Enough with the LinkedIn Spam

If it looks, smells, and tastes like Spam, then maybe...

Often, these uninvited guests need no introduction so you don’t get one. First, they like your post. Then some impersonal connection request, likely written with AI.

You can guess the rest.

They ask for, or demand a meeting, followed by follow-up automations asking "Did you read my last email?" They also scrape your email, and have some unlucky recent college grad record a video of your site. The poor kid reading an AI written script, in front of a screencast of your site, promising money and huge results.

Warning. You're about to meet the Gen-X Dad in me.

I'm a card carrying member of our This is Bullsh*t Generation. Seth Godin didn't wage his Great War for Permission-Based Marketing in vain. Permission to work with me, for me, or on behalf of the brand I built matters. You hammer me with pressure to take your meeting? Now you want me to pay you to fill my calendar with people your system has beat on?

This is like people claiming sobriety while scarfing edibles. Or, selling plant-based medicine retreats over learning to meditate. The blasphemy of calling yourself a guru for building 7-figure coaching practices.

Out. My. Face. Point your BS someplace else.

I've never considered myself just another coach, and I left a successful sales career for a reason. When I worked in sales, I built relationships with the human being across from me. Sales are built on relationships, and trust. Even Michael Scott from Dunder Mifflin knows this. Pressuring everyone else to make your number is the Supreme D*ck Move.

Spammers have no concern, or conscience. I've replied to many of them with thoughtful questions, or legit concerns. No reply. The next morning, I receive 5-10 more from new companies. There are always more aspiring coaches to feed upon. I move them to the "other" tab, and block them.

Another favorite awful move of theirs? Asking me to unsubscribe from their follow-ups. Hey, I didn't sign up for your abusive relationship.

I live in Ohio, a battleground state where robocalls hammer us every election. These tactics are not marketing. They are black ops.

I've dedicated my full soul to running our soul-based business. I've fired clients for unethical practices. None of it is easy, but neither is having integrity.

Remember: We are coaches in part, because we want to believe like Ted Lasso. Believe in all the things, all the people, including easy ways to live our dream and make all the money. We are also Capital-C Coaches— who bow to noble truths like integrity and reason.

All of us can cut corners, and push others around to hit our goals. We are human, and the pressure can be real.

Fewer humans are willing to slow down and Capital-C Coach. Which includes making a stand for our better nature.

The tiny, bold move is to walk the road less traveled. Experiment with your lead generation. Hire salespeople, preferably who have souls. But whatever bottom feeder industry this crap is, do not tolerate it.

Anyone noticing anything similar on LinkedIn?

I’m open to being a tiny, tender snowflake! Would love to know I'm not alone.

This article was excerpted from our weekly newsletter, Tiny Bold Moves. Read the full article and subscribe here.

If you found this helpful, please share it and tag Kristoffer "KC" Carter. Our team is happy to keep the conversation going inside your post.

Kristoffer Carter, or 'KC' is the CEO and Founder of Epic Leadership, a coaching and training team for conscious leaders. He is the author of Permission to Glow— A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership. His 4 Permissions Framework? guides his team’s coaching of Fortune 100 executive leaders at companies like Amazon, AT&T, eXp Realty, Edward Jones, and many more. Their work has been featured in Success Magazine, Men's Health, Fast Company, and Thrive Global. Kristoffer sits on the Board of Directors for Yoga Alliance, which supports the teaching of yoga around the globe. Learn more at epicleadership.org