Profile Spamming - What's it get 'ya .... really?

[Andrea Goodsaid]

Morning everybody :)

Wellll ... we've had our first real (thorough) profile spammer roll through here. Feel free to delete the comment yourself. I started to go through and delete them, but then I decided it's not my job or place - I don't wanna play content cop.

But it does bring up the topic of profile spamming and this I appreciate.

On many other sites and communities, commenting on other people's profiles and walls, etc .. is a common practice.

I don't quite get it personally.

Who are we really attracting when we do that? My thinking says just the clueless masses ...

And more importantly ... and really not measurable ...

Who are we repelling?

I know what it does for me (in other places) is flag that person as 'not for me' ... but not much else.

When they land here, I guess I feel like there must be a reason for it .. so I'm willing to spend a little more time getting to know them if they want to go there.

It's the perfect example of the Law of Attraction in action in marketing though eh? It's always working -- just in this case, not in favor.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic and how you'd like to handle future spammers ... 'cause we're only gonna get bigger.

I posted on his comment wall to please remove his video from mine. It took him some time to do ... it should take him some time to un-do. I suppose a public "I'm sorry I didn't understand this community yet" might short cut that ;-)

Appreciate you guys!

Make it a great day,
Andrea

[Elizabeth Dunphy]

Good day Andrea - yea, I was a bit taken aback with this spamming as this group has been anything but that and (you can laugh) I was even a little hesitant to delete if from my wall cause I was afraid I would offend - I am too nice sometimes LOL. But I did delete it as I was more annoyed than anything. Thanks for being on top of this so quickly. I guess this is going to happen as we are in the real world here and not in a bubble. I have no suggestions on how to handle this in the future - just wanted to say thanks for your timely action!
Talk soon,
E.

[Joan]

I have joined a couple networks, like LinkedIn and StartupBiz and I got hammered with people telling me about their "opportunities". No real interest is getting to know me and not much personal about it. To me these types of forums have limited effect in attracting business because it everyone is out for themselves and their own business so nothing makes one person or business stand out as someone you want to associate with.

I ran into some of that on CafeMom forums too. Instead of a work at home forum being about advice and support, everybody is just advertising their personal biz op.

I was sorry to see that type of thing on NN because everybody here has always been so giving and wanting to keep it personal and among friends. I've found so much helpful advice here and nobody has pushed any business at me til this one.

I think you're right tho, we get a chance to discuss the issue and those who want to do business in this way won't hang around. On the flip side, maybe they can learn something from this network - the sledgehammer approach scares people off and doesn't work in the long run!

Joan

[Jackie Lee]

It was a nice experience for me. It really brought home very clearly what I don't want, which allows me to get even more clear on what I do want. I saw that video and I was like "are you kidding me? As I was deleting the video, I was thinking, does he really think I'm gonna run out and join his business now that he has interrupted my lovely space and irritated me, made me take time to delete this dang video from my page, time and patience I don't have much of?"

I think writing on the wall can be a wonderful thing. Especially if you know the person, have formed (or are forming) a relationship with them. I always enjoy when my friends stop by to say hi. I guess it's nice to know people are thinking of me lol. On social networking communities is does allow you to keep your name in front of those who you are building relationships with and often times provides you an opportunity to get into conversation again.

However, throwing up a hypey video about your business is not the way to get the kind of conversation you want. As shown by this thread. :)

Jackie

[Roxanne Green]

I removed it from my comments as soon as it came through. When you do mass spamming of comments, all it does is make you look bad.

Instead, on social networking sites, I like to go in and pick a few people I would like to create a relationship with and LOOK at their profiles. I then comment on something we have in common. That's also something to think about. If you are on social networking sites and do not have anything in your profile that people can comment on, you will only get the spammers and no one else. That's when people complain "Social networking doesn't work for mmmeee".

I don't try to explain. I just ban them because the rules are clearly spelled out on my social networking site. I send a copy of the rules that are on the home page every time they sign in and I ban them. I also include a link to an audio that I did about working on social networking sites. If they want to get back in, they email me and I unban them if we can work it out.

This is a relationship business and the ones who spam lose big time.

Thanks Andrea!!

Roxanne

[Leta Russell]

I agree it was surprising and I'm not surprised you acted on it, Andrea. I call that "in your face" marketing and it isn't very attracting and doesn't fit this community.

However, there are people who just may not understand or be aware of social network etiquette. I would try to give the benefit of the doubt and provide value based education/correction so they can be better "attraction based networkers" in the future.

Either the person stays and makes the corrections or leaves. In any case the network sorts out the person who fits. Relationship building works, spamming does not.

Leta

[Eunice Coughlin]

Hi Andrea,

I wasn't that surprised by this guy. Unfortunately, these types manage to worm their way in somehow. Lucky for me, I followed your suggestion of choosing the option of approving comments before they go "live" on my blog posts or profile so no harm, no foul. Just a few seconds to delete.

