In my last post, I discussed following thousands of Twitter people in response to a blog post about the subject that also gave an argument for Twitter auto-DMs (automated direct messages) being okay. Today I’m posting my thoughts on auto-DMs themselves.
In my last post, I likened Twitter to walking around a large conference room filled with thousands of people holding drinks, meeting people who’s conversations sound interesting. That’s networking. In my opinion, auto-DMs are like attending one of these events and running around handing out fliers with an insincere message and running away. Or really, I guess it’s more like hiring a teenager to run around handing out these fliers for you, since auto-DMs require zero time on the part of the “sender” but take time away from the recipient. If you were handed a flier by a teenager that was from someone not there, and it said, “I like you and thank you for attending this event,” would you care about the sender? Not me.
Here are 10 of the 31 auto-DMs I received over the last 3 days:
1. Thanks for following
That’s it – a “thanks for following” generic auto-DM. I already assume people appreciate followers, so it just wastes my time, while not taking any time on the sender’s part since it’s automated. It’s not like an answering machine, which I must actively call to hear, it’s more like answering my cell phone and getting a recorded message, and the message says, “hi there” and hangs up.
2. I like you already! I look forward to sharing tweets with you.
The “I like you, I look forward to your Tweets,” auto-DM. Do they really like me? Does that mean they also like the spammer-bots that follow everyone? It rings so false that I actually get annoyed instead of feeling good, especially because I get like 6 of these a day, all worded almost the same way. They’re not even original.
3. Thanks for following! Learn how to generate and monetize 50+ leads per day for your network marketing business. http://xxxx.xxx
Spam. I block these right away, so not only did it not work, they lost their opportunity to engage me and interact, eventually letting me know about their offer. If enough people block them, they’ll be suspended from Twitter. Really, what good is that doing anyone?
4. Thanks for following. I noticed you’ve a nice profile. If you need help regarding how to make money via twitter, I’ll be glad if I can help.
I do not believe they looked at my profile, yet they say it’s “nice.” So our “relationship” begins with a lie. Block.
5. I am thrilled and honored to have you following me! I hope my tweets make your day and allow you to Make a Difference in all you do!
The overenthusiastic auto-DM. “Thrilled and honored” is a bit of an overreaction to my clicking a Follow button, don’t you think? If this person is serious, they won’t live very long with all that adrenaline running through their veins. But, of course, they just typed a quick DM into a robotic system to send to everyone, even to the spambots that follow them.
6. Hello thanks for following! Hope to get to know you better. Follow me on Facebook too http://xxxx.xxx
The “join me on Facebook” auto-DM. To me, it’s like 5 minutes into a first date asking your date if they’ll sleep with you. Maybe some people are social media sluts, but not me.
7. Hey! Thanks for the follow. Tell em a bit about yourself.
The “tell me about yourself” or “what are you working on” question auto-DM. How am I supposed to respond? With a DM, telling them more than what’s in my Twitter bio? That makes no sense. It just comes across, like all auto-DMs, as insincere interest. The fact that there’s a misspelling doesn’t help.
8. Thanks for the follow! Learn more about me here: http://xxxx.xxx PS. If you were a fish what kind would you be? 🙂
Okay, this one is weird. A fish? While this is the only fish question I’ve received, I receive auto-DMs on a regular basis asking odd questions. If I sent a DM back saying “salmon,” what would they do with that?
9. Your interest in Music and Trivia is exciting. We should remember those who brought us the music. Follow @xxxxx for Daily Music Trivia Q
The inaccurate auto-DM. I don’t have much of an interest in music or trivia. And then to ask for me to follow someone else in the first Tweet from following someone? Silly.
10. WOW! Thank you for the following. I will follow back. Would you like to make some extra cash and earn a steady income? http://xxxx.xxx
The “I will follow you back” auto-DM. Problem is, they followed me first and I followed them back! So it’s inaccurate and therefore insincere. Throw in the spam on the end and I’m blocking again.
My conclusion? There is no good reason to use automated DMs with Twitter. They come across as insincere, they waste the time of the recipient, clutter the DM inbox, and start off a relationship with either insincerity, spam or a lie. I don’t like to receive them, and I don’t send them. If you do, I hope you’ll seriously consider the down side versus the up side.
Update: Check out this great perspective on auto-DMs – Happy sending Auto-DMs? Think again!
Great Tweet about auto-DMs: “It’s not the auto-DM that I want to avoid, but the ppl who think it’s a good idea to use them” via @carl_ingalls