Why Auto DMs on Twitter Don’t Work

If you use Twitter, sometimes after following someone, you receive an Automatic Direct Message (DM) thanking you for following them.

They look something like this:

Okay, these don’t work…they suck.  I don’t click on the link and I’m very likely to unfollow you. So why do people send auto DMs?  Can someone please tell me why?

I see tweets like this more than just weekly:

Aghhh! My eyes!! Another Auto DM! Please stop the madness!!!

February 14, 2011 9:59 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@TheNoviceChef

Jessica Segarra

I tweet all the time about how much I detest auto DMs.  So do you send auto DMs?  If you do, please STOP!

This is my reflection of a tweep when I get an auto DM:

• You don’t know how to use twitter.
• You don’t know how to use twitter.
• You don’t know how to use twitter.
• You don’t get social media.

I once received an DM after I followed someone saying something nice about my food blog. This would have served better as a tweet. DMs are reserved for sharing email addresses or something that you do not want to appear on your public timeline.

Here are some tips instead of sending auto DMs:

• Send a tweet saying thanks for the follow.
• Just interact with other tweeps, reply to tweets that sound interesting to you or just answer questions.

Now, can we please stop the Auto DMs? Do you have other tips for people who currently use auto DMs – what can they do instead?

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Tagged as: Social Media, Twitter