Twitterverse, I Plead With You: "NO MORE SPAM IN DIRECT MESSAGES!"

I can't remember the last time I spoke to someone who actually enjoyed receiving spam in their email. With all the tasks we have to accomplish on a daily basis, who has time to read about the latest male enhancement pill or the fact that you've just won the vacation of a lifetime without even entering to do so!

Come to think of it, the last time I've ever heard 'spam' talked about in a positive fashion was when my dad reminisced about how my great-grandma had this special way to make Spam Sandwiches 'delicious' and 'out of this world.'

Possessing the culinary skills to turn canned, processed meat into an edible treat not withstanding, I'd like to call to the stand a new form of spam: the Twitter automated Direct Message.

No doubt, Twitter's popularity has exploded. Everyone's using Twitter: Athletes, Celebrities, Marketers, Small Businesses, Home Businesses, Corporations...the list goes on and on.

But I've made a fairly obvious assessment that I'd like to call into question. Why do people insist on sending automated Direct Messages that, nine times out of 10, hold no meaning to the receiver?

There are several services that allow you to automate your tweeting. I don't agree with turning 100% of your Twitter usage over to a bot because A) it removes the human element from your tweets and B) you might miss useful information that others tweet.

As far as automated Direct Messages go, I know it's extremely difficult to send a 'welcome' message to a new follower in real-time, especially if you gain dozens, even hundreds of new followers per day. So I understand using a service, such as Tweet Later, to automatically send a new follower a Direct Message.

But please, I beg of you, don't use this message to sell something or "give a gift!"

I can't tell you how many Direct Messages I've received that say something along the lines of "I just sent you the gift of 'blankity blank!' You should send me a gift in return!" Honestly, I'm having trouble wrapping my hands around the actual purpose of this. It's not intriguing, holds no real value, and is the Twitter equivalent of an email chain letter. It's a tremendous time-waster.

Adding to my point, as I was writing this blog post, I received a Direct Message.

Here's what the message said: "Thanks for following! Working from home has NEVER been this easy. - ..." and there was a link to a website. For the sake of this blog post and to add fuel to the flames of my argument, I checked out the site...

And wouldn't you know it? A sales page trying to sell me something! I never, EVER, saw that coming.

Here's why this strategy is wrong. The person behind this automated tweet doesn't know me at all, so how do they know I'm in need of this product or service? Perhaps I'm already using the service, or using a similar service, or part of the opportunity they're promoting, or part of a different opportunity and not looking to switch!

It doesn't matter. Social networking is about building relationships, not selling. And automated tweets with links to a website that attempt to sell something are nothing more than spam. Trying to sell a product or service blindly without first determining a person's needs not only yields small results, it's a tremendous waste of time for you, as well as your audience.

People are looking for value when they log in to Twitter. More so, they're looking for sources of valuable information they can turn to when in need of insight or assistance. The opportunity for you to be that person to thousands of people starts with that first Direct Message. And if you do nothing but spam-spam-sell, you run the risk of being dismissed within seconds.

To add fairness to my argument, not all automated tweets are bad or spammy. I've received simple messages that have said "Thanks for following, I look forward to getting to know you and sharing insights." This is a great icebreaker and prompts me to reply and start building rapport. Perhaps there is something they can help me with, or vice versa. Either way, I feel much more comfortable conversing with someone who didn't throw a spammy link in my face the second I started following them.

Spammy Direct Messages are just as bad as spammy tweets that go out to your entire following. They annoy more than they produce. So take a minute to evaluate what you're sending your new followers. It can make a tremendous difference in the network you build and the experience you have with Twitter.

And, unless you're my great-grandma, there is absolutely no way you can turn spam into something that others desire.



Be the Best,

Jason Cercone
Internet Marketing and Home Business Consultant
jason.cercone@gmail.com
412-965-8428

http://www.homebizsuccessfactor.com/