Facebook Creeping

Facebook Creeping is a Plus

(June 2012) Facebook creeping - The act of snooping into other peoples conversations, pictures, information, etc. when you are using the social networking program Facebook as defined by the Urban Dictionary. This is probably synonymous with gossiping or being nosey, a 21^st century sort of digital eavesdropping. And although it may be considered a social mis-step, the way I see it, it can have great benefits as a business tool, a great information gathering source.

Okay I’ll admit that I am a Facebook Creeper. The process goes something like this: Once I have

secured a meeting with a potential customer I’ll do a web search on the name, which most often leads me to their Facebook page. There I can sometimes gather an enormous amount of information on the potential client. This does two things for me: 1) Helps me “get to know” the client before I get to know the client and 2) helps me pre-determine most often what type of personality I will be dealing with. In his series of articles from last year colleague Steve Moody wrote of the different personalities that we encounter and how our sales approach should be personalized for that type. By gathering information from Facebook I’m able to get a head start on that process.

Here’s an example: I have just set up a meeting with a bride and a Facebook search reveals to me that she is in sales. I assume that more than likely I’ll be dealing with a people person, one who will open up to me when we meet. And if she has put a lot of info on her Facebook page (favorite movies/tv shows/music/artists) I can utilize that to my advantage. Somewhere during our conversation I can slip in a line that leads directly to her “likes.” If on Facebook I have noted that one of her favorite artists is, let’s say, Damien Rice, during my presentation I can express how, throughout dinner, we try to keep it low key and play music from artists like Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Damien Rice . . .

Creeping can also help you qualify the person. 

You also may find out what NOT to do. If the clients profile indicates that they are a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and a huge Packer fan, it may be time to hide those Hawkeye and Chicago Bear items you have displayed on your desk or mantle.

On the other side of that coin I may have set up a meeting with a company executive planning a corporate event. The info on Facebook is very limited other than to say that he or she is a graduate with a degree in Computer Information Systems or engineering. Experience tells me I’m more than likely going to be dealing with a more reserved client, a “just the facts please” persona. For this meeting I better be prepared to find out precisely what information he/she needs to make their decision and give them only that information.

Creeping can also help you qualify the person. Are they your ideal client? A while back I had a call from an upcoming groom requesting a price quote and a brochure. A check of his Facebook page led me to his fiancés page and part of her interests listed were “UFC Fighting, wishing you could punch someone in the face without consequences” and some graphic sexual content that I’ll leave out of our G-Rated paper. A review of her posts also led me to believe that she had a lot of family issues currently happening in her life.

Somehow that brochure never made it to the mailbox.

Until next time,

Michael