Spammers Turned Into Followers
Hey Everyone!
I am writing this post based off some things I learned over the past day or so. As we all know we are taught within the Wealthy Affiliate Community to use Google Plus as part of our marketing. And, if you do not have a Google account it is recommended to get one.
Take advantage of Every Opportunity
Every opportunity is a business opportunity even if a google plus member is spamming you. I have been spammed twice so, far. Google automatically deleted one spam post but, the spammer got bold and spammed again in a different way this time. Of course, spamming can be annoying and normally, some people will naturally get mad or delete the post.
Test, Test, And Test Again
In this online marketing game. I have learned that you have to test, test, and test again. Eventually, you'll find something that works! I choose to test these spammers out. So, what did I do? I thanked the spammers for smoothly sliding their business opportunities onto my post. And, I actually took a look at their opportunity.
...Why did I do that?
So, that I could reference their opportunity into my reply. This will catch their attention. You act like your interested. Hey who knows you may be interested in the end. And, you may learn a thing or two from the situation.
Let The Testing Begin
When I replied to these two gentlemen I first asked did they have a website? They said "No" the company builds the website for them. Ahh ha! This is the open opportunity to educate, inform, then promote but, not just yet. I had to get more information out of them.
I advised the men that I would look into whatever business they were trying to promote to me and I did really look at it. After I looked at the opportunity I gathered enough ammo to to educate them first on the benefits of owning a blog.
I took my time in educating these spammers about the benefits of having a blog, regardless of what opportunity your involved with. I went into how this could help their business and so on...
Ask Open Ended Questions
I asked, How did their program work? Is it a scam? How long have they been doing this? How do I DM on Google Plus? You see you have to have a natural conversation with these people. They can be a potential customer.
Open ended questions are a friendly way of allowing people to engage. If you ask closed ended questions they may not engage with you or the conversation can be cut short.
This can Work With Any Niche
Now, MMO may not be your niche but, if someone spams you with a business opportunity It is your chance to interact with them and eventually refer them back to WA but only if you can get them to interact with you.
I educated them so, well that my comment was almost a blog post in itself...lol. Now why did I do that? Wasn't that a waste of time? No, this is not a waste of time. Doesn't Google love content so, give them what they love. Plus if any new followers see that post, they can read the interaction between you and the spammer.
Sales Was Taught To Me By Sprint
When I use to work in the outside world I was a retention manager for Sprint Corporate Office.
My job was to inform, educate, and then promote to the most angriest people on the planet...lol. I mean by time they got to mean they were ready to blow Sprint up. So, imagine having to sale a 2-year contract to people who are determined to cancel their services; threatening to kill you, blow the building up, sue you, sue the president of Sprint and so on. (that is not a joke this is what I had to deal with).
After all the ear yelling and threatening of my life, I had to turn around and calm the person down and educate them of their benefits. Needless, to say my retention rate was pretty high because, I was one of the top reps.
At first it was hard until I started to understand people and sales.
Okay, so what does this have to do with the Google Spammers.
It has a lot to do with Google Spammers, they are doing the same thing we are doing "Promoting" The only difference is you are educated. Your educated by the WA community. The spammer obliviously is not educated properly.
Spammers can give Exposure
To me a spammer just gives me more exposure. How? they will interact on your post, which will bring other people.
If you educate the spammer well enough some may even really do business with you. Of course, they all won't but, who cares, the idea is to get as much exposure as you can.
Especially when you first start out. When you first start out, this internet marketing game is like hustling and grinding. Meaning you'll put in a lot of work, trying different techniques, and you'll feel like your all over the place trying to make a dollar.
How will you get more exposure?
When the two spammers commented on my post! I commented back. So, this allowed my post to get interaction. Not only did I get interaction, the spammers followed me after I educated them and said they would look into my opportunity.
Will they really look into my opportunity?
Probably not, and if they do it will take time but, I gained two more followers in this spamming situation. And, the two men have been +1d 'ing my Google post. Plus others will see the conversation, which will make them chime into the conversation.
So, is a spammer on Google plus always bad?
In my opinion no, some can turn into your customers. Or vice versa! Keep in mind some are just not educated about spamming or marketing at all. It turns out the two spammers were completely new to the internet. So, now that they are following me, they may end up in the WA community.
They'll also learn from you which may cause them to interact with you, in return giving you exposure, interaction, engagement, or even doing business with you.
Social Media is for Socializing
When you take the time to be friendly, educate, inform, and captivate. People are willing to interact with you! (this is what they call Value)
We all have to remember social media is a socializing platform, so people go there to socialize not buy. Of course, some will buy but most of the time it is to socialize..
This is why we have to interact with the people. In order for them to interact with you.
How do you interact?
Like their post, comment on some peoples post, re-share some peoples post, respond to all comments that you get, and follow people.
Welp! That is all folks! I have to go and interact other peoples blogs now. If you found any value in this post please Click The Green Like Button
As always have an awesome day!
Kisha
Recent Comments
21
Great post Kisha!!
