I am fairly new at using Twitter. The concept and usefulness of the tool is by far one of the best on the web. I have been noticing an increasing trend in something I find completely worthless: Auto-Response. Whether you are using an @reply or a DM auto response I would prefer not to get them in my Inbox.
The beauty of social media is that (when used right) it turns into a BRILLIANT permission based marketing tool. Do you know what Auto-Response tools bring to social media? Nothing. An Auto-Response tool is simple a selfish method of promoting yourself or saving YOURSELF time. Notice a trend? Yourself.
I don’t care how much time you save using an AR tool. I wasted MY time reading your anti-relationship building response tool.
I don’t have much patience for someone who cannot take the time to type out a DM or a @reply. They are either:
A) Just using twitter as a marketing tool and don’t care about anything else.
B) They are extremely busy and wont be using Twitter much anyway.
Both reasons are enough for me to unfollow someone who uses an automated response system. Social Media is built on authentic communication and relationship building. If you want to break that down…Break it down somewhere else.
If you want to send me an auto-response be prepared to find my name in your Qwitter box shortly afterwards.
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You make a good point: in essence, the AR user is saving *his* time – at the cost of *my* time to read and delete direct Twitter messages like these:
Example 1: Thanks for the follow. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Would love to get your opinion on my website [LINK].
Example 2: Good move! Do you mind telling me what decided you to become my fan?
Example 3: Thanks 4 follow. Download my FREE ebook [LINK] to learn how I can help you!!!
These (real) examples are simply appalling; others are tolerable, just; but I’m still waiting to see an example of a Twitter auto-response that doesn’t effectively suck the “social” out of social media.
Amen! I keep telling people that these automatic messages are pretty rude. It’s almost the same as someone calling you and, when you answer, it’s an automated message.
Who doesn’t immediately hang up in disgust?
Great Post!
People forget it’s just as easy to unfollow as it is to follow. Months back I posted a similar story on my blog concluding that “twitter is good for exactly one spam” (http://seanreiser.com/node/342).
Funny – there are a lot of these types of blog posts cropping up lately.
I had added an autoDM since sometimes I get behind in email, and the sentiment was sincere – I AM truly grateful for each person that follows me and look forward to connecting with them.
I read a similar post by @ambercadabra last night. After reading through the comments, I not only disconnected my autoDM, I went through and looked at the profile for every person I’d sent one through, and sent a personalized thank you to each one.
The results were AMAZINGLY fulfilling – I felt like I’d made that many new true connections vs. just gaining additional numbers of people that read my random snippets. It took all night, but it was SO worth it!
Nice post!
Nice post. I call them Twitter zombies. Just another social network being filled with the noise of marketers and opportunists.
A while back, I wrote my own ‘rules’ for Twitter, modeled after the Fight Club Rules.
The Eight Rules of Twitter Club:
http://ennui.jonathanwthomas.net/2008/10/twitter-etiquette-or-the-8-rules-of-twitter-club/
[...] Why I Hate Twitter Auto-Response And Why You Should Too. [...]
My job is to communicate with people on social networks, blogs etc for a business (tsheets.com) and I will NEVER have an autoDM.
My job is to communicate with people, why would I treat them like a cheap mailer or shotgun them a message other traditional mediums? They could hire someone in another country to autoDM and spam, that is soooo 1995!
The whole point of SocialMedia is have that 1:1 conversation with people. Be respectful of your listeners and they will return the favor.
Nice post. I have not yet dealt with auto responders, but if I did I would react exactly as you have. First impressions mean a lot and when that first personal interaction is a cold canned response instead of a warm human voice (yes you can sound warm… even in your tweets) it makes a big difference. You only get one chance to make a first impression, especially when you give someone a good reason to click “unfollow”.
I totally agree. Auto responses are so spammy. What’s the point of sending them out, the receiver is just going to delete it.
What is this? I read your post and within 5 hours received my first two auto responses from twitter peeps. Did you make them do that Kyle?
Hi, not to be totally contrarian, but I disagree!
At least in part. I’m not an all-or-none person, and I think that a response,even an auto response, is worth more than no response, in the short term. There’s nothing to stop you from following up your AR with a direct message of appreciation. I think an immediate “I got your follow and I appreciate it” has the same satisfying feeling as hearing a key on a keyboard click as a way of knowing you’ve hit the key. I find the auto response to be a positive way to know that a click has begun.
I know people who dislike being greeted by a store clerk with ‘How are you today?’ or dislike people signing their messages, ‘Best Wishes’ because these too are auto responses, just coming from people instead of equipment. But they are openers and closers to encounters and serve as symbols of such. They intend a positive message rather than leaving a dull silence in which no connection actually occurs.
Of course, it’s easy to find fault with it, and no doubt people will use it as a form of spam or disconnect, and none of what I said is likely to persuade a person who has made up their mind on this, and that’s fine. I’m just offering a different view for those reading your post who are still open minded enough to consider the upside.
I hate twitter too. It sounds dirty. I think I might as well start my own social network and call it tang.
[...] Why I Hate Twitter Auto-Response And Why You Should Too. [...]
I was looking for people who Hate Twitter and ended up here, but it looks like you just hate one aspect of twitter…namely the autoresponse. I’m not familiar with what that is, but I’m pretty sure that I hate twitter in general…I don’t think I’m smart enough to get it yet.
http://www.benjitao.com/2009/04/i-truly-hate-twitter/
[...] See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM [...]
Using an autoresponder on Twitter has been a topic of debate as of late. Seems like the majority leans more toward not liking than liking it. I think the idea has some merit if used in the spirit of Twitter. It’s efficient. It can open a dialog. And it tells me a lot about the person I just followed. It’s how too many people use it that I don’t like. Most people who use an autoresponder use text that crams THEIR message down your throat. That’s like going to paid Internet business seminar and getting a Pitchmen's Festival.
Part 2: What if you use your autoresponder to learn more about your new follower? When I get a message that asks about me I am much more likely to respond, than if the message tells me to go check out their IM crap site. I know 140 characters isn’t a lot. But you have to be concise anyway. How about a message like: “Thanks for Following me. How can I help you? Here’s a little about me: blog/website address”. That’s less than 140 characters AND it accomplishes three things:
1. It shows you care about them.
2. It asks them in essence why they followed you.
3. It gives them the chance to learn more about you.
When all three of these things are accomplished good networking has a chance to grow.
Good post. But isn't Twitter all about people who just spam follow others in hopes that they follow them back? You mean to tell me twitter is used for real social connections? Or are you literally following what 3200 people have to say every day?
Good question Brian. There was a time (when I first started using the tool) that I followed everyone back. Now, I follow the people back who either ReTweet my content, discuss issues with me, or share on my blog. The thought-leaders of different industries are great people to target as well.
I try to get through as much as possible but there is only so much you can do as a Twitter user. Tweetdeck allows you to manage thousands of followers pretty effectively.
Thanks for the comment!
[...] See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM [...]
I just found this post when I was searching "twitter auto response" in Google. I was trying to figure out how to do it… but I might reconsider now.
[...] See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM [...]
[...] See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM [...]
[...] See my post… I hate Twitter Auto-DM [...]