Facebook definitely takes the cake for most annoying social networking site ever. Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by Facebook. It’s the easiest place for people to tag you in whatever they’re selling or add you in Facebook groups without your permission. (If anybody knows a way out of that, please let me know.)

[Tweet “I will unfriend you or mark you as spam if you tag me in anything promo related.”]

[Tweet “Spamming your social media friends is not a real marketing strategy.”]

If you’re doing it right, the whole point of social media and support communities should be to  build relationships, but I find that too many people misuse it to try to sell. I feel like pushing your product and service onto somebody through social media and communities is a cop out to a real marketing strategy. You’re wasting your time. What you should focus on are 2 things:

1. Join a mastermind group.

It is more targeted with people who have similar goals as you. Being a business owner is not a real target. Being an online business owner is slightly more targeted. Being an online business owner that sells informational products is more targeted. Being an online business owner that sells informational products to women who want to enhance their health and wellness is extremely targeted and more effective.

I am in a mastermind group with transformational speakers and coaches that need help with branding. Seeing that I am a personal branding strategist for coaches, this group is PERFECT for me. It’s way more effective than being grouped in a generic bunch of people who have different goals. Stop joining motivational support groups and form or invest in masterminds instead.

2. How are you of value to people you form relationships with?

I know my value outside of my dollar amount which in turn actually makes it easier for me to charge higher rates. I never lead with my cost, I lead with my value. Keep the focus on your value rather than cost and your customers will be focused on that, too. Build relationships FIRST. Building relationships is going to be one of the most important things that makes you successful. Have a clear understanding of what you bring to the table before you sit down.

I talk about poor selling habits by people made in groups I’ve been placed in within the video below.