You can’t fake adding value.

Remember that one kid in the playground who acted like they were having heaps of fun, making a lot of noise, and constantly screaming “look at me, look at me”?

Maybe they did silly things to make other kids laugh, or they would do dangerous things in order to impress others…

But inside what they really wanted was someone to give them a hug and tell them that they were valued and valuable just for being who they are.

I used to be that kid.

So it’s interesting when I observe adults playing out that role online, like in FB groups.

Perhaps you’ve seen it too…

– That person who only posts on the group’s designated promo day (if the group has one), plugging their product or service

– That person who replies to someone’s genuine, and sometimes vulnerable, request for help with “Yes I can help. PM me” or worse… “Yes I can help, book a free 30-min discovery call with me” (this is NOT helpful at all)

– That person who takes ANY opportunity to drop a link to their website, or share a post they had made on their own FB business page as a sneaky way to get people to click through to their website or page (not very subtle)

None of these behaviours are adding value.

They’re self-serving and annoying.

Don’t be that kid.

Now the people who are setting themselves up for great success marketing online act differently:

– They don’t join a gazillion groups, but choose to focus on a handful where the people and values alight with their own

– They seek to give first, and understand that it’s through building relationships and genuinely caring for others that business thrives

– They share a vulnerable story (it’s vulnerable if you feel butterflies in your belly before you hit publish), and powerful insights that can help others shift their thinking

– They share the ACTUAL steps of how they were able to create a specific result in their life or business, and provide a framework for others to do the same

– They don’t force people to refer to their website or download a FREE PDF in exchange for an email address

I’m not sure if you’ve experienced it or not, but people can FEEL when someone is looking after themselves first, even if their post is disguised as serving others.

So next time you choose to engage online ask yourself:

Who are you really serving?