Facebook Outreach Tips - what to say

[BobGW]

Hi,

I've been shown how to do facebook outreach in my home town. I am a weight loss hypnotist. I was shown how to do outreach to possible home town clients using the facebook search feature.

I go to the search and type in "Friends who like weight loss"

And I get a couple of friends who have liked a major weight loss site

After I've done that search, I look to the right in facebook. It has a bunch of dropdowns. I choose the same search parameters except I change it to "Live in Boise" (my town) and "Not my Friend".

I get dozens of facebook users who live in Boise and are not my friends and are interested in weight loss.

I can message these people (less than 30 a day)

Here's the problem: I don't want to spam them. How do I get these people interested in my weight loss hypnosis program (I could really help them) by sparking up a conversation and not spamming.

Everything I can think of saying seems manipulative. I don't know how to start a conversation and invite people to come in for a free sample session. My free sample session is 30 minutes and is free just to see if the client and I are a good fit.

My website is bobweikel.com if that helps.

How do I do this with the utmost integrity?

Thank you.

[Ray-pp]

Hi BobGW,

Here's the problem: I don't want to spam them. How do I get these people interested in my weight loss hypnosis program (I could really help them) by sparking up a conversation and not spamming.

Well, regardless of your intention, you're still connecting with someone that didn't ask for your communication. Rather than think of it as spam, it's more appropriately cold-calling.

If someone cold calls you, how do you feel? Chances are that more most of the time you disregard because you feel like it is spam and non-value added. Try and find some cold call emails that you were attracted to - what made them effective? Can you adopt a principle they used to your own service?

Review your past clients that you've helped successfully - do they have friends that could use the same help? If you can get the validity of a friend, then reaching out to the next person won't be as difficult.

Try and focus on personalization - what about this individual makes you think you can help them? Have you helped similar people with the same problems and can express the result?

Keep it short and direct.

Relieve any pressure in the sales process. It's great that you provide a free 30min consultation, but that still scares people away. A lot of people feel like if they go in to see someone for a free consultation, they are still pressured into the sale. Attack that upfront (if you see it being an issue) and maybe point out that you don't allow a sales decision to be made at that point - i.e. after the free consultation you will reach back out to them and let them know they can be part of this program now that you've qualified them.

Use natural language and adapt your script to the individual. You'll quickly lose people if they feel like you are just blasting them another pitch message.

I hope these tips help, best of luck!

[BobGW]

Hmmm. It really is cold calling. If anyone has some good cold calling emails that they can show me that might be the next step. Any advice is appreciated.

[KeriMorgret]

Also, are you planning on paying $1 or so to get into the user's regular inbox? If not, you may wind up in their "other" mailbox, which many people don't know even exists.

Why not try Facebook advertising instead?

[BobGW]

Hi Keri,

Yes, I figured that out. I only choose the people I can "follow" and message them telling them that I'm into weight loss too and see if they want to do a friend request. Once they're friends then I cultivate a relationship with them, tell them what I do, and do things like offer a free session.

I'm still struggling a bit with keeping my integrity. I'm a very honest person and I don't want to mislead people.

I'm going to do some facebook advertising too, but this question is about a free strategy.