TennisandSales

Head Of Sales

Acclaimed Answer

My CCO Didnt Like My Linked In Post...

So I am fairly active on linked In trying to build that "personal brand" with the folks in the industry I sell too. And its going pretty well

I made a post the other week where I mentioned a competitor. And their leadership commented on it and I responded to them.

My Chief Commercial Officer Slaked me and said he was about to go into a meeting with senior leadership and was concerned about this post and if they saw it.

I was getting ready for him to like ban me from linked in or something.

He suggested that I run any post by MARKETING to get approval,

First off, fuck that shit, marketing had no clue what they are doing.

But to the CCO's credit, he just asked me what I would say if leadership asked me "why an AE is talking about our competitors and interacting with their leadership"

So i gave my defense of my post and he was cool with it!

I really thought he was going to lay into me about it. But he didnt.

I feel like this is NOT the norm for a company that has 0 activity on linked in.

anyone out there post on linked in and have their company call you out on it/ ask you to stop???

EDIT: I call out 3 companies in the post and only one of them is a competitor, does that make a difference for anyone? I feel like it changes things haha

👑 Sales Strategy

🤝 Networking

🧢 Sales Management

17

35 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

12

🦊

Moving forward I wouldn't call out your competition by name. If they still respond on your post, then absolutely engage.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

lots of votes for not mentioning competition! very interesting.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

also I forgot to mention that in the post I mention 3 companies total and one of them is the competitor....idk if that makes a different in ppls minds but i feel it does haha should have mentioned that.

GDO

Politicker

2

BDM

Mmm I would not mention competition tbh

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

yeah I get it. its hard to really explain without outing myself.

But i totally understand ppls view of why they are scared.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

2

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I did. HR/Marketing both came down on me and I had to remove the post. It had some traction too. up until that point, they have little to no LI presence..

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

haha shit! what are the details??

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

1

Bravado's Resident Asshole

It was legit just a simple message out there about the company and explaining a common issue in the industry and to reach out to us to fix it. They flipped because they didn't have control over the content of what I said, even though it was nothing but positive for the company. I just said F it and moved on. Now I look and see people from that company shit posting all of the time and it is hilarious because IKNOW those didn't go through the same filter as I had to.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Always risky when you mention competition by name publicly. Sounds like you had a solid defense, based on what you said, and honestly, a good conversation with your CCO which might end up being beneficial to you. Having a solid reason for what you did and being able to explain your POV in a rational manner possibly did you more good with your company than LI "personal brand".

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

yeah i think so too. i was really impressed with how the CCO handled it because he could have just been an ass but i feel like we are on really good terms now.

Filth

Politicker

2

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Honestly no problem with you putting something you believe is true from a sales/business sense on your linkedin, even if it calls out some competition. These fools are out here putting god & politics in their post, why can't you name a known organization that plays in your industry? I think it makes you more personal and adds authenticity to your statements. I'm surprised your company didn't have more to say and that in of itself speaks to the legitimacy of your post.

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

ha thank you! finally someone on my side 😂

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

I haven't had that happen, but I'm curious about your defense.

Care to share a few more details?

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

sure.

I was basically sharing some industry learnings from a conference I had attended. Our competitor who is a MASSIVE organization with MANY different business units is involved in a certain area. That area is completely unrelated to my product, our companies mission or area of expertise.

I was basically saying "here here is a cool thing that is happening in the over aching industry and here are a few organizations that are involved.

I did not mention that anyone was doing a good or bad job i just gave facts about something that is public knowledge.

My ultimate defense was:
This post did not make the competitor look good or bad.
But this posts does show that the employees at my company have a pulse on the industry and what is going on, and have something to say besides just what ever marketing posts.
I feel this helps make me a LITTLE bit more creditable in the eyes of our prospects.

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

Makes sense. And solid defense.

I'd be a touch wary about mentioning competitors in a post (I think it's actually a good thing to do on a call), but I'm sure you'll be fine

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

yeah makes sense. I then followed up that post with a post about the great things my company and product is doing to make everyone happy haha.

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

Good call on the follow-up post.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

haha yeah i figured it would make ppl happy

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

🐬😎

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I wouldn't mention competition in a LI post. It validates them at some level which can be disturbing to many a C-level person. I just wouldn't go there.

ounceoz

WR Officer

1

US Sales Director

IMO LinkedIn is your brand, not the company you work for say and do whatever you want. On the other hand, you need to keep your employer happy and follow any rules/guidelines you agree to in your employee agreement. Make sure you understand that fully before posting on any social platform.

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

i totally agree and thats what i told leadership.....in a nice way.

That is my personal page, i did not say ANYTHING that made the competitor sound like they are better or have any sort of advantage since the area they they are working in (that I was posting about) was completely unrelated to the product we both sell.

I also agree pissing off your employer is not a good idea haha

I do hope that the leadership team sees this as an advantage going forward

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

1

Officer of ♥️

Calling out competition brings customers to them as well. I would say, others do x, y, & z instead

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

good point.

SalesBeast

Politicker

1

Sales Director

Get your resume dusted off…. It’s coming. Just a matter of time.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

hahah WOW! its that bad huh?

ChumpChange

Politicker

0

Channel Manager

Definitely don't call out the competition by name. Don't want to burn any bridges if you need an exit strategy.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

?
I could see the concern, although the post was not a negative take on the competition nor a positive take on the competition.

bassinshaps

Politicker

0

Territory Sales Manager

Why would you call out your competition by name?? That’s just kind of below the belt IMO. Sell your product. Don’t cut down your competitors.
You can tell your audience that your competition is doing X or Y but you don’t have to name them. Also puts the name of your competition in your prospects heads.

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

haha so i probably wasnt very clear.

The competitor has another line of business completely unrelated to the product I sell or i compete with them on.

its still in the same industry though. So i made a post about THAT sector of the industry and mentioned who was competing in it. and they are one of them.

in no way, was I cutting them down. im confused on how you thought that. If anything, i was building them up, but idk if I was even doing that.

BarefootDave

Opinionated

0

EAE

Don't be like other LI influencers.

Paragraphs aren't bad.

You don't have to space out every sentence.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

sorry dave, its just how i write. its easier for me to read so i do it. not trying to go all "linked in" on you but if i see paragraphs im less likely to read it. 🤷‍♂️

salezkween

Opinionated

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Calling out competitors is tacky.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

i wasnt calling them out. i simply mentioned their name there was no "this company sucks" type of message

salezkween

Opinionated

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Still wouldn’t do it.

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