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How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People

July 19, 2010 27 Comments
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When is sharing information useful, and when is it just spamming off the back of someone else’s community?

I ask because when I logged into my Facebook page today to post an update on a future Bonsai Interactive event, I was met with this at the top of my wall (click to expand).

DSNR Media spams Facebook page of Danny Brown

It was posted by Claire Reynolds on behalf of the DSNR Media Group. At least I think it’s by Claire on behalf of DSNR, since Claire’s Facebook profile has her located in the U.K., while DSNR are based in Israel.

DSNR describe themselves as “a recognized global provider of result-based online and mobile advertising solutions… with cutting edge optimization tools.” Really, DSNR?

So spamming your message onto a Facebook wall is considered cutting edge? Shilling your wares without permission is your great advertising solutions? Posting links to your service where they may or may not be relevant to the audience is ethical?

Here’s a heads-up – spam is not cool.

You can paint it whatever way you like, but you’re spamming.

You’re an online advertising company, so I’m pretty sure you’re aware of Permission Marketing from Seth Godin. Even though it was written over 10 years ago, it’s still more than relevant today. Check it out – it’s a great read and might open your eyes as to why your current spamming approach isn’t welcome.

In the meantime, I’m removing your post on my wall. I respect the community I have over there, and I don’t want them spammed by you either.

Have a great week.

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Filed Under: Influence, Insights, Marketing, PR, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,
About Danny

Danny Brown is Chief Technologist at ArCompany, helping clients turn social media intelligence into business results. He’s the co-author of Influence Marketing: How to Create, Manage and Measure Brand Influencers in Social Media Marketing, described as "the book that will change the way we do business today." He’s an award-winning marketer whose delivered results for organizations like Microsoft Canada, BlackBerry, FedEx, Ford Canada and LG Electronics, and his blog is recognized as the #1 marketing blog in the world by HubSpot.

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John Paul Aguiar
John Paul Aguiar

Luv this post just because I see this daily.

I also luv the 100 emails I get on FB spammming me their crap.. and and now the random IMs on FB shoving me their links.

Its ridiculous, it doesn't work people and you look like an ass doing it, so you are actually hurting your business.

Danny
Danny

Agreed, John, all that happens is you end up looking like an ass. Especially if folks begin to highlight exactly why you're an ass, and start sharing with their networks... ;-)

John Paul Aguiar
John Paul Aguiar

Luv this post just because I see this daily. I also luv the 100 emails I get on FB spammming me their crap.. and and now the random IMs on FB shoving me their links. Its ridiculous, it doesn't work people and you look like an ass doing it, so you are actually hurting your business.

Danny
Danny

Agreed, John, all that happens is you end up looking like an ass. Especially if folks begin to highlight exactly why you're an ass, and start sharing with their networks... ;-)

Mitch
Mitch

While not technically spam, I often wonder why people post things onto someone else's FB business page that has nothing whatsoever to do with what that business is all about. It might be because they're hoping to spread the word about something that's either irritating them or that they're helping to promote, knowing that it will go to everyone's main FB page, but it's obstructive and they just don't seem to get it.

Mitch
Mitch

While not technically spam, I often wonder why people post things onto someone else's FB business page that has nothing whatsoever to do with what that business is all about. It might be because they're hoping to spread the word about something that's either irritating them or that they're helping to promote, knowing that it will go to everyone's main FB page, but it's obstructive and they just don't seem to get it.

Mitch
Mitch

While not technically spam, I often wonder why people post things onto someone else's FB business page that has nothing whatsoever to do with what that business is all about. It might be because they're hoping to spread the word about something that's either irritating them or that they're helping to promote, knowing that it will go to everyone's main FB page, but it's obstructive and they just don't seem to get it.

David Weedmark
David Weedmark

What makes this worse than email or twitter spam is that, if I'm not mistaken, anything posted on your Facebook profile is also put into the feed of all of your friends. How many of them would at first glance assume you endorsed it? Good for you for calling them out! I'm curious if they will respond to you.

