Dear “It Works”:

You’re ruining my Instagram feed.

Seriously. Just stick one of those bestsellers over your mouth for a minute and hear me out. 

When in the hell did every other person on Instagram become an It Works pusher?

What’s the deal?

I’m all for tactfully selling your product/service via the world wide web (does anyone call it that anymore? just me?) but this is getting ridiculous.

I can’t take it. It’s all too much. 

You do know that every time you contact me about your products, you’re basically saying “hey, fatty, you need this”. Well crap. I’ve got enough issues with my post-two-babies-body that I don’t need you reminding me that I still have a pouch, cellulite and saddlebags (btw, thanks for making me write that on the internet, asshole).

Unless I can use above-mentioned wraps to restrain my trantruming toddler or swaddle my screaming baby, I am NOT interested. 

My hair, skin and nails are just fine thank you. Minus the falling out, redness and peeling. Whatever. Stop judging me.

Here’s the deal: if I look at your Instagram profile and see more products than selfies, I’m NOT following you. If I look at your profile and see that every other post is urging people to join your team, I’m NOT following you. Yes, I know I could make a bajillion dollars by becoming a fellow-pusher, but then, no one would like me anymore.

Also, just because I liked your picture or commented on a non-product related picture (which I did because I thought you genuinely liked and commented on one of mine) does NOT mean I want a direct message from you urging me to join your team.

Let’s get back to pics of your kid making a face, the sandwich you ate for lunch, the tree outside your front door or the shoes you wore yesterday.

**you can substitute “It Works” for pretty much any of those ‘products’… you know the ones I mean**

***yes, I know I ask you to read my blog, but that’s free and at least I’m not calling you fat. Also, it’s not every.single.flipping.post. So there.***

Don’t be a pusher.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Let me wrap you in a hug… it’s 40% off, for a limited time ONLY and I only have 2 spots left.

That is all.

Off to go take a post-workout selfie with my cute baby and drink my shakeology while burning essential oils.

JUST kidding…. not about the baby part.

 

About the author: Shaunacey Bonneville blogs over at www.simplyshaunacey.com. She survives primarily on coffee, red wine and the hope that she will one day sleep again. In the meantime, she blogs from home in an effort to maintain what is left of her sanity. She’s currently being held captive by her two small children (please send help… in the form of coffee… or wine). Follow her on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

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Wannabe's are Guest Authors to BLUNTmoms. They might be one-hit wonders, or share a variety of posts with us. They "may" share their names with you, or they might write as "anonymous" but either way, they are sharing their stories and their opinions on our site, and for that we are grateful.

14 Comments

  1. Shaunacy,

    As one of those people that use social media to promote my business of Rodan + Fields, I must speak out. These “annoying” posts are putting food in your fellow Blunt Moms family’s mouths, paying for their children’s college educations, mortgages, kids extra curricular activities, and most importantly IMO, enabling them to be an integral contributor of their family finances!!

    Yes, they may very well be clogging up your social media feeds, but these companies are providing an amazing platform for women and mothers, married or single, to become a part of the future of how business is being done, while still allowing them to be present in their families lives. It’s companies that share their products through direct marketing that allow our military wives to bring in income regardless of where they’re deployed! I’ve never been a part of an environment that women help other women and build them up rather than tear them down, minus the drama and cattiness! At least that is my experience with my fellow Rodan + Fields consultants!

    So before bashing the strong, intelligent, blunt moms that follow your blog, remember, we’re all just trying to provide for ourselves and our families. Trying to create an environment for success as an example for our friends and family. Trying to share what works for us. I’m beyond thankful that I was approached to become a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant, a company that is truly on fire, and as of yesterday, became the #1 Anti-Aging product in the US, the #2 Premiere Skincare company in the US behind Clinique, which is only sold in stores! I’m proud to be a “timeline clogger”, and will continue to do so as long as I”m able to provide for my family and enjoy the fruits of my labor while on amazing vacations, which btw, were only possible because I “clogged” people’s social media feeds!

    • Bravo Shele! Moms and women need to lock arms and support one another rather promoting negativity energy and judgement on fellow moms and judge how they make a living to support their families. Just as we need to teach our children to respect others, moms blogging on social media should do the same and set the example. Let’s make this world a better place and not be condescending to other fellow moms/women and support one another rather judging them by the how they run and promote their online businesses. They are supporting their families and balancing their lives by choosing to work from home and use social media to share their products. I applaud all direct sales business on my feed including those men and woman with local shops, real estate agents and businesses because it is their livelihood and what they choose to do to help support their families. It’s called respect. I respect that you choose to blog for a living and your style is ‘Blunt’ but I would suggest perhaps in the future, before being so blunt, think about respect first. Best of luck to you and your blog.

      • Know this was not meant to ALL people in direct marketing. I think there are some amazing companies out there doing wonderful things and women that are killing it with their business. I am all for that and have a number of relationships with people who sell these products (and have purchased some myself). What I find frustrating is people pouncing on moms who are just trying to genuinely interact with fellow moms/women.

    • Hey Shaunacy,
      Buy my R+F products….They REALLY DO WORK!!!
      PS…If it doesn’t interest you, move on, that is what we all do!!!!

    • thanks for reading Shele. This post was NOT meant to suggest that ALL people in direct marketing annoy the crap out of me. I did my own stint in a MLM company at one point.
      I think mom-prenuers kick-butt; however, to say I don’t get frustrated by being bombarded by non-stop direct messages would be a lie.
      If you follow me and genuinely interact with me then I’m happy to see posts about whatever it is your selling (and, for what it’s worth, I have heard your sunless tanner is amazing). What I dislike, is people feigning interest and jumping on me every time I attempt to engage on a non-product post.

