out a free app that populates LinkedIn contacts into Salesforce. It doesn't make them actually contacts but tells you who in your account is on LinkedIn. Not perfect but it's still a time saver.
Great adds, thank you! Keep'em coming.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Scott and I love your list of sleazy sales tactics. Tricks to get in. Devious techniques.
ReplyDeleteWe use a very simple and non-threatening approach "We're call to introduce ourselves. We're selling nothing. We simply want to invite you to visit us online. Make your own decision.
Congratulations on being named a top B2B marketing blog by Proteus. That’s quite an honor. I’m pleased to share the news that Fearless Competitor was also named to that great list.
Jeff Ogden, the Fearless Competitor
Find New Customers
http://www.findnewcustomers.com
well done, i like the content very much. great 1!
ReplyDeleteWow Great List!!!!
ReplyDeleteEmail me if you are looking for a new VoIP phone system...
matt@lantelligence.com
Am I joking or not? :D.. no seriously though, how about a list of valid techniques for "getting in the door" my quota got bumped this year and I am really struggling for new ways to drive more business.