The Anti-Sleaze Sales Guide For Solopreneurs: How to Actually Win People Over

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Tired of sleazy sales pitches? So are we.
 
In this episode, Carly and Joe unload on the cringiest sales tactics cluttering inboxes today: think cold DMs that insult your business, spammy bots pretending to be human, and desperate pitches that reek of commission breath.

But don’t worry, it’s not just a rant. They also break down how solopreneurs can build real trust, use storytelling to connect authentically, and sell without feeling like a pushy used car dealer. If you've ever rolled your eyes at a LinkedIn message, this one's for you.

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Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business. 

So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, click here to check out LifeStarr Intro!  

EpisodeTranscript

Carly Ries: Tired of sleazy sales tactics and robotic pitches that make your skin crawl? Us too. In this episode of the Aspiring Solopreneur, I, Carly, vent in the best way about cringey cold emails, LinkedIn spam, and the desperate energy that reeks of please buy from me. Joe shares why trust, not tricks, is the real currency in sales. And we both talk about using storytelling to spark real connection to why AI bots aren't your shortcut to success.

This is your unofficial guide to selling without selling your soul. So grab your coffee and come rant with us.

Intro: You're listening to the Aspiring Solopreneur, the podcast for those just taking the bold step or even just thinking about taking that step into the world of solo entrepreneurship. My name is Carly Ries, and my cohost Joe Rando and I are your guides to navigating this crazy but awesome journey as a company of one. We take pride in being part of LifeStarr, a digital hub dedicated to all aspects of solopreneurship that has empowered and educated countless solopreneurs looking to build a business that resonates with their life's ambitions. We help people work to live, not live to work. And if you're looking for a get rich quick scheme, this is not the show for you.

So if you're eager to gain valuable insights from industry experts on running a business the right way the time around or want to learn from the missteps of solopreneurs who paved the way before you, then stick around. We've got your back because flying solo in business doesn't mean you're alone.

Carly Ries: So I wanted to do this topic today because it's just something that's really been bugging me recently, and that is just sleazy sales pitches. I'm gonna throw a few things in there. Sleazy, but also inauthentic. Just kinda going through the motions. It really just, rubs me the wrong way.

Do you feel the same way? I feel like there's such a good way to sell now, and so many people are missing the mark on it.

Joe Rando: You know, what can I say? I get pitched. I get these emails. I get InMails and LinkedIn stuff on, Facebook of like, you know, we do this, will you hire us? And it's like, why in heaven's name would I hire somebody just because they say they do something?

So yeah, I mean, it's annoying, but it's sad. It's really sad because so many people are spending so much energy doing things that must never ever work.

Carly Ries: And all of them are unintentionally insulting. Like, I'm a marketer. So when somebody cold emails, cold LinkedIns me and is like, hey, your SEO stings. I'm like, one, no, it doesn't. And I know that because we put time and effort into it.

And two, why do you think I'm gonna give you my business if you're telling me what I'm doing wrong from the get go?

Joe Rando: That's an interesting strategy, isn't it? it's like, imagine walking up to somebody and saying, hey, you're really ugly. You wanna go out?

Carly Ries: I bet I can boost your confidence.

Joe Rando: Yeah. I mean, and I think what it comes down to is the only way, and I know I go on about this all the time, but the only way you're going to be able to sell somebody is for them to trust you, right? You have to start with trust. Now some people argue you start with like. I don't think I can like somebody I don't trust, so I really feel like starting with trust is where it all begins.

But I don't know, what do you think?

Carly Ries: Well, agree. What are your recommendations for people to trust you

Joe Rando: Be helpful. Be honest. I mean, real way to make people trust you is to help them without expecting anything back. Now the hard part is the people that go, oh, I gotta help people to get them to buy from me, but they skip the trust part, so they kinda go, yeah, let me help you and then buy this. And it's like, you have to kinda do it with a pure heart. Help people, and then they come to you. They come to you, and that's the key.

Carly Ries: What I find is if you help people, it will pay in dividends later on. So you may not get that sale immediately, but if I'm like, oh gosh, Joe Rando, he's just such a good guy. He's that papa bear of LifeStarr Just genuinely wants to do good in the world, then I'll remember that, and I'll refer that. And it'll just pay in the long run. I think another way to trust, and I'm gonna pull a George B Thomas here for anybody that's familiar with George, Be human.

When you're trying to sell, just be human. So many people rely on AI these days. We use AI all the time. I'm not gonna diss AI. But when it comes to making those connections, you have to be human.

And when you build trust, you have to do it from an innate moving connection, not a computer.

Joe Rando: I love that. And I think, you know, as I think about what you just said, it's like one of the ways that you can build a relationship and build trust is on social media. You can go in and comment on people's posts and say things that add value or let them know that you agree with them or whatever it is. But all these people are using AI bots now to do it, and it's so obvious. And it just annoys the poster when they look and go, okay, this person doesn't have the time or can take the trouble to actually comment on my stuff.

They have to have a bot do it for them. It's counterproductive. Yeah. It's not not a way to use it.