You're right. Not everyone is a spammer. Most people are uneducated when it comes to IM.
You rock girl!! I've learnt something new!! And like you say, it can be a potential opportunity.
Best wishes to you!!
NB How's your daughter? I hope she's recovering well.
Jackie xx
Thank you, Jackie! My daughter is doing well. She went to school today and didn't feel to well but, I know it just takes time for the body to recover. Thanks for asking.
Yes, Jackie this really does work. And you are right most of the people involved in with IM just don't know the proper way that is why they spam. I learned that part from Eric Worre he is another successful internet marketer.
Another thing is the spammer, ended up following me on Twitter and now re-tweets my post and engages with me. So, if you ever have a spammer just ask questions about their business. Now, not all spammers will do this but, some may.
And some are just looking for information from you so, you have to play this by sight. Depends on how they respond.
When they spammed me. I said thank you for the opportunity do you have a website I can visit? They said to DM them for more info. I DM'ed them, at first I didn't know how because, I never heard of a DM on Google+. So, I asked how.
(Come to find out it is not an actual DM it is just and email, just in case you didn't know either.)
Then I asked What do you do with this company? How does it work? Is it a Scam? And, of course you sound interested so they will spill the beans. and when you see a problem that can be solved from WA I will just educate them.
That's great. I will keep her in my prayers.
Yes. EVERYONE is a potential customer.
Thanks for this great insight Kisha!
Turning what seems like a negative situation into a positive one, takes a great mindset!!
Best wishes to you.
This is an awesome story. Thanks for sharing it. I am so not a salesperson. I think I would've been hanging up on some of those Sprint customers that were threatening me! Of course, I would've lost my job eventually, but oh well...
I do like the idea, however, of turning someone else's spam around on them (not that you were spamming them - they opened the conversation, after all). That's brilliant!
haha...to tell the truth, I was not a sales person either. It took me the longest to do the job correctly After, I finally learned that it is not the selling you have to focus on.
It is building rapport with the customer. Be friendly and just talk naturally with them. And, eventually they will just start talking to you. Which opens the conversation. We use to call it selling without selling.
thanks for stopping by!
Ha, Kisha, you are uniquely suited to such sales opportunities after your Sprint role! Well done!
I think there is potential for constructive business with this kind of spammer and not just any other kind for a few reasons: these guys are, just like many WA members, looking to build a source of legit income online. They don't own the business they spam on behalf of, they don't have any website. They're green, and hoping for some small change for doing this. But they don't yet know what other kinds of learning and business opportunities exist for them.
You showed them something new. :)
Then... there are spammers I'd never touch with a barge pole.
They phish for info, they send you links to malicious sites,... the list of reasons to not care what they have to offer is long. May you never get referrals from anyone like this!
Thank you Ivy! You are absolutely right! I get DM from spammers like that on Twitter and they all seem to have a similar message. I have learned to ignore those people and unfollow them.
Well, truth be told they follow me, just to get me to follow them and then they hit you with their autoreponder twitter message...lol.
I've learned when I go and check my followers those same spammers have unfollowed me so, I unfollow them. So, I have slowly learned those phishing people. Then some have the nerve to ask you to follow their friend as well..haha...
But, yes you have made excellent points here and that is exactly why I took the time to educate them just in case they needed a little hand. Turns out it helped because, one of them followed me on Twitter and he nows engages with me and re-tweets my post so, in return I do the same for him.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Kisha!
Beautiful post that truly flows from a beautiful attitude. This is certainly something we can all learn from. To be honest, I have never seen such a brilliant demonstration of turning things around
.
You have even begun to compete with Google bots :).
All the best to you and yours!
David
lol..That is funny..
Well, I remember being taught this on Facebook and it really works. Now on my website I surely would not do this but on G+, yes because, they were new and may have needed WA and I figure if Google plus loves content, lets see if it works on G+...
Another reason why I started talking to them was because, I
could present my opportunity and I needed more information about their product so I could review it...lol.
I think it worked out well....
Yes, I learned this when I was taught Facebook algorithm by someone else. And it works. Those spammers ended up following me on twitter too, one of them went and read my blog. So, yes it can be an eye opener. Not all spammers are bad. A lot of people where taught the wrong way of marketing. and some people are just intentional spammers.
What a great idea, Kisha! Great post, too. I never would have thought of having a conversation with a spammer, but you recognized that they are not evil, but just people like us. Maybe less informed and educated, but not all bad, either. I am not at the point of engaging people yet, but will keep this in mind if I get spammed on Google+ when I learn to use it. Instead of being annoyed and getting mad, I'll just think, "another follower and potential customer". Carol
Hi Carol, I too am not engaging like I should but, when you do start engaging this can help build up followers. At least on Google +. They same people ended up following me on twitter and then commented on one of my post which causes engagement.
One of the spammers told me he did go and read my blog and actually liked it. Some people will disagree but, I think other wise.
Thank you for stopping by!
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laughing so hard as i read on this post, its very friendly, can almost hear your voice, was searching for inspiration, this has been mine tonight.