What I Consider Twitter Spam

Let me start with a caveat. If you follow these practices do not take it personally. I don’t view spam as vile, evil, or breaking one of the 10 Commandments.

In many cases spam is the result of internet marketing newbies following the herd.

One day I asked a tweeter why he marketed his internet business with the keyword #iranelection. The Iran Election was some 2 months prior and I had the sneaking suspicion that his good or service had nothing to do with it. His answer: I saw other people doing it.

I can’t get on my soapbox. Before I knew any better I used to do some of these things.

I’m sure that some of the things which I do now people consider spam. It’s in the eye of the beholder.

I just want to let you know what I consider to be spam.

Introductory Pitch DM’s

Spam Public Enemy #1. This is the biggest waste of storage which I’m aware of. For every hundred DM’s I get a few genuine people. Save your time and energy.

Introductory Pitch @Replies

Shake my hand before handing me your business card. Actually, shake my hand and stick around for a while. If you engage, if you RT, and if we build trust I’m more than willing to see what you’d like to offer me.

Any Pitch @Reply From Someone I Haven’t Built A Relationship With

I’m really against pitches. If I like your product, I’ll ask you about it. Don’t single me out. You’re wasting a fellow tweeter’s time.

This differs from the Introductory @Reply as we’ve met; once. You might mention my name and say Hi. That’s cool. A follow-up tweet telling me NOT TO DO TEETH-WHITENING…..well….that’s spam.

Porn

This isn’t listed as #1 because it’s beyond spam. I can only call it silly. Britney has made more appearances on twitter than she ever will on state or in gossip mags.

Aggressive Following

Guilty as charged. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

I did keep it reasonable though. I usually had a gap of 300-400 followers at most. OK, maybe not too reasonable consider I was still under 1K. Still spamming because I was aggressively following with few follow backs. Now I know why.

If you are following 2001 people and have 5 followers, don’t expect me to click on the follow button. Especially if you’re a scantily-clad chick in an alluring pose.

A User Who Never Engages

Yep, I consider this spam. Anybody who talks without listening isn’t providing value to me. After providing excellent content and engaging with fellow tweeters feel free to hawk your product.

Use the @reply. Send a personal DM. Listen. Chat. Be a person.

Automated Accounts

I don’t talk to computers. My only exception would be Johnny 5. Need I say more?

Don’t Let It Get To You

Spam is spam. It’s part of the game of being an online marketer. You don’t have to like it but don’t let it frustrate you. That’s why twitter provides a button for reporting spam.

These are only a few spamming techniques which came to my mind. Please feel free to add to the list in the comments section.

- Photo flickr.com/photos/drexler/

Ryan Biddulph is the Gifting Guy.

“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” ~ Chinese Wisdom