Small businesses are contacted regularly by people offering instant exposure on social media. The message usually appears out of the blue and follows a familiar pattern. A quick introduction, a screenshot of a large group or page, a promise of huge audience numbers and an invitation to pay a small fee for a burst of sharing activity. At a glance it can sound tempting, especially when you have a product you believe in and you want to reach more people.
However the reality behind these offers is often far less valuable than it appears.
How These Approaches Usually Work
There are certain elements that tend to repeat across most of these unsolicited promotional offers. They include:
• Large audience numbers with no explanation of who those people are.
• Claims of enormous views with no analytics or evidence.
• A price that shifts during the conversation.
• No questions about your business, your customers or your goals.
• A heavy focus on quick payment rather than a clear plan.
None of these signs automatically guarantee a scam but they do suggest a lack of structure and professionalism. A legitimate partnership is built on understanding and alignment, not on vague numbers and urgency.
Why This Approach Is Not Beneficial
The main problem is that these offers provide no meaningful value to a business that is serious about long term growth. A large audience means very little if it is not the right audience. An inflated number of followers does not translate into engagement, interest or sales. Reposting your content in a public group filled with unrelated material rarely connects you to people who are genuinely looking for what you offer.
There is also the issue of inconsistency. When the cost of the service changes during the conversation it implies the price was never based on a defined structure. Transparency matters when money is involved. A partnership cannot be built on shifting details.
The final concern is reputation. Being placed in low quality or unrelated spaces can dilute your brand. A business should always protect the way it is presented.
What We Look For In A Genuine Partnership
Onyx Dragon is always open to collaboration, including through our B2B sales channels for our refreshments range. However, we only pursue partnerships that are meaningful, structured and genuinely beneficial for both sides. A proper partnership should include:
• A clear understanding of audiences on both sides.
• Consistent pricing and transparent deliverables.
• Evidence or analytics that show how the promotion works.
• Alignment in values, tone and expectations.
• Communication that focuses on long term benefit instead of quick wins.
This applies whether the conversation is about wholesale supply of our teas, coffees and hot chocolates, or a wider collaborative opportunity. When these elements are present, partnerships create real value and help both sides grow in a sustainable way.
Advice For Other Small Businesses
If you receive an unsolicited promotional message, take a moment to look at the details. Ask yourself whether the audience is relevant, whether the cost makes sense and whether the person understands your business. If any part of the conversation feels rushed, inconsistent or unclear, it is perfectly acceptable to decline.
A simple response works: “Thank you for reaching out, but this is not something we are pursuing.”
Protecting your time and resources is part of running a responsible business.
Closing Thoughts
Exposure is valuable, but only when it reaches the right people in the right way. Unsolicited paid promotions rarely offer that. Onyx Dragon will always seek partnerships that are fair, transparent and genuinely worthwhile, particularly within our B2B refreshments work. Collaboration should lift both sides, not simply deliver a post into a crowded space.
Interestingly, the unsolicited message we received today served as a reminder of why these conversations matter and it provided useful content worth writing about. So in an indirect way we appreciate the prompt, because it highlights exactly why clarity and ethical practice are so important in business.
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