Carly Ries: Yeah. It is just so inauthentic. And I think on the AI front, when it comes to sales, we've heard so many experts say this. I think Jay Acunzo kinda led the charge from our standpoint. But to get really good at storytelling.

From all the marketing podcasts I listen to, and I know like Mark, storytelling often is associated with marketing and all that. But for sales, tell a good story. Get people's attention, just put them in a trance with how well you can tell a story. And that makes the selling a lot easier and more authentic too, rather than just a plus b equals c, always b, closing. Are we doing this or not?

Like just the sleazy car sales. Just have to really tie in those human components for sales these days because your customers, your audience are getting spammed left and right. And if you wanna stand out, you need to be good at storytelling and being helpful and being human.

Joe Rando: it's human nature. It's wired I mean, before we had writing as humans, the only way we passed on knowledge was through stories. And our brains are wired to focus in, pay attention to, and learn from stories. So you're absolutely right, Carly. And you know, storytelling isn't just, a beginning, a middle, and an end.

I mean, really good storytelling has emotional arcs, and which sounds crazy from the perspective of, a marketing pitch, and I'm not saying I'm good at this, but I really wanna get good at it. But, you wanna have an emotional arc. You wanna basically, have different levels of, kind of excitement and then quiet. So if you're telling a story, whether it's in writing or on a video, you really wanna think through the best storytelling techniques. And I'm not an expert at that, but I'm paying attention, because I think that's where things are going.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Couldn't agree more. I think the other thing that drives me nuts with some sales tactics is when people come off as being desperate, that's when the sleaziness really, for me, starts to creep in. So if you can tell they're really being pushy, it's usually because they really need that sale. I would say as best you can detach yourself from the outcome of it, and just go in with it knowing I'm gonna help them, I'm gonna give them value, and if they see the value in what I have, then great, let's make a deal.

And if they don't, you're not the right customer for me, and move on. I think it's really easy to get emotionally attached when you're selling, and to get heated, and to get annoyed, and then it just kinda escalates. When really you just have to say, I did my best. If they're the right fit, they'll see the value in what I'm providing. If not, I'll focus on another person.

Do you agree with that?

Joe Rando: A 100%. And you know, back in the last century when I was single, I noticed something really interesting, which was if I wasn't looking for a girlfriend, I would always find one. You know, it's kind of funny. you know, when you were out like, oh I wanna meet, I'm single, I don't wanna be single. Never worked, but you know, you go out and just be like, yeah, whatever.

And the next thing you know, you'd meet somebody and it's trying too hard. It's like, you don't wanna try too hard. it's just being nice, being helpful. And I wanna clarify, being helpful doesn't mean giving away the store.

It just means saying, this is the kind of thing I'm gonna do for free. I'm gonna do it for free. I'm not doing it for free just so that, people will buy from me. I'm gonna do it for free, and some of those people are gonna resonate and wanna come to me. And that's how I'm gonna do this.

And that's what I think a lot of people that are doing this kind of pushy selling, and no trust, you know, low trust selling, are missing that point.

Carly Ries: really, gotta get good relationship building from like perspective, and build that trust and go from there. I feel like I just wanted to come on today to rant because I've been just been getting more and more spam recently that's driving me crazy.

And I'm just like, nope.

You're doing sales wrong. Here are some tips to do it. Anyway, I just need to stop talking.

Joe Rando: Maybe we need to create an AI bot that replies back with lessons for those when it identifies those emails and automatically responds to them.

Carly Ries: Yes. Just get me all riled up.

Joe Rando: I guess the other thing this is something that kinda annoyed me today, was this. I'm looking at these people on social media that are trying to basically get attention for their business, but they're doing all kinds of things that, aren't, you know, are disingenuous, if you will. And I don't think that that's gonna work in the long run. It certainly can work in the short run, but when you're in there saying things that either aren't true or only telling half the truth and inflating your results, you know, you look at somebody that's got, a 100,000 followers and their post gets, you know, six likes, Something's wrong there.

Either their content isn't very good, or more likely they bought their followers. And those kinds of techniques for growing your sales, again, it's not honest, and I don't think it plays in the long run. So just put that out there.

Carly Ries: Yep. I like it. Well, I think that's a good point to end on. Listeners, thank you so much for tuning in. Please leave that five star review.

We actually, in the top of solopreneur for Apple right now, which is awesome for podcast.

Joe Rando: But that five star review for us, we'd be even higher than one.

Carly Ries: It would be higher than one. We'd be one plus. Well, we so appreciate the support. Please continue to send it our way. Leave that five star review.

Share this with a friend. Subscribe on your favorite platform including YouTube, and we will see you next time on The Aspiring Solopreneur. You may be going solo in business, but that doesn't mean you're alone. In fact, millions of people are in your shoes, running a one person business and figuring it out as they go. So why not connect with them and learn from each other's successes and failures?

At LifeStarr, we're creating a one person business community where you can go to meet and get advice from other solopreneurs. Be sure to join in on the conversations at community.lifestarr.com.