Marketing MISTAKES: Don't use public IM lists to advertise

I was in-world this morning when up popped an IM on the SLCC Announcement list advertising something.

I'm not even going to get into what was advertised, because that's not the point.

What is the point is that within seconds, two people chimed in, sternly instructing the person who had posted the marketing message that the group list was not an appropriate place to do that kind of thing.

To her credit, she acknowledged it right away. But others might not.

More important, you might discover these public lists--another would be the Linden Town Hall Questions List--and think that it's a great way to get word out quickly and to a lot of people about your product or service.

But if the group list is not specifically set up as a place where such ads are kosher, then to do so would very likely be tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot. Or maybe to selling tainted food. In other words, people will be very unhappy with you and that unhappiness will be broadcast far and wide--on the list itself--right away.

This isn't to say that public group lists cannot be a place to market your goods. But you need to be sure you are choosing a list that is appropriate for it--for example, the Fashion Consolidated Group, where loads of fashion designers post about their new products as a way to reach out to a lot of residents at once.

As in all things related to marketing in SL, you just need to be sure you're not going to make the kind of mistake that will result in bad word of mouth. Because that's the best way to stall the growth of your new business right away.