Dear Social Media Expert
Thank you for your very kind email inviting me to your Social Media Masterclass. It sounds a great event, and I appreciate your offer of 'trebling my income' as a result of attending. Wow that sounds good.
However, whilst I'm sure it will be a memorable event, I hope you won't be offended but here are ten reasons why I won't be attending:
- Naturally I wanted to check out you and your Social Media credentials, and the quickest of searches doesn't reveal anything other than your own promotional material proclaiming your Social Media expertise. Show me at least five years worth of evidence that you've worked in the field with real clients and you'll certainly get my attention.
- Your own use of Social Media seems to be a bit thin on the ground. I thought you would be a bit more 'high profile' online. For example, you have a pleasant enough page on LinkedIn, but I can see basic points which suggest that you either haven't yet got round to optimising your profile (don't worry, my 'things to do list' is just as disorganised), or that you aren't really an expert at all.
I don't mind so much that you haven't got huge numbers of followers on LinkedIn (or on your Facebook page for that matter), but I can't see any Social Media testimonials on your profile or that you have a track record of running similar events. Basically, you're invisible for the most part online and that doesn't fill me with much confidence. - Unfortunately, I don't know enough about you - the seminar host. So tell me something about yourself before you tell me too much about the Masterclass itself. I also want to read about how you got to where you are now - I want to know what drives you and I want to hear your story. I also want to know a bit about where you like to travel, your favourite films - and yes maybe your favourite food. Who are you? Isn't that what Social Media is all about - People buy People?
- Just in case your seminar really is as good as you tell me, I might want to follow you and your services a bit more closely in the future. Do you have your own Social Media club, LinkedIn group, Ecademy club, social network or Twitter account where I can keep tabs on you and interact with you later? After all I might have some questions which I only think to ask after the event. I'm always remembering questions I should have asked when it's too late!
It's just that I couldn't see mention of your online club or social network anywhere on your marketing materials - and if I knew that other people had already joined your club or group, it might give you a bit more credibility and I will sign up like a shot. And let's be clear, if you have had actual experience working for or with a social networking site, that will definitely get my attention. - Sorry to go on about this, but I'm still not sure about your credentials for running this workshop. Could you tell me a little something of how you came to be involved in this exciting field - what did you do before you earned your living through Social Media? I did actually find someone on Google who could be you (the photo is the same), but that person is/was a "successful and high profile" Management Consultant. Mind you, I guess it's not that hard to switch careers. Social Media can't take that long to master surely?
- Your marketing material for your Masterclass isn't really clear - could you tell me please exactly what I will learn that I can't find out for myself on the Internet? I guess if you really are an expert, then you'll have a few gems up your sleeve that really are worth paying the entrance fee for. You have, haven't you?
- You mentioned something in your marketing material about some "secret tools" that you use which can completely automate my Social Media activities - and across all Social Media platforms. Appealing as this sounds, this one 'benefit of attending your Masterclass' alone is enough for me to know that you really don't get it and I'll pass. Sorry.
- Your promotional material (including the one tweet about it I saw yesterday), promises to reveal the "100 Golden Rules to use Twitter effectively". Blimey, that's going to be a long section in the Masterclass; and I hate to think how many of those rules I've broken already! You know, I searched and searched the Internet and even Twitter's own website and I just can't find any rules for using Twitter effectively. Maybe those golden rules are the gems up your sleeve after all. Go on, admit it - there aren't any rules are there?
- OK, maybe I've been a little harsh. Sure, I can see your unfinished profile on LinkedIn, and Facebook and Twitter - oh and there you are on YouTube too. But where else can I find you online - these surely aren't the only social tools out there? For example, I'm surprised that you're not using EventBrite to promote your Masterclass? And a colleague just asked me what the event # tag is - apparently you would be using one?
- Again, I'm a tiny bit surprised that your Masterclass isn't being promoted on LinkedIn's Events tool. Even I know that you can post a seminar or workshop or Masterclass on LinkedIn events, and that a relevant keyword search will show up your event in Google about twenty minutes later. Pretty cool eh?!
Anyway, sorry if I've gone on a bit. Many thanks again for your invitation - I hope your Masterclass goes well (without me). I'll be looking out for your tweets at the event - just in case...
#JustSaying
Kindest regards
Philip Calvert - Professional Speaker
PS: Do you have an App?
PPS: Don't forget to post a photo on the day to Pinterest. Thanks.