SORRY FOR SPAMMING: Social (media) etiquette

By Steve May, Copywriter and Director at ROCKATANSKY.

I just want to say to all of my connections on LinkedIn, sorry for spamming.

Seriously, I apologise.

When I hopped on the LinkedIn express after going freelance, I thought (mistakenly), a flurry of connections, followed by swift inbox introductions would be a great way to introduce myself to people.

Turns out it’s not.

If you were on the receiving end, again, soz.

You see, in my Hotmail and Gmail inboxes, I expect a certain unsolicited messages. Like when you watch commercial TV, you expect to encounter…commercials. So it feels less offensive.

YouTube is much the same, with pre-rolls and little un-skippable ditties very much the norm.

But a LinkedIn inbox, so I discovered, is a more sacred place. Never has a Nigerian Prince offered to deposit thousands of dollars for safe keeping if I just give over my savings account deets. Nor has the secret to losing 20kg in a week been dangled in front of me if I sign up for FREE – using any major credit card.

LinkedInners are unaccustomed to the level of spam that usually hits their other messaging platforms. Your LinkedIn inbox is a closer cousin to your work inbox rather than your Hotmail. There’s a bigger bubble around it, keeping nasties at bay.

I dislike the sponsored emails sent to me on LinkedIn expounding marketing expertise (which, in effect, is totally counter-productive, as if they were indeed an expert, they’d realise that spamming my inbox simply pisses me off and pushes me further away from them).

In way, Facebook has found the balance – ads on the newsfeed, no ads in the inbox. Everybody happy.

Sure, I still send the odd ‘G’day’ on LinkedIn, but I’m no longer a prolific inbox introducer. Totally reformed. Seen the light. Completely spam sober.

So the next time you’re thinking of sending a barrage of inbox messages on LinkedIn to peddle your wares, pause, take a breath, and perhaps write an article instead. It’s a way more effective and interesting way of introducing yourself without sounding like Nigerian royalty.