Hey brands, stop sending auto DMs on Twitter!

Instead, focus on publishing irresistible content on your Twitter feed and engaging one on one with your followers. That way your brand won’t be seen as a spammer.

Despite this incredible tool for engagement, many brands still think it’s wise to send automatic direct messages (auto DMs) to their Twitter followers.