I'm kind of curious as well how many times they get away with it. So many on Facebook are linked to hundreds, or thousands of people they barely know, it would be too easy for spam posts like this to fall through unnoticed.

David Weedmark
David Weedmark

What makes this worse than email or twitter spam is that, if I'm not mistaken, anything posted on your Facebook profile is also put into the feed of all of your friends. How many of them would at first glance assume you endorsed it? Good for you for calling them out! I'm curious if they will respond to you. I'm kind of curious as well how many times they get away with it. So many on Facebook are linked to hundreds, or thousands of people they barely know, it would be too easy for spam posts like this to fall through unnoticed.

Danny
Danny

Great point, fella - to follow a page, you have to "Like" it, and with all likes going to your feed, that would make a page update do that as well. So yeah, this is an even crappier approach than I first took it for.

David Weedmark
David Weedmark

What makes this worse than email or twitter spam is that, if I'm not mistaken, anything posted on your Facebook profile is also put into the feed of all of your friends. How many of them would at first glance assume you endorsed it? Good for you for calling them out! I'm curious if they will respond to you.

I'm kind of curious as well how many times they get away with it. So many on Facebook are linked to hundreds, or thousands of people they barely know, it would be too easy for spam posts like this to fall through unnoticed.

Danny
Danny

Great point, fella - to follow a page, you have to "Like" it, and with all likes going to your feed, that would make a page update do that as well. So yeah, this is an even crappier approach than I first took it for.

Sam Schuurman
Sam Schuurman

Hi Danny It's a really simple message that for some reason just hasn't caught on with everyone yet...be relevant to me and the community/ies that I move in or bugger off. I really like the fact that you named and shamed Claire and DSNR... Although I'm not too sure if Claire will mind. The reason I say this is because she's almost too good looking. It's funny that because of Twitter spam I now think that any great looking female who posts an unsolicited message online is a fake profile. It's a good thing I'm not looking for online romance or else this sort of belief might be severely limiting my options (sorry a bit off topic haha).

michele price
michele price

Lord I understand your comment about being too pretty, except if you have ever been a pretty women that gets so darn old. Now I have to worry folks will think I am spam because I am pretty? Or my picture shows me to be "too pretty". I did have someone ask me that last year on Twitter when all the pron and spammers came on Twitter in droves. It was very annoying. I totally get that you equate it with an unwanted message and I appreciate that you do mention it is a limiting belief. Guess it just goes to show us we still have a long ways to go huh!

Danny
Danny

Ha, you know, I thought EXACTLY the same thing when checking out who the poster was. There's only an info tab, and just seems a little too airbrushed to perfection. If she is real and not just a model's avatar pinged onto a front for DSNR, then fair play. But a big part of me thinks it's just another face for DSNR to hide behind while spamming. Besides, there's always LavaLife, Sam... ;-)

Justin Parks
Justin Parks

I'm better looking... if I'm not hungover.

Danny
Danny

Funnily enough, I was thinking you're better looking if I am hungover... ;-)

Sam Schuurman
Sam Schuurman

Hi Danny

It's a really simple message that for some reason just hasn't caught on with everyone yet...be relevant to me and the community/ies that I move in or bugger off.

I really like the fact that you named and shamed Claire and DSNR...

Although I'm not too sure if Claire will mind. The reason I say this is because she's almost too good looking. It's funny that because of Twitter spam I now think that any great looking female who posts an unsolicited message online is a fake profile. It's a good thing I'm not looking for online romance or else this sort of belief might be severely limiting my options (sorry a bit off topic haha).

michele price
michele price

Lord I understand your comment about being too pretty, except if you have ever been a pretty women that gets so darn old.

Now I have to worry folks will think I am spam because I am pretty? Or my picture shows me to be "too pretty".

