by Carl Ingalls and Paul Bunn
If you look like a spammer, talk like a spammer, and walk like a spammer, most people will delete your message or hang up on you without caring what you have to say.
So, as a general rule, we avoid doing the things that spammers do. A lot of High Probability Selling is the opposite of what they do (but there are a few exceptions).
Here are a few things a spammer is more likely to say than someone who is not a spammer.
- On the phone, saying, “How are you today” before mentioning the purpose of the call.
- On the phone, taking too long to get to the point, and sticking rigidly to their script.
- An email that starts with, “I just wanted to…” or any other first reference to themselves. Like the recipient cares about what the sender wants.
- Mentioning their previous unsolicited messaging, as if you should feel guilty for ignoring them. “I was wondering if you got a chance to review my previous email.” Like you really need someone checking to see if you did your homework.
There are a lot more. You are welcome to add your thoughts in the comments below.
Exercise: The next time a piece of spam email lands in your inbox, take a close look at it. Pay special attention to the things that irritate you, and write them down. If you can, also write down why those things irritate you. Do the same with a spam phone call. Then think about how you want come across to prospective customers.
Author
Wow, this is awesome as a starter list for sure!
I’ve found so many on LinkedIn “guilty” of all of these things. A big fat red flag for me is when they call their service offer a “pitch”. Yuck!
I remind them, unless you’re in Hollywood, and talking about your next big blockbuster film idea, there’s no pitching happening.
Or, the wall of text talking about all of their latest “wins” as if we know the relevancy of those or the team of others it took to “make happen”.
Then assuming a calendar link will be the cherry on top for us (me) to take action NOW…oh boy.
Wisdom.
My favorite spam email or text message comes from an HR recruiter or third party employment agency. The opening usually starts with, “Hi Anthony! I’m Michelle. Yes! We would love to have you interview with us and talk about your abilities!
Instant delete. Two things ruffle my hair: 1.The assumed instant familiarity to call me by my first name. 2. The assumption my self-confidence confidence needs a boost by their frothy excitement over the bullet points in my resume.