Maybe there should be some sort of friendly "warning" on the home page of our community. I think Leta makes a good point that many people don't understand social community etiquette or even what "spamming" means. Just a suggestion.

Or maybe we could bombard the offender with our comments about what we think of his social marketing tactics. tee hee. That would be fun.

Eunice

[Trina Gentry]

ick - I got two spams today! Hmm, by merely commenting on somoene's main page 3 months ago that apparently meant I wanted her to send me her earnings and biz details as a comment.

I have to approve my comment board messages, which is proving useful. I think it's a little less satisfactory when they don't see their message up on the page right away, and then probably never will be.

Am I seeing a trend that those who share about themselves on their profile are the ones that are here for genuine reasons? Good thing to keep in mind as I comment on other people's pages and create my own.

Good to gain awareness! : )

Trina

[Roxanne Green]

Spamming via private emails on social networking sites is just as bad as spamming profiles, however, you aren't called out in public on it (yet).

When you send an email saying you have the greatest thing since sliced bread and include your specials for the month, this is spam. These people that you are emailing did NOT ask for information on your products.

Any email that is sent ANYWHERE is considered spam if the person you are emailing did not request that information.

Not to mention, you look desperate for customers/business builders when you just spam email out to people without even having any kind of relationship with them.

Just my other 2 cents after I got spammed by email here this past week as well as comment spam.

Roxanne

[Donna Marie Pannullo]

Hi Andrea!

First, I must say KUDOS on creating this network! As far as the spammers go, I agree with you wholeheartedly. We are living in the real world and unfortunately we can't ban these undesirables from joining (too bad). The best we can do is exactly what you have done.

On another note, I am on the Board of Directors at another Ning group, "Stop Internet Scammers" which I will send you an invitation. Please join!

Have a great day!

[Sue Seward]

Hi Andrea,

Great point you bring up and I appreciate you.

Spamming is just a fact of life for online marketing. I've been earning an income from home online since 1996 and have done it all completely without spamming and I've gotten used to all the spammers and the spam. It's just something we have to deal with on a daily basis. Sort of like sifting and sorting through tons and tons of leads to find the great ones!

I use the delete key a lot everyday for spam too and it's mostly a habit now. The first thing I do is delete all the spam folder every morning and then throughout the day. Bink - it's gone!

I do realize though that it can be quite frustrating having spammers coming on to our online communities and again that's just a part of online marketing that goes with the territory.

Think about educating - because some people quite frankly just don't understand or realize how to market effectively online.

Then of course there are some people who don't really care if they are spamming and what they put out comes back and when it comes to spamming not much is going to come back except getting their isp shut down and a lot of irrate people who are turned off to their shoving their agenda or program in their face especially when it's done in an online community such as this one.

Most people are cash addicted so they may not have the mentality or the patience to build a long term business and any real business takes time to build. They are not thinking about networking and building relationships. They are thinking about their own situations. I've learned this not only by experience (blood, sweat and tears). I've also learned it from business leaders like Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump- two of my mentors.

I worked really hard the first 3 to 5 years in my business- networking with people online, making a lot of connections, building relationships and many of those relationships have become long term. Consequently I have built a foundation and a full time career in this industry by building a presence online and branding myself.

It's taken a lot of hard work, consistent efforts, being extremely coachable - it's also taken money, sacrifice and time to get the ultimate that our industry provides and that
is leverage.

For instance, this past year I became really ill and was not able to work as hard as I have in the beginning and at one point for weeks on end I was bedridden and not able to work at all.

Because I had built a foundation and had leaders that I could delegate to- my business kept growing and so did the income. My husband said "it's a good thing you have a business like you do"! I would have been fired from a job and if my business depended on me being there such as a cpa, attorney,doctor, coach, etc.- I would have lost all my clients. If I was just retailing products I would have gone broke!

When you see someone spamming take some time to try and educate that person and if they are coachable they just may have great potential in this industry.

If not then sometimes it's best just to let them go on their way and you stay focused on building relationships because that will be the real key to your long term financial freedom!

You Were Created For Success!
Sue Seward
Entrepreneur

[Annette]

Well, I did want to put my .02 in but I don't have a lot of time. When I saw the video posted by this person, I was thoroughly annoyed. Speaking for myself, I don't have time for this trash. Possibly what he's pushing on people may be viable, but not in that way. I don't know what can be done about it.

I'm a presenter with a Healing Circle. We have a yahoo group that's connected specifically to our group. If one wants to join, they need to answer a short survey as to why they want to join, what they want/need, what they have to contribute. If people who attend wish to join, I tell them to include in their email that I or another presenter told them to join & we'll put them straight through. I don't know if this is possible (a survey) but I'm just sharing what I'm doing on another group.

I definitely don't want this to continue. That's all I can say.
blessings
Annette

[Melody Thacker]

I was surprised and not delighted; to be spammed by Mr Video as well and replied back suggesting better methods.

I didn't realize we could moderate or delete comments on our profile. Will do so if this type of thing continues but I'm hoping it won't.