@warrenveach I don’t think it’s spammy to include links to our own website or pages/profiles in our replies or dm’s. We’re here to support each other in our business ‘games’. I want to know your expertise, specialty and context from which your answering the question posed. It’s a way I can get to know you and your business better. I want to see your website and Facebook page… see if you use a Fan Gate, graphics, newsletter list. It gives me an idea of the expertise you have that I can utilize. Call it social proof. I go to peoples Fan Pages and read their posts and comments before I like their page and before I take their contribution.

@warrenveach @atlantarobin @pronoya

If someone is asking a question and your service is the answer, it is always appropriate to reply publicly.

For example, “I need someone who can help me build out my Facebook page…”

Your reply, “Our company specializes in this…”

Alternatively, if someone asks a question that might not be looking for a service, but you make a connection, then I would private message that person and say something like this; “I saw that you were looking for tips on how to improve your Facebook engagement.  I happen to help small businesses as a consultant, in case you’re looking for outside help…”

Both of these situations share one thing in common: contextual relevance.

@mike-stelzner

Thanks Mike,

I think that is probably the best answer to this thread yet.

@amyhallbiz

Thanks Amy! I’ll take that as a serious compliment as I figured I was way behind the curve on fan pages.

I’m trying different page styles on different pages. Hopefully, I’ll settle on one before too long.

We started the page not to long ago and only had a few “likers”. I’ve been promoting it a bit more this past week and the followers jumped to about 50.

More importantly, several took me up on the free prescription card offer, and a couple even made product purchases.

It probably should be classified as beginners luck, but I’ll take it!

Thanks again!

@amyhallbiz

Yeah, I was playing around on WP this morning and saw that plug-in. The disadvantage that I saw was that the WP plug-in was a little more DIY, whereas some of the fanpage apps are more point and click, drop and drag.

The simpler the better for me!

P.S. I stopped by your page and gave it a “Like”.

@amyhallbiz

Good luck, let me know when you have it up and running. I may have to ask you for help.

@mike-stelzner

Thanks for your examples using contextual relevance as our guide in dealing with how we respond to requests for our paid services or to situations where our paid services could be the answer to someone’s needs.

I encourage you to somehow preserve this thread. The more this conversation developed, the more helpful it has become. I hope everyone stops by to read this thread. It’s a keeper.

Also, because I so liked the answer to your question, may I ask what SME’s policies are on quotes, attribution, citations etc. regarding materials, resources, member writings in forums, SME writings, etc.? I like writing narratives that visually illustrate problem-solution situations for readers. I have an idea in my head right now and would like to quote the answer you wrote about contextual relevance above. What are your writer’s guidelines for using source materials here? What’s allowed and what’s not allowed?

Robin Carlisle

To me, I am not here to try and sell anything… I am here to make new friends, and to learn new things, plus if I am able to lend a helping hand, do that also.

I can’t get my head around how some people can think throwing up some links (here, or any social network) is going to make someone interested in what they have to say!

Maybe it’s because I’ve been in sales previous to being a facebook consultant, but spamming is to me like me contacting a would-be customer and before I say anything else to them, I just say ‘buy my product, here it is!!’ DUH wouldn’t get many sales, would I? I heard this quote: “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care” Isn’t that the truth!!!!

I have a question about the rules for these forums. First, my assumption is that if someone posts a link to a product for which he/she is an affiliate, he/she should disclose that relationship.

Is that in fact one of the forum rules? 

I’m asking because a particular member has posted a link (looks like an affiliate link) and recommended a product that looks a lot like a MLM setup to me . . . and this member did not disclose any relationship. 

It may be a great product, but if it turns out that my purchase is lining this person’s pockets, I want to know. That wouldn’t stop me from buying—but I want to know what’s going on.

Moderators, can you respond?

Just an addition to my post above. The link in question was indeed an affiliate link.

@rich-brooks Can you comment on my question in post

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/clubs/small-business/forum/topic/please-do-not-spam-us-with-your-message-ads/?topic_page=2&num=20#post-5310

Thanks!