What’s Wrong with Twitter?

July 22, 2010 By 41 Comments
Buffer

Automated Direct Messages! I hate the things and the businesses that think these even work!

Twitter marketing for dummies

Twitter marketing for dummies

A day doesn’t go by when someone who I think looks interesting follows me. I check out their website and twitter account, see that they’re posting genuine stuff and more often than not I follow back. In fact, it’s pretty easy to get me to follow you.

What happens then – as you probably know if you’re already active on Twitter – is that you get a spammy direct message whacked back at you suggesting something ridiculous like: “check out the goodness they’re sharing”. Or to put it another way: “Buy my stuff”.

Today, for example, I got a DM from a marketer who I’d started following after he followed me. Initially I figured he felt we had something in common working in similar industries and wanted to connect. I looked at his website / blog and liked the look of it. But then I received the dreaded DM.

NB: The company is called 'Strategic' something or other. No, really!

“We want to help you take your marketing to the next level”. Yeah, right! And you’re saying that to someone that actually works with content marketing.

I DM’d the lowlife back politely pointing out that if he’d bothered to check out who I was in the first place he’d have known this message and the landing page he was trying to send me to were completely inappropriate for someone like me.

My next step? Yup, I unfollowed him and blocked him.

The DM Golden Rule

Never, ever, ever send followers spammy automated DMs intended to sell them stuff. You might as well just rush up to strangers in the street, grab them by the shoulders and yell: “Buy my stuff” in their face.

And then they’ll think you’re insane!

Image: Insane on FlickrCC

This post is #33 in a summer series of 31 posts in July

Did you enjoy this article?
Share
the
Love
Get Free Updates
Filed Under: communication strategy, content marketing Tagged With: , , , , ,
About Jon

Owner of Jontus Media, marketing consultant, lifelong Liverpool FC support and podcaster. Guarded by basset hounds .

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention What’s Wrong with Twitter? -- Topsy.com

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • Anonymous

    It amazes me how some people still don’t “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they’re kind of new.nnAt least I’m happy I don’t get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • freelancerant

    It amazes me how some people still don't “get it” with Twitter nor with making a sales pitch. This with a marketing company… oh well may they're kind of new.

    At least I'm happy I don't get those “join my mafia” DMs anymore. Those were kind of creepy.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    Know what you mean, J. I hate that kind of stuff. I was really tempted to name and shame this guy. Basically, he really ticked me off.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • Anonymous

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it’s true I don’t have a clue how but that’s because I haven’t needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • billymitchell

    I am proud to say I have never sent an automated DM. Yes, it's true I don't have a clue how but that's because I haven't needed to learn. I think it sends exactly the wrong message and it sends it directly to someone you could have easily sent a personalized message to instead.

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I’ve never used them either. You’re SO right. It really doesn’t send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I've never used them either. You're SO right. It really doesn't send the right kind of message. The term is “social media” – not “automated media” !