Don’t Spam Me, Bro!
Lately, I’ve seen an uptick in direct messages on Twitter and Facebook. “Wanna know how to get rich quick? go to this link http://www…..” and from folks I followed, because, silly me, I liked their stream and felt they were engaging well…only to find out, they turn around and do the impersonal direct message “Thanks for the follow – like me on Facebook!” Really? This is how authentic you are? I am, supposedly, not pointing out fingers at anyone in particular, but some of these same fine folks spout off about their engagement, how they cannot STAND those who automate their messages and then secretly…they do it. Now, I don’t know about you, but I find it pretty hard to carry on with these folks if two sides of their mouth are doing the talking. With regard to Facebook, in the past, fan pages did not allow for direct messaging, now you can send out can spam to everyone…yippee! Okay, that was not sincere…but my point is I get direct messaging, it does have a purpose, you want to take a conversation offline and have a meaningful chat. Let’s just use it for what it was intended not for another route to be impersonal and turn off those whom follow or like you pages. The fastest way to lose someone is to irritate them….and that’s the last thing you want to do with yourself or your brand. You want to give the impression that you are honest and that you care about the personal space. If someone follows or likes your page, they will get the message out in the stream, if crafted in such a way that appeals to their need. Let’s cut the spam shall we.
I completely agree! I find these auto spam messages exceedingly vexing and impersonal. It NEVER influences me to check the link. If anything, it encourages me to disconnect. Authenticity and personal engagement is key for me. It also makes me crazy when people tweet my name with a simple message that says follow me. I always respond politely and let them know I follow people who engage, not who are looking for followers. And why do people have such disrespect t that they thank there new followers? sigh. Some people just don’t get it!
Unlike you, of course! Youa re charming AND engaging! : )
So, let’s get this straight- if they just @ you, that would be ok? Not with me!
Agreed. It never gets me to click on their website. It is such a huge turn off for me. I tell my clients this is the #1 no no on social media. You are never too busy to have to automate direct messages. Direct Message is for private one on one communication only. It’s not a vehicle to promote your products or services. I agree too with you on those who ask me to follow – if I’m compelled by your engagement and message, I will do it. I’m not going to be asked to do something I’m not willing to do. It appears the issue is that some feel they are too busy to craft a message that personal and give the medium the time and effor it deserves. If you are not willing to put in the effort, it’s best to not engage at all, IMO. You are so kind – LOL. I am what I am
Thanks, Shelley!
No, I’d prefer upfront engagement. If I follow you, and you decide that you want to take to direct message to promote your product and services that’s wrong. In the stream, I don’t care if you mix in promotions of products/services, in a well crafted way, of course. The issue is that many are taking to direct messaging on Facebook and Twitter to send out spam. This is not what was intended with these mediums.
Mental response to these spammy direct messages:
Thanks for giving me a reason to UNfollow you!
lol
Oh, you are not the only one to say that! So many people do it. Thanks for the giggle. Go ahead and unfollow them….my $5 bet, I don’t think they will even notice you are gone…sadly. Thanks for your comment. Don’t be a stranger, come back again
Some are so clever too!! I *thought* I was getting a direct message from a marketer asking for my personal opinion only to find out it was spammed to everybody and their brother. On automation, I do it. I schedule tweets on Twitter for my free offers to go out during my sleeping hours and I schedule the occasional promotional tweet if I am in the middle of a launch. I don’t automate my direct messages but there are some who disagree with the small amount of automation I am doing! LOL
Thanks, Martha. That’s clever. It’s sneaky how they craft that DM. On automation, I hear ya. I use buffer for sleeping hours like you and they pertain to updates on my #bealeader chat that is coming up in May. I only do it because the text is the same – topic, time, host. That information, like with your topic, is promotional and really, it’s fine. If 80-90% of the time you are engaging, the promotional tweets, updates can be automated status updates, tweets. Where I see the issues, like you, it’s the direct messages that are canned spam. I know many who think any automation is wrong, but not if you are engaging more than most. I’ve engaged with you, and I know you are the real deal.
I agree with this statement: “The fastest way to lose someone is to irritate them….and that’s the last thing you want to do with yourself or your brand. You want to give the impression that you are honest and that you care about the personal space.” I must admit that I am sure I have irritated some people on facebook but my blog has a very high number of views in just over three months due to my promoting it (primarily) on facebook. Now that I have a following, I don’t do it nearly as much as I did in the beginnin.
I joined Twitter a couple of days ago. I am getting some direct messages with links to websites, etc. I reply back with a thank you and the link to my blog…LOL! Can we delete direct messages? I really don’t get Twitter….facebook has been very good to me!
Thanks, Nicole. I know many bloggers who feel they have many over stepped with the promotion of their own blogs on several social media sites. At first, it can feel that way – some may see it as you are just sending out so many posts and they are inundated with your updates. One thing I try to tell all is to stagger your updates for blogs, keep a schedule and try to send out the updates regularly. You teach your audience to be on the lookout for your posts rather than all at once they get these messages. Triberr is automation, but I like it for many reasons since it comes from various folks and there is a community effort that supports the promotion of blogs. On Twitter – welcome! and yes, you will get those DM’s. If you are using Hootsuite or Tweetdeck, you can delete the direct messages, however, if you are not. The messages cannot be deleted. I would never click on any link unless I’ve established a good connection with the person who direct messages me, most of the time, the links can have viruses that can be dangerous as well. I do wonder with some, if they are just following to send a message and spread a bad link. Twitter takes time, the engagement is great, most of the time I’m on Twitter vs. Facebook simply because of the level of engagement and feedback. Thanks for comment!
Chris Brogan had a great point in a recent newsletter. It’s not the tools (the automation) that are the problem. It’s the way individuals misuse them. I participate in a networked blog that automates a Tweet with new blog posts. It goes out once. I struggle, too, with the balance of posting on multiple platforms. On the one hand, some individuals see it repeatedly. On the other hand, not everyone is on all of the social media platforms.
But, I totally agree with you on the automated thanks for the follow. Hate that. I always thank those who I follow back, but I personalize it. I absolutely won’t click on a link from someone I have not developed an online relationship with. And if that’s your 1st response to a follow, then bye-bye
I agree with that statement, it’s not the tools, it’s the people behind the tools that make the difference. We control the machines, the machines do not control us. And that’s another great point – not everyone is online at the same time. You really cannot control when the message will be received – especially a global audience. You may hit folks in Europe that could be a great audience for you and you need to consider that automation piece. More to my point here are the ones who feel that direct messaging is way to spread their message – it’s not. I just today received more….didn’t they see my blog
One was clever – send me a message of HI in the stream…really…you had to write me a DM to ask me to write you a message ON TWITTER? Have some folks lost their minds….I may be challenging a few to test that theory. I am grateful for every one who follows, likes and joins in my community. I engage and I talk…a lot. I’ve been blessed with folks who are great people who enjoy the conversations and lift up the relationships, connections to the next level. There are always a few bad apples, but that’s life. Thanks, Cathy. I do appreciate you very much. As I said on FB, you are the real deal. Cheers!