Automated Direct Messages Via Twitter – Not Cool
by TJ
I have been making an attempt at following more people via twitter in the hopes of expanding my knowledge and network with other like-minded individuals. In my efforts, I have been following people quite regularly today in hopes they follow me back and I can find some people that I relate to.
In most cases, I can quickly weed out those that are looking to tweet from those looking to sell me something. The “marketers” have begun setting up automated systems that send you a direct message after you follow them. These messages either say nothing useful or they try to get me to visit their blog and/or website(s).
I’m following you, man, I’ve already seen your freaking website. Don’t hard sell it to me again. If I was just a little less patient today, I would begin immediately unfollowing those who automatically direct messaged me after a follow. It should be a sign of what is to come.
Someone should write a service that automatically drops people who “spam” or direct message you upon a follow. Call it “twerp drop” or something like that. What are your thoughts on the DMs upon follow? Don’t care? Bother you? Am I over-reacting?
I completely and whole heartedly agree with this post! I saw this about a two weeks ago and almost lost my mind. I actually went to the length of un-following when I got these direct messages. Too bad for them.
As a small business owner-photographer-using twitter to expand my network of potential customers, I’d like to weigh in on the other side of this argument.
I would like to be very clear that I don’t like the spammer followers, and I don’t even bother to follow them so getting an instant DM from them isn’t issue for me. But, I am a one-woman show, and without the ability to automatically DM new followers to acknowledge them, I stand a good chance of never having a chance to interact with them directly.
Maybe you would not realize that my welcome DM to new followers is automated because it is simple: “Thanks for following. I look forward to seeing you in the Twittersphere!” But if I understand your post right, if you did realize it was automated, you would unfollow me. Is that right?
I have no ulterior motive. Yes, I would like to drive traffic to my website, (wouldn’t you?), but I don’t plan to pound my message into you with a DM and a gazillion tweets an hour. I will post a few tweets with a link and a quick description of the services I offer. If people are interested, they will take a closer look. If they are not interested, they’ll move on to the next tweet.
So please, don’t paint all of us with the same brush. I consider my efforts to be tasteful and polite. The automation allows me to use Twitter as the tool it is supposed to be to spread the word about my business, my personal interests and my favorite charities so like-minded people can find me and share their thoughts and ideas, just like I am doing for you.
By the way, I found you after you followed me, and I returned the favor by following back. You’ll get an automated DM from me soon, if you haven’t already. I hope you choose to continue in my network so we can learn from each other about how twitter works for all of us.
Judy,
I understand your points, and can see how the automated direct message would be useful. Heck, I even considered trying it regardless of the annoyance just to see how well it drove traffic. I haven’t thus far, but it is a thought that crossed my mind.
On the other hand, I and most legitimate followers would have seen your website as long as it was in your profile before I followed you. Thus, a direct message to promote the blog should not be necessary and I question how much more traffic it drives.
On twitter as of late, I follow a lot of people that have similar interests, in hopes they turn out to be interesting people. In doing so I’ll almost bet you that out of 100 automated direct messages I get, 90+ of them I end up unfollowing because they turn out to be spammers.
I appreciate the time you took to write your comments and state your side of the issue and I will definitely not be unfollowing you because of the DM.
I have to agree with Judy as well. I use direct message to thank people for following me. I dont sell anything in my message, but it makes them feel good or I get a change to tell them a little more about what I am about.
I’m with you.
I almost always automatically unfollow anyone who auto-dm’s me with a link & a sales pitch. That’s just not cool.
I’m less likely to unfollow if it’s just a simple “Thank You” message. Truthfully, if that’s all it is, then I probably will take another look at their site. If their site doesn’t prove interesting or appealing right away though, they’ll get the boot pretty quickly.
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