So I’ve been getting pretty frustrated with some things on Twitter, and I’ll share them here:
My biggest complaint: Auto-DMs. These canned, cheesy direct messages are not only contrary to the personal, human interaction aspects of Twitter, but they also are marketers not updating with the times. An unsolicited DM suggesting I click a link to earn $5000 instantly, or one that tells me the “Unknown secrets to getting 1000 followers/day” is just a shorter version of bulk email. The response rate is super low, the interruption is still there, and yes, I still think you’re a donkey, even though you’re using Twitter to do it.
These “marketers” think they are using Twitter as they should… They are experienced bulk-mailers, experienced email-spammers and comment-spammers who think just by being on Twitter, bulk following, and auto-DMing their canned message, they are “social media experts.” It’s the same old dogs with the same stupid tricks. Silly spammers, bulk-DMs are not the ‘wave of the future’, and no I don’t want to learn how to get 1000/followers per day, thanks.
My favorite spammers though have to be the new Twitter accounts with 13 followers, following 649 people, who’s bio reads “Social Media Expert!” with their photo of a 22 year old, half-naked blonde bombshell, and 97 tweets saying “Want to learn how to get 1000 followers per day? Click here!” (oh, and ALL those tweets are from either a Twitter API or some other automated post.)
Oh, and if you’re using Auto-DMs just to say thanks for following? STOP.. It’s brutally fucking annoying. I followed you, I probably also followed 20 other people at the same time. I’m sure you’re happy, just as I’m happy to get new followers, but you don’t need to waste my time sending me a useless canned DM. If you’re gonna send me a DM after I follow you, make it personal – Ask me a question, tell me a little more detail about what you do…Prove to me you are happy to have me following – not the sales pitch, but true genuine detail about your passion. Make it real, make it personal!
The Other Issue: Social Media Experts
Just because you’re unemployed and use Twitter doesn’t make you a social media expert. Just because you’ve mass followed 50k people and now have 50k followers doesn’t impress me. How many of those are engaged followers? And what kind of value could you POSSIBLY be bringing to those people?… You rant on and on how you’re a social media expert and you can teach others how to be social media superstars, but you yourself have simply jumped on Twitter, created an unorganized following, only push your product, never engage and interact. These are the same people that only two weeks before using Twitter we’re saying phrases like “Let me go play MySpace on the internets” or are still using AOL email addresses.
There are people who are social media experts, but they have backed it up by proving they can engage and interact. They’ve done the research, some have written books, and most approach it with metrics and long-term brand value. They interact with their followers on a daily basis and never use canned responses. THOSE are the social media experts. Their passion shines though those 140 character messages. They are REAL people… they are humans in the real world that can be charismatic beyond just the keyboard.
So there’s no more point to this post than to rant a bit… but keep in mind, if you’re DMing me with canned bullshit, I’m probably clicking “block and report spam” . If you want to DM me for following you, at least use my name in the first DM… Twitter is about natural interaction, it’s about humans being able to engage and interact outside of their local networks. Every time you log into Tweetdeck or Hootsuite or whatever you use, you’re stepping into the hottest party on earth – it’s always alive, there are always new people to meet, and if you use it intelligently, can be incredibly powerful.
… but what do I know… I’m no expert 