      • Thank you for your response. I’m glad that you took the time to read my response as well. I appreciate that you have respect for those of us that have to use social media in order to operate. I’m sure that there are some people who abuse their social media pages and ruin it for the rest of us, and for that, I apologize to those on the receiving end of their being a tad overzealous.

        That being said, everyone needs to get used to seeing products and services that utilize social media as a method of doing business. It’s proving that brick and mortar stores are no longer necessary to purchase high quality goods. Rodan + Fields has pioneered a way of shopping, and many companies have followed suit because it works.

        Lastly, you know where to find me when you’re ready for our Foaming Sunless Tan?

        • Of course I read your response, I really do value feedback and I honestly can appreciate how this sounded harsh; however, my intent was not to generalize to ALL people doing business using social media. Heck, if that was the case I’d be one heck of a hypocrite as I certainly use my social media channels to promote my blog.

          Also, my Instagram followers are primarily women with blogs or business and they certainly use it as a means to promote whatever it is they are doing/selling BUT most of them do so without being pushy.

          If you message me saying “hey beautiful, you’re so cute but holy you look like a ghost, try this tanner”, I’m gonna be like “um, see my post”

          If I post a pic of my alabaster self and say “anyone know a good self tanner for my nearly translucent skin” and you message me saying “this R+F stuff is the bombdigity and I’d be happy to tell you more” then I’ll be like “super, hook me up!”.

          I know my ‘rant’ wasn’t specific enough (i.e. I’m happy to scroll past whatever but I hate random direct messages, leave me alone unless I suggest I need what you’re selling or want to be on your team) BUT it’s too late for that.

          I won’t apologize for my feelings about it but I will apologize if I offended someone who is promoting themselves and/or products/business and who is doing it while building relationships and not harassing people.

          thank YOU for checking back to see that I commented and for being kind in your response, I truly appreciate being able to have a dialogue. I may be on the blunt side of things but I promise I’m not a complete a-hole (not all the time anyway)

  2. Nice to meet you, Judgy Judgerson. You must be a perfect example of how we should all use social media. I hate myself a little bit for having read your post and supported it, and I hate myself a little more for leaving a comment which ratchets up your blogger stats, because this post does not deserve the support of smart readers.

    My news feed is filled with political posts that will never change my mind or my values, rants against Common Core and high-stakes testing that I will never agree with, weird sped-up videos of how to make something yummy out of canned biscuits in the kitchen that I will never try, and all kinds of other things I’m not really interested in. Did you know that you can scroll on by without letting it ruin your day or your life? I get requests to play games on Facebook every single day and I have never accepted one of them, because I don’t play games. But I’m happy for your success in Candy Crush or whatever the new thing is. Whatever. You do you.

    There are things for sale in my newsfeed from companies I never chose to “like” or follow. Just this morning I saw a set of plates shaped like books and personalized leggings. What the what? Why is that so much less annoying to people than a friend they know in real life promoting her business? If a friend of yours had a health spa that did wraps and she promoted her specials on her business page AND her personal page, would that annoy you, too? What about a friend who owns a restaurant or boutique? Why are products sold person-to-person so much less credible than those sold in brick and mortar stores? When I need a new mascara, I ask my friends what they like. When I need a plumber, I ask for a referral from people I know.

    When I was younger I used to admire intelligent, witty people most. I still admire those people. But I more admire kind people who lift each other up and celebrate successes of others big and small. Personally, the thing I fear most is being in the same place in 12 months that I am right now. Stagnancy. Change and growth is good, and I admire people who are willing to try things so much more than I admire people who judge things on the surface.

    I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I feel that the “women selling things on social media” pro-and-anti camps are the new breast-vs-bottle debate or the new working-mom-vs-stay-at-home-mom debate. Must there always be camps?

    Just know that your hateful diatribe against women doing their thing is on you, not them. They’re not doing anything wrong. You can’t change other people; you can only change your reaction to them.

    • I think people are reading WAY too much into this. My ‘rant’, which I’m entitled to, is not to say all people who have businesses on social media be-damned. I actually love some of these companies and have built and fostered amazing relationships with women who are crazy successful as a result of these opportunities and THAT is an awesome thing.

      My beef is not the entrepreneur or the shops selling their goods. I have tons of those that I follow and love. My issue is with the ones, and there are ones in every bunch regardless of what the sell is, that constantly direct message every.single.time you like a picture (even a non-product one) or leave a comment.

      I can appreciate that this sounds judgemental and you know what, maybe it is but it’s judging the few who prey on and harass people not the ones engaging in real relationships and also running businesses. Sorry you wasted your time reading and commenting.

      Al the best,

  3. Amen, Shaunacey, amen. I don’t need to be told what to buy, I’m a perfectly good consumer, thankyouverymuch, and can find products I want all by myself. I don’t need every other picture to be that of someone’s belly in saran wrap. Sure, direct sales companies have to do it somehow and need a venue, but there’s a difference in being pushy and annoying and just kindly suggesting the products. Same goes with Twitter. Enough with all the DMs about your products. If I’m curious, I will ask – stop shoving it down my throat. It is an instant UNFOLLOW by me if you advertise incessantly.

    • the direct messages are killing me!! I can totally deal with people posting what they want and promoting, but I like to connect with people being authentic and not feigning interest just to make a hard sell.
      Some of my favorite people to follow on Instagram happen to be BeachBody coaches but have not pitched to me once… and if I need ANYthing, they’d be the first people I do to!

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