You meet someone at a networking event, you exchange business cards and next thing you know their newsletter appears in your inbox.
Perhaps it didn’t happen that way . . .
Maybe you agreed to connect on a social network?
Who knows how it happened but its not a smart practice.
Whether you and I like it or not, people are very sensitive to this type of assumption on their behalf.
Instead . . .
Why don’t you send them resources every few weeks and then gently point them towards your blog or newsletter sign up page?
I’ve often referred to a process where we “court” our prospects.
To that end, it isn’t courting them when we start showing up uninvited.
Oh, and isn’t it more meaningful when your “date” has agreed to the courtship?
Something to think about!
Your turn . . . What are your thoughts?
Paul, interesting post.
I would agree and prefer the process you referenced regarding “courtship”.
However, one thing to take into account when they show up “uninvited” is how do they maintain their prospects information? An example is a sales representative that uses a CRM system that can be accessed by many different groups within the company. Marketing may have an automated system to blast everyone, little to no control for some people. Just something to think of when you receive the information.
By providing your business card you are opening a door to the uninvited, luckily however you can somewhat easily get rid of/ignore them unlike most relatives.
My 2 cents.
Very true . . . My thoughts are its one thing to reach out and its quite another thing to sign them up for an automatic newsletter.
You raise some valid points that quite frankly I didn’t think of.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts!
Paul,
Excellent food for thought, I have a hard enough time justify a lot of the newsletter I “want” in my mailbox.
Adam
Thanks Adam!
Paul – thank for this post because it is certainly a pet peeve of mine. Sharing my business card with someone is not giving them permission to add me to their email marketing list. Frankly, the folks that do this are unwittingly breaking the CAN-SPAM law…email marketing lists are required to be opt-in. Forget the legality of it and the rudeness in assuming it is OK, it really drives me nuts when the communication following that first meeting is an email sales pitch. Get to know me first please. Maybe share something with me that isn’t about you (not you Paul) but more focused on how it benefits me. Do that and I’m all ears.
Paul, I respect your viewpoint. Personally, I am not offended by someone emailing me that I have met, even if it’s for a short period of time. Perhaps, some consider it a nice gesture useful for staying in touch (which is a different topic). On a mass scale such as trying to market your business; I think it’s going to be very difficult to ask someone, “Can I play my business commercial for you? I know we are inundated with commercials everywhere and perhaps our email address shouldn’t be another place to advertise, however, it’s lighter to carry than “junk mail” from your mailbox and it’s easier to opt out.
I respect your viewpoint as well Christina.
Just to clarify, I’m not put off by someone shooting me and email or even a follow up call etc.
I just don’t want someone to assume that meeting them is another way of opting in to their monthly/weekly emails.
And to your point . . . emails are so much lighter than junk mail 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and weigh in on this!
I typically send an email to people I have met at a Networking event. My email is a “nice to have met you… perhaps I can introduce you/help you grow your business…etc” I do not talk about buying my service.
Any thoughts?
I personally don’t see anything wrong with being helpful etc.
I think a lot of people get put off when it becomes apparent that they have been added to some mass email list as a result of the new connection.
Do you agree Greg?
I definitely agree. I would not want to be put on a mass mailer and I have been pissed when it has happened to me.
Paul, I agree, guess I’m still stunned at the amount of people on the sales forum that do cold calls and swear by them.,
To keep the allegory going…Isn’t that the worst form of a date when someone shows up at your doorstep that you don’t know and wants you to stop your day and talk to them.>? Then wants to set up another date.
I’m more and more thinking you need to be an educational publisher and draw people in that way..
It funny Joe, I think that this whole debate of cold calling vs the newer “Sales 2.0” argument is unnecessary in some ways.
I came up in hard core “smile and dial” environments so I understand that side of the fence.
I think we need both.
Not everyone I call is going to want that call
Not everyone I email is going to want that email
Not everyone I try a creative approach will respond to that
Etc
So to survive I need both but with a very strong clarification. I don’t “cold call” anymore . . . I make fewer dials but more targeted “warm calls”
But having said that, I personally have no use for an approach that relies totally on cold calling.
Thanks for stopping by Joe!
One of my pet peeves and I am delighted you brought it up Paul. It is a major turn-off for me and as a speaker, I would never do that to someone else. Opt in means just that but some miss the point and seem to not get it.
AMEN Devin . . . Thanks for taking the time to contribute to our discussion!
I agree Barb and I think there’s a huge difference between putting someone on some mass email list and being helpful, keeping in touch, requesting an opportunity to continue the conversation etc.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and weigh in Barb and truth be told (call it a sixth sense) I knew this one had to annoy you at least as much as it annoys me 🙂
Just have to say that as I was reading the title of your post, my husband was telling me that relatives were coming to stay for a week! Made me laugh! As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I guess we can say it went from my mouth to your relatives ears Toni 🙂
All the best to you!
One approach I take that is usually successful is to find a back copy of my e-newsletter that has material that pertains to the conversation I had when I met the person.
I send the back copy, and tell the recipient if they find it interesting they should feel free to subscribe, and how to do so.
They invariably subscribe.
By far the best advice I’ve heard Jacqui . . . well done!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and share it with us!
I agree that there is nothing worse than trying to sell a person you just met right way. It is integral that the message you want to convey to that prospect is sent across in a respectful manner. Instead of just selling your solution, it is much better to offer tips and solutions and with that offer a trial of your solution.