Thou Shalt Not Auto-Direct Message On Twitter

I’m going to go on my soapbox just one more time in the hopes that this message goes viral, spreads through the Interwebs, and finally convinces every “online marketer”, “social media guru” and “eBook entrepreneur” that they should, once-and-for-all, turn off Twitter auto-direct messaging.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, you’re lucky. Basically, some Twitter marketing software like SocialOomph and TweetAdder allow you to set up canned, automated welcome messages that are immediately sent to a new follower once you have followed them and they follow back. The message usually looks something like this:

This auto-direct message on Twitter gives you an offer to promote traffic to your Website

or this:

This auto-direct message on Twitter invites you to visit a Facebook page

or this:

This auto-direct message on Twitter invites you to subscribe to a YouTube channel

So what’s the harm in sending a simple welcome message and an invite to connect? Nothing, really, other than the fact that they are the Twitter equivalent of Spam. Twitter is supposed to be about building genuine connections with people. Yes..it’s tough to do in 140 characters or less, but that’s what makes it interesting. And these types of automated messages simply clog up the tubes, making our Direct Message inboxes almost worthless.

In fact, I almost missed an direct message from a friend tonight because I have desensitized myself to the tons of junk that come into my Twitter inbox every day.

So…one last plea to the masses. I know it seems like a good idea to say “hey” to your new followers. It is a good idea. Send them a public tweet. Welcome them…don’t sell to them or invite them to connect on other channels. If they want to, they’ll find their way there.

In the meantime, because I know this is likely an effort in futility, I’m asking for a little divine intervention.

Feel free to share and spread the word. Who knows, maybe the message will get out this time and everyone will turn off the auto-messaging.

Cheers!

–Sean