The One About the Pitchy Pest who Claimed Not to Pitch

A guy named “James” invaded my LinkedIn direct-message box yesterday with a note that started like this…

Hi Tom,

Unlike most on this platform who immediately pitch you, I’d actually like to start a genuine conversation.

Then he told me how “…from (his conversations), many service providers like yourself are facing stagnant or declining sales.”

He said, “I approach business differently — I aim to make your service a ‘treasure’ for your clients.

He continued by citing those Mastercard commercials that used to describe “priceless” moments. That’s what he can help me do, he said, create those “invaluable experiences that your customers cherish.”

After telling me he’d “love” to hear my thoughts…

…James pitched me…

…to attend a workshop to “delve into strategies for creating these ‘priceless’ moments.” I could attend as his “guest,” he said.

🙄 😒 🙄

Okie-dokie, then, Mr-I’m-Not-Like-All-Those-Other-Pitchy-Pests!

Thanks for the pitch! But I’m not attending.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against promoting your products and services.

In the Story Power Profit Pack (pointer #18), I write:

It’s OK to Sell – Almost Always

Some people make a distinction between content that provides value and content that sells. They say send “value-only” emails some of the time and “sales” emails other times.

I don’t buy that. That fosters a business-crushing mindset — as if content without a pitch is valuable and content that sells is not. Don’t fall in that mindset trap.

Everything you do for your audience is valuable — including revealing how your products and services can serve them.

I’m not talking about hard-charging pitches every time (see Pointer #16). I’m talking about informative, entertaining content that inspires your audience to take a next step with you (and tells them how to take that step). You might be “selling” a free report, event, or email opt-in. Or you might be selling a product or service.

Whatever you’re selling, it is valuable to your audience. Don’t forget that.

I don’t have a problem with James pitching his workshop.

I have a problem with James pitching his workshop in a cold direct-message — after claiming he’s not like the others who pitch immediately.

And why do I call him out? Behold Pointer # 31 from the Profit Pack with the most relevant bits highlighted…

#31: Call Out Bad Behavior

…I’ve called out:

Pitchy pests who pound me with offers that are irrelevant to me.

 A “professional appointment setter” who showed up at the Zoom meeting arranged – with no idea what I do.

 The bait-and-switch artist who promised to help me get a speaking gig at a big event only to reveal when we met that he didn’t have the connections he first claimed to have.

 The guy who sent me an incoherent, illogical complaint about my “too long” emails.

I don’t share these stories to complain or vent. I share them as cautionary tales to reveal important lessons. I share them to define my way of doing business. I share them because they’re informative and entertaining stories. My goal isn’t to embarrass or humiliate the one who behaved badly. My goal is to show my audience what I stand for and to say, “Join me if you stand for the same.”

When you do this, you may offend and repel some people — those who probably weren’t going to do business with you anyway. But you’ll increase your authority, magnify the value you bring, and build stronger bonds with your best prospects and clients.

Here comes my pitch…

The Story Power Profit Pack contains 52 strategies, tips, and tactics (a.k.a. Pointers) to transform your content from ignored to adored…

…so prospects tune in, turn on, and buy.

I just shared two of the 52. If you’d like the other 50…

you can get the Profit Pack here.