Key Takeaways
- **Key Takeaway 1:** Facebook is an inappropriate platform for salespeople to initiate contact with prospects due to its personal nature, with 78% of buyers and consumers finding friend requests from salespeople creepy.
- **Key Takeaway 2:** Salespeople should avoid referencing information obtained from Facebook in communications with prospects, as it can come across as creepy and stalkerish.
- **Key Takeaway 3:** Salespeople should focus on building genuine relationships through other channels, such as LinkedIn, email, or phone, where prospects are more receptive to business conversations.
Imagine this: You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed, enjoying a funny cat video, when suddenly, a friend request pops up from a complete stranger. You click on their profile and see a picture of a smiling salesperson, along with a message that says, “I’m a sales rep for XYZ Company. I’d love to connect with you!”
How do you feel? Creeped out? Annoyed? Confused?
If you’re like most people, the answer is probably “yes” to all three.
A recent HubSpot survey found that Facebook is the most inappropriate platform for salespeople to initiate contact with prospects. In fact, 78% of buyers and consumers find friend requests from salespeople creepy, and 81% consider Facebook messages from salespeople to be creepy.
So, why is Facebook such a turn-off for prospects?
1. Prospects Want to Keep Their Social Media Interactions Separate from Business
For most people, Facebook is a place to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, and stay up-to-date on current events. It’s not a place where they want to be solicited by salespeople.
When a salesperson contacts a prospect on Facebook, it can feel like an invasion of their personal space. It’s like showing up at their house unannounced and trying to sell them something.
2. Salespeople Should Avoid Referencing Information Obtained from Facebook in Communications with Prospects
Another reason why Facebook is a bad platform for salespeople to contact prospects is that it can be difficult to avoid referencing information that you’ve obtained from their profile.
For example, if you see that a prospect has recently graduated from college, you might be tempted to mention it in your message. However, this can come across as creepy and stalkerish, especially if the prospect doesn’t know you.
3. Salespeople Should Focus on Building Genuine Relationships Through Other Channels
If you want to build relationships with prospects, there are much better ways to do it than through Facebook. Start by connecting with them on LinkedIn, where they’re more likely to be open to business conversations.
You can also reach out to them via email or phone, but be sure to do your research first and make sure that your message is relevant to their interests.
Bonus: If you’re still not convinced that Facebook is a bad platform for salespeople, consider this: a study by the University of California, Berkeley found that people who were exposed to sales messages on Facebook were more likely to experience negative emotions, such as anger and disgust.
So, if you want to build positive relationships with prospects, avoid contacting them on Facebook. Instead, focus on building genuine relationships through other channels.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What are some other inappropriate platforms for salespeople to contact prospects?
In addition to Facebook, other inappropriate platforms for salespeople to contact prospects include Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.
2. What are some better ways for salespeople to build relationships with prospects?
Some better ways for salespeople to build relationships with prospects include connecting with them on LinkedIn, reaching out to them via email or phone, and attending industry events.
3. What should salespeople do if they’ve already contacted a prospect on Facebook?
If you’ve already contacted a prospect on Facebook, don’t panic. Simply apologize for the intrusion and let them know that you’ll respect their wishes if they don’t want to continue the conversation.
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