Sales Bullies Crashing the Gates – Again!

Since I’ve joined in December, there have been voluminous comments in forums regarding what to do about people who directly and overtly solicit business here and people who promote affiliate products here — both not allowed.
I just got a loooooong private message, or should I say sales letter, from an affiliate marketer with a looooong canned speech that simply went waaaaaay too far. I’m sick of it. I red flagged it. And I hope someone does something about it. I wrote a reply, but decided not to send it. Instead, I’m putting it here, where people who care are more likely to care. It’s far less abrasive than most of the comments in the past forums where people expressed their disgust. So please excuse my vent, but please do chime in with your own comments. I mean no harm, but it just feels so icky having to deal with this here time and time again.
I mean, this is exactly the kind of garbage Google is trying to rid themselves of this year. I sincerely hope THEY succeed. The masses are truly fed up.
Dear [So and So],
Maybe it’s just that I’m finally fed up or maybe because the barometer changed today, but whatever the reason, no, I don’t appreciate your reaching out to me with your looooooooong spam. Directly soliciting on this site is prohibited, especially with an affiliate link — a double no-no. 
With almost 4,000 members in relatively the same business, can you imagine what would happen if we inundated each other’s mailboxes with click-here-and-make-me-money solicitations such as yours? 
First thing, Mike Stelzner, owner of this site, would probably kick us all off HIS site, as he has already done to many who’ve made this big mistake unrepentently. I think you’ll find there are many forums here where members have discussed their distaste for this indepth. So sorry you didn’t read those forums before soliciting as directly and boldly as you have. Your message isn’t political; it’s just a big mistake. And frankly, going “viral” here won’t accomplish anything but possibly tempt the wrath of thousands.
I usually encourage new members to jump right into the forums, ask their best question, and watch the magic happen here. It’s the best way to get a good understanding of how things work. And how we’re here to listen first, help out, lend a hand, and answer with a “sales pitch” only after we’ve been directly asked, which we generally do in private with private messages, but only AFTER we’ve been directly asked for our professional help. 
Reading the member rules and guidelines, as well as the updated Getting Started tutorial, is another great way to show respect for members and get started on the right foot. It generally keeps sales-bullies from infuriating the masses with their nasty spam.
Please forgive my saying this, but I simply cannot stand another sales-bully crashing the gates here.
I wish you well in your sales endeavors… just not here.
Robin Carlisle

@atlantarobin While it’s frustrating, the only thing that I can encourage every member of the forums to do is flag these messages when you notice them either on the public forums or in your inbox.  

Unfortunately, if you belong to a free and public forum or network, it’s just going to happen.  I get messages like this regularly on forums, Facebook, LinkedIn, and directly via email.  Thanks to Facebook opening private messages for pages, I’m sure businesses will start getting it through there as well.  The only reason they don’t do it on Twitter is they can’t put their spiel in 140 characters (although with DM spam, they can link to it at least).  
The only forums where you will receive less of this kind of activity (note I said less, not none at all) is private, paid membership forums – particularly the pricey ones that are $49+ per month.  And even then someone will think it is worth the monthly fee to get in and try to spam everyone.   

@ Robin Carlisle 
I received the same one and flagged it too.  
I follow newly registered members a lot and found a few so far that are porn hawkers too – Yeck. I flag those also. 
If it is against the rules, I flag it. I have no qualms about doing this as a community goes to pot fast if the citizens don’t help police the borders. I’d hate to see that happen here.

I’m usually very sweet and nice when a “new” member sends something salesy (but short). And always quietly and kindly help them in a better direction. Almost always, they send me a thankyou note as their intent was not to offend or break any rules. Often, they follow up and write to a moderator or Mike to get preclearance before sending anything again. That’s worked very amicably for all.

This, however, insulted the intelligence of anyone in the social media biz (isn’t that pretty much ALL of us here in one way or another). It also would NOT allow me to send a replay message. Very suspicious. So I’m thinking this is some kind of robot or a pro spammer.

Glad to know others red flagged it, too.

@deairby @supereb @mssilvr @kristi-hines

Tracked down the empowernetwork.com and Robert and Lynda Jay who sent the message. They have a site with their picture on it and the Empower Network’s Florida address is listed in the Privacy Policy. Shame on them for cloaking and playing tricks on SME’s system. You will not find them in the membership directory and they made it impossible to even respond to their spammy sales message.

Here’s a site with suggestions on what to do when spammers do their thang. Among other thangs, I suggest we put them on the BlackHole List at shown at the bottom of their page.

http://www.fw2.com/rec5.html

@atlantarobin
I am glad I haven’t experienced any of these issues-yet. I am sure in time I will get a taste again of the same.

Let me just add that my first thoughtful reply was a nice sweet one, but then I realized these guys weren’t nice and sweet and penned my vent. Back to the nice and sweet now…

ROFLOL!!!!!!! You’re such a hoot! Thanks for the great sales pitch. I especially like getting FREE STUFF WITH STUFF! I’m sure I must need that… and NOW… so let me just get my toy wallet and monopoly moula or I could send that via my PlayPal account… But does it come with chocolate? Gotta have it with chocolate!

@jasonreilly

@jasonreilly   @atlantarobin

I bet it does come in flavors – chocolate, vanilla and strawberry for sure.

Heh.

@supereb You must have been writing at the exact same time as I was! How hilarious! As for flavors… why not!**********************

********************** – Desire of alternate flavors means you agree to the terms and conditions of the software package, including, but not limited too, ownership of your house, car, apartment, favorite CDs, and movies, as well as having the brand logo tattooed on your forehead.

@supereb You know what EN? No one is perfect. I’m SOOO sorry that I forgot to ask for the sacrifice of your first born child. I mean, we’re just going to forget the HUGE and SUCCESSFUL sacrifice history I do have, ranging from gnats to ENTIRE EMPIRES! All in the name of Cthulhu of course.

No, we’ll just ignore that and point out that one time I forgot to include it in a bunch of disclosures. Picky picky picky. I’m not sure I can speak to you anymore. My faith in the supreme evil of the Elder Gods has been shattered. I’m going to start petting bunnies and picking flowers now, and it IS ALL YOUR FAULT.

@atlantarobin Well as the awesome marketer that I am, I am both psychic and in touch with the Five Great Chocolate Mysteries. Those mysteries tell me all and nothing about everything and just somethings. Insert strange mists! Howling winds! Random flashing lights for no reasons!

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I should start my own consulting companies: “Unsure of how to market your company/product? Look no further then Mystic Marketing! We put the occult into business! Our staff have advanced degrees with a minimum of a MS Marketing and MS Occult Sciences from Miskatonic University! One of the premier institutions of higher learning in New England, Miskatonic U has fully prepared our staff to meet the stranger needs of your business. Need to predict the future? We have you covered! And we don’t use excel! We use entrails! And don’t worry… we’ll call you!”