I’ve recently been unfollowing quite a few people on twitter for a number of reasons. Now I’m not a perfect user of twitter, but I do try to steer clear of some obvious twitter no-nos.
There are actually some people I’m still following who have violated these offenses, but I choose to still follow them either because I feel they can potentially further my career or I know them personally. To the ones I know personally, I hope you’re reading this. I’m not calling out any names, but I’m sure if you do a little looking in the “twitter mirror” you’ll see that I may be talking about you.
Here are 10 examples of why I and many other users of Twitter may unfollow you:
1. You don’t follow back. Hey twitter is a two-way street. Unless you’re some huge celebrity and I’m totally into what you have to say at all costs, I expect a follow-back.
2. You think you’re a celebrity and you’re not. Just because you have a few thousand twitter followers, doesn’t make you an internet sensation. People who do nothing but self promote their latest self-nominated award from some organization of peers will probably end up having one less peer. Let’s face it, most of us (myself included) have something to sell. There is just a more subtle way of doing it than shoving links down people’s throats.
3. Your first contact to me is an Auto-DM. I follow you and within a matter of minutes I get a DM saying, “Thanks for following me, I look forward to connecting with you. In the meantime, buy something from me through this link…” What this tells me is that you’re automating your twitter practices because you don’t see it as a tool to engage, but a tool to promote. While on the subject of DMs, if you DM me to promote your crap after we’ve been engaging for a while, I still might unfollow you. Treat DMs like knocking on your neighbor’s door. Only do it if you’re in dire need of something. Clicking on a link to a website isn’t something that deserves immediate attention.
4. The only thing you tweet is Foursquare check-ins. You’re really not on twitter and chances are I won’t have a chance to engage with you. The only thing I could possibly gain is access into your daily routine to better stalk you with (joking, I’m not a stalker).
5. The only thing you tweet is links to other sites. If I wanted access to the latest news, I’d turn the TV to Fox 12 Oregon or open up my Google Reader. It’s nice to share what others have written once in a while (*hint* *hint*), but if that’s all you do, you’re telling me that you’re not interesting and to move on to “these sites”. Trust me, I’ll move on.
6. The only thing you tweet is links to your site. I understand by reading your bio that you have a website. I don’t need to be told in a series of 8 tweets an hour that something awesome is happening on your site. Be AWESOME and I’ll want more and venture to your site organically. I’m not one for peer pressure, so if you push me over to your site, I’ll push the “Unfollow” button.
7. You’re too openly coming across as a salesperson. It’s amazing that once I tweeted that I was starting P90X, I got followed and harassed by a bunch of “Beachbody Coaches” wanting me to choose them to be their coach. They get money through affiliate links and so forth, but very few of them are using twitter properly (those are the ones I follow). The majority just say, “Hey need help, I can be your coach.” Having a coach is a personal thing. Gee, have you ever heard of a vetting process?
8. You never reply to any of my tweets to you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an #ASW like Chris Martin and Bruce Elgort so eloquently explained at the 140 Conference NW. However, It’s nice once in a while to know that I’m being heard. Especially if I’m asking you a question regarding something that you posted and I don’t hear back.
9. You heavily tweet in another language. I probably followed you because of a #FF (Follow Friday). I guess I’m too trusting of my twitter friends. Come to find out a few days later that you are from some place that writes in pictures and I’m not quite sure how to get Google Translate to decipher that for me. If English is a second language for you, that’s fine, I may still follow you. However, try to translate your own tweets for me. It might double your number of tweets, but if it’s good material no one should complain.
10. It’s obvious that your content is auto-generated. If I’m awake at 1:00am and I see you and/or your company tweeting links like, “Know the best time of day to Tweet…”. You’re either not paying attention to what you’re tweeting or “something” else is doing it for you. I’m probably going to unfollow and the best part is you’ll probably never notice because your whole twitter life is ran by a robot. That is unless you use Twunfollow.
How many people reading this are guilty of committing at least one of these violations? Do you disagree with any of these? Let me know, I’d love to hear it!