Stop Pitch Slapping People on LinkedIn!
Have you ever been “pitch slapped?”
I hadn’t heard the term until recently.
But the moment I did… I knew exactly what it meant. It’s that thing that happens when you connect with someone on LinkedIn — and before the digital handshake is even dry — they immediately try to sell you something.
No conversation. No curiosity. No context. Just: “Hey! I help people get more clients…”
That’s a pitch slap. And it’s the LinkedIn equivalent of a spam phone call.
Pitch Slap (noun):
When someone connects with you and immediately tries to sell you their service before building any relationship.
Sometimes it happens within seconds of connecting. Sometimes they “warm you up” by liking a few posts first.
But if your second message ever is a sales pitch? You’ve pitch slapped someone.
Case Study
A friend of mine texted recently: “I was just pitch slapped. LOL.”
She said that the message started politely: “Hey, I love following your content…”
So far, so good. Then: “My husband and I run a do-it-all bookkeeping business that can help you.”
My friend paused and thought: How do you know I don’t already have a bookkeeper I love? How do you know I’m even in the market? How do you know anything about my business?
That’s the huge miss. From the start of this new connection, it’s not about the relationship. Instead, it’s transactional.
It’s “What can I get?” Not “Who are you?”
Dating Analogy
In response to my friend who shared the story, I told her that she should have said: “Look, I’m not going to sleep with you when we haven’t even gone out on a first date.”
She replied: “I mean… at least buy me dinner.”
Exactly.
Sales is courtship. You don’t open with the close. You open with curiosity.
Dinner Party Example
Imagine walking into a dinner party where you don’t know anyone. Do you:
A) Walk up to a circle of people and say, “Hi, I sell bookkeeping services. Here’s my calendar link.”
Or do you:
B) Approach. Listen. Ask questions. Join the conversation. Add value.
(I hope you said B! lol)
LinkedIn is no different. It’s just a digital dinner party.
And pitch slappers are the people walking around the room handing out brochures while no one asked.
Pitch Slapping Is More
It’s not just cold sales messages. It’s also:
- People you haven’t engaged with in years asking for recommendations.
- People asking for testimonials when you’ve never worked together.
- Headlines that scream: “I Help Coaches 10x Their Revenue in 30 Days.”
When your headline is a billboard… you’re signaling transaction. When your profile shows credibility, clarity, and contribution…you’re signaling relationship.
Awareness vs. Trust
Personal branding focuses on awareness (Top of the Sales Funnel). Professional credibility builds trust (The thing that moves you through the Sales Funnel – from
Pitch slapping is awareness without trust. And trust is what moves someone from:
Awareness → Consideration → Conversion
A good salesperson:
- Gets to know you.
- Listens.
- Provides insight.
- Shares useful information.
- Adds value without expectation.
Ironically…That’s what creates demand.
The Real Problem
Pitch slapping doesn’t just annoy people. It erodes your digital reputation.
And here’s the thing most people miss: LinkedIn is searchable. Your behavior leaves signals. Your messages get screenshotted.
You are being evaluated long before you ever make the ask. And, you will be Googled.
So how do you want to be remembered? As someone who creates more interruptions and noise or someone who adds value to their network through intentionality and signal?
Networking vs. Pitch Slapping
If your first or second message to someone is a sales pitch… You are NOT networking. You’re interrupting. You are creating noise, not signal. And you will quickly get ignored and deleted.
So for the love of all things holy, Stop Pitch Slapping!
Instead, start building relationships. Because when you do, the rest will will take care of itself.
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What’s the worst pitch slap experience that you’ve had?
And as always —
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