Stealing conversations: Consentless outreach is bad business

This is going to rub some (sales) folks the wrong way.

Sourcing someone’s personal information and using it to cold call or message them without consent is not just bad etiquette. It’s bad business.

It’s also wildly unethical.

If you dig through old directories, scrape data from questionable sources, or use tools that give you someone’s personal number or email without their knowledge, you're not being "scrappy." You’re crossing a boundary.

You’re assuming access instead of earning it.

In another context, we’d call this what it is: a light form of doxxing. And no, the fact that someone’s information exists somewhere online doesn’t make it fair game. That’s like saying leaving your house unlocked means anyone can walk in.

Here’s why this kind of behaviour is harmful:

• It erodes trust. Your brand becomes the one that ambushes people, not the one that adds value.
• It sets off alarm bells. If your very first interaction is violating someone’s boundary, what else will you overstep later?
• It signals desperation over strategy. Consent-based outreach builds long-term relationships. Privacy invasions burn bridges.
• It invites legal risk. Data privacy laws are getting tighter. Do you want to be on the wrong side of them?
• It contributes to a toxic sales culture. People shouldn’t have to scrub the internet of their info just to avoid harassment. (I use multiple services, like DeleteMe)

Instead of tricking your way into someone’s attention, try earning it:

✔️ Use public, business-designated channels people have provided.
✔️ Ask for permission.
✔️ Build content people want to engage with.
✔️ Respect boundaries.
✔️ Focus on value, not volume.

We don’t need more noise. We need more respect.

And respect starts with consent.