A More Than Friend Request – How Prostitutes Are Using Social Media

Heather (Names have been changed) is a gorgeous thirty-something brunette. The day we met, she shared an elevator with me in the Empire State Building. I hit the button to go to the 58th floor, and she trotted in, just beating the doors. The smell of very expensive perfume chased in right behind her.

“Can you push 73 for me?” She asked. She leaned back on the rail that surrounds middle of the elevator’s wall. She was dressed in a hip business casual way, she had on a tight gray skirt short enough for me to think Where does she work? and a white top that had no reservations about showing off her figure.

“Sure.” I pushed the 73 button for her.

As the elevator sprung into motion I asked her, “Headed back to work?”

“Yeah, afternoon meeting. You?”

“I’m going to an interview for some freelance work”.

“Oh cool, What do you do?”

“I’m interviewing for a social media gig.”

“Oh too cool! I play in social media too.” The elevator stopped somewhere in the 40’s and we picked up some middle aged guy who eyed her from the reflection in the aluminum doors.

“No kidding?” I said, as I eyed her left hand to look for a ring. Seeing nothing, I said, “Well we should have a drink sometime.” I handed her my card as the bell rung for my floor.

“Sounds good.” she said as I made my way past our middle aged friend and to my interview.

Later, I got a new message and friend request on Facebook.

Hey Josh! It was very nice meeting you today. I hope the interview went well for you. Anyway, I’d like to get a drink with you sometime. If you’re ever looking for anything more than a drink, I’m very *professional* and very discrete. Get a hold of me on Facebook, or text me …

As I read her message, I couldn’t believe that the gorgeous girl I shared an elevator with was … a professional. Despite being curious about her services, I was more curious about how much she used social media in her day to day life. If the world’s oldest profession can embrace the newest media, what can the rest of us learn from that? I asked Heather if she wouldn’t mind doing an interview. Here is what we talked about:

Josh: Hey Heather, Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today.

Heather: Happy to do it!

Josh: So how long have you been helping guys be less lonely?

Heather: Not just guys. And about 10 years. I used to be a receptionist and totally hated my life.

Josh: Not a fan of answering phones?

Heather: Not a fan of corporate bullshit. Being at the bottom of the corporate ladder lets you know just how far shit rolls down hill.

Josh: So when did you start using social media for your business?

Heather: I actually had a friend suggest it to me a couple of years ago. When I first saw MySpace I saw the potential, but while trying to use it I quickly realized just how ridiculous it was. Are they even around anymore?

Josh: Some people use them, just no one I know. So MySpace was too difficult to use…

Heather: Well, it was difficult to use it for what I wanted to use it for. Finding people was a nightmare. Facebook on the other hand ties you in (most of the time) with a geographic location. And if I think it’s you, I click, and I can look at your picture and decide. I’m not subjected to some terrible punk rendition of Pink Floyd and blinking star pictures. If I meet a John Johnnerson in Tampa, I can Facebook him and find him much easier.

Josh: So it’s much easier to find people. I happen to agree with you, the interface is much better. So the only thing holding you back was being able to find people you meet in real life?

Heather: Well, we have an “industry” term called the “turn”. It’s when you tell someone that you’re a professional. It’s when you kill there dreams that the flirty girl in the elevator wanted to take them to floor 69–

Josh: Hey now…

Heather: *Laughs* What I’m saying is that it’s a lot easier to explain to someone about what you do when they’re at home on their own computer. They can decide to ignore your friend request and go on with their life, or, more often than not, they write you back and things go from there. It’s a low pressure way to approach people.

Josh: You get more people you meet as customers using social media than you did before social media?

Heather: Well, after a few years you gain an eye for potential customers, but yes, combined with my eye for clientele, Facebook empowers people to talk with me, and allows me to dispel some of the stigma associated with being an escort. One of the things I hadn’t considered before trying it, was that most undercover cops or sting operations aren’t going to have a Facebook. I’ve never had a problem before, [She knocks on the table] but you never know.

Josh: Can we expect to see you on Twitter anytime soon?

Heather: Well, it’s tough. Twitter is very public in nature, and your messages are pretty limited. Would you like to see this from @TweetHappyHooker? @JoshuaZiering Nice to meet you tday. I’m a pro. If u want, lets meet up. I’m discrete.

Josh: I can see how that might be a problem. However, you could do something like @ShitMyDadSays. I’m sure you’ve got some good stories.

Heather: Sure I do, but I don’t know that the world of Twitter is ready for @HookerStories yet. Maybe. I’ll consider it.

Josh: Do you have any suggestions for other small business owners to use social media better?

Heather: Well, I think the most important thing is: No matter what you do, you can leverage the power of social media to do it better, more personally, and with greater ease than ever before.

Josh: Heather Thank you.

Heather: Thanks Josh, this was fun!