I did have someone ask me that last year on Twitter when all the pron and spammers came on Twitter in droves. It was very annoying.

I totally get that you equate it with an unwanted message and I appreciate that you do mention it is a limiting belief.

Guess it just goes to show us we still have a long ways to go huh!

Sam Schuurman
Sam Schuurman

Hi Danny

It's a really simple message that for some reason just hasn't caught on with everyone yet...be relevant to me and the community/ies that I move in or bugger off.

I really like the fact that you named and shamed Claire and DSNR...

Although I'm not too sure if Claire will mind. The reason I say this is because she's almost too good looking. It's funny that because of Twitter spam I now think that any great looking female who posts an unsolicited message online is a fake profile. It's a good thing I'm not looking for online romance or else this sort of belief might be severely limiting my options (sorry a bit off topic haha).

michele price
michele price

Lord I understand your comment about being too pretty, except if you have ever been a pretty women that gets so darn old.

Now I have to worry folks will think I am spam because I am pretty? Or my picture shows me to be "too pretty".

I did have someone ask me that last year on Twitter when all the pron and spammers came on Twitter in droves. It was very annoying.

I totally get that you equate it with an unwanted message and I appreciate that you do mention it is a limiting belief.

Guess it just goes to show us we still have a long ways to go huh!

Danny
Danny

Funnily enough, I was thinking you're better looking if I am hungover... ;-)

Justin Parks
Justin Parks

I'm better looking... if I'm not hungover.

Danny
Danny

Ha, you know, I thought EXACTLY the same thing when checking out who the poster was. There's only an info tab, and just seems a little too airbrushed to perfection.

If she is real and not just a model's avatar pinged onto a front for DSNR, then fair play. But a big part of me thinks it's just another face for DSNR to hide behind while spamming.

Besides, there's always LavaLife, Sam... ;-)

Justin Parks
Justin Parks

I can do nothing more but heave a heavy SIGH when I see these tactics being employed. Spam is Spam is Spam and the fact your highlighting it Danny and they have their name against it is the best and most positive means to making the point that its not acceptable to you me or anyone else. I cannot fathom how this company find it ethical, logical or acceptable and are willing to damage their reputation with this type of lazy, uncreative, and downright annoying attempt at promotion. We should give them a call Danny, they seem to need our help.

Danny
Danny

They'd probably think we were direct marketers spamming their phone line and hang up... ;-)

Justin Parks
Justin Parks

I can do nothing more but heave a heavy SIGH when I see these tactics being employed.

Spam is Spam is Spam and the fact your highlighting it Danny and they have their name against it is the best and most positive means to making the point that its not acceptable to you me or anyone else.

I cannot fathom how this company find it ethical, logical or acceptable and are willing to damage their reputation with this type of lazy, uncreative, and downright annoying attempt at promotion. We should give them a call Danny, they seem to need our help.

Justin Parks
Justin Parks

I can do nothing more but heave a heavy SIGH when I see these tactics being employed.

Spam is Spam is Spam and the fact your highlighting it Danny and they have their name against it is the best and most positive means to making the point that its not acceptable to you me or anyone else.

I cannot fathom how this company find it ethical, logical or acceptable and are willing to damage their reputation with this type of lazy, uncreative, and downright annoying attempt at promotion. We should give them a call Danny, they seem to need our help.

Danny
Danny

They'd probably think we were direct marketers spamming their phone line and hang up... ;-)

Rob Cairns
Rob Cairns

Danny, You are so right. Spam is not cool. Having meaningful conversations and getting to know people is. I still find it amazing that people who think they understand the Internet and social media still spam. What is worse is some of these people call themselves Internet Marketers. Ironic when you think about it.

Danny
Danny

The irony did make me smile, Rob. I wonder what advice they give their clients when it comes to brand promotion?

Rob Cairns
Rob Cairns

Danny,

You are so right. Spam is not cool. Having meaningful conversations and getting to know people is.

I still find it amazing that people who think they understand the Internet and social media still spam. What is worse is some of these people call themselves Internet Marketers. Ironic when you think about it.

Danny
Danny

The irony did make me smile, Rob. I wonder what advice they give their clients when it comes to brand promotion?

Rob Cairns
Rob Cairns

Danny,

You are so right. Spam is not cool. Having meaningful conversations and getting to know people is.

I still find it amazing that people who think they understand the Internet and social media still spam. What is worse is some of these people call themselves Internet Marketers. Ironic when you think about it.

Graytuna
Graytuna

I agree Danny,

I'm reading Seth's book for the first time (due to my age) and find it very intersting!

Glad you mentioned it, it looks a bit older than my other (brand new) books so I almost stopped. But in the end, it's really the content inside that matters!

Have a great week

Danny
Danny

Never too old to read great stuff, bud. :)

Graytuna
Graytuna

I agree Danny, I'm reading Seth's book for the first time (due to my age) and find it very intersting! Glad you mentioned it, it looks a bit older than my other (brand new) books so I almost stopped. But in the end, it's really the content inside that matters! Have a great week

Danny
Danny

Never too old to read great stuff, bud. :)

Kapil Apshankar
Kapil Apshankar

Success with social media follows the Law of the Farm, Danny!

Couldn't agree more with you - totally resonates my own feelings I voiced last night on Social Media Notebook.

"A farmer cannot expect to reap a bumper crop by being lazy for three months and then “cramming” to catch up. Similarly, the greatest successes in social media – and in life are built slowly and deliberately through focused, consistent, high-quality efforts on a daily basis."

Danny
Danny

And this is why your blog is fast becoming a must-read, Kapil; great thoughts and I'll pop over and check it out later. :)

Kapil Apshankar
Kapil Apshankar

Success with social media follows the Law of the Farm, Danny! Couldn't agree more with you - totally resonates my own feelings I voiced last night on Social Media Notebook. "A farmer cannot expect to reap a bumper crop by being lazy for three months and then “cramming” to catch up. Similarly, the greatest successes in social media – and in life are built slowly and deliberately through focused, consistent, high-quality efforts on a daily basis."

Danny
Danny

And this is why your blog is fast becoming a must-read, Kapil; great thoughts and I'll pop over and check it out later. :)

John Haydon
John Haydon

Danny - very good point here. I've seen this practice as well on the Inbound Zombie Page. My response is to simply remove the post, but I imagine that when my Page gets more fans, removing these posts will begin to take up more of my time. Maybe that's one reason to select only posts by Page as the wall default. Other solutions?

Danny
Danny

That's one solution, but then it kinda defeats the whole interaction angle, unfortunately. Maybe highlight the culprits and when enough folks complain (because they're getting the same crap), Facebook will step in themselves? Facebook needs to have a flagging option for spam as well.

John Haydon
John Haydon

Danny - very good point here. I've seen this practice as well on the Inbound Zombie Page. My response is to simply remove the post, but I imagine that when my Page gets more fans, removing these posts will begin to take up more of my time. Maybe that's one reason to select only posts by Page as the wall default.

Other solutions?

Danny
Danny

That's one solution, but then it kinda defeats the whole interaction angle, unfortunately.

Maybe highlight the culprits and when enough folks complain (because they're getting the same crap), Facebook will step in themselves?

Facebook needs to have a flagging option for spam as well.

BOLD
BOLD

Totally agree. Companies are now making fake Facebook pages and spamming through those. Facebook is now becoming MySpace. It's almost as if they find this to be a marketing strategy.

BOLD
BOLD

Totally agree. Companies are now making fake Facebook pages and spamming through those. Facebook is now becoming MySpace. It's almost as if they find this to be a marketing strategy.

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  1. Tweets that mention How NOT to Win Friends and Inluence People #dannybrown -- Topsy.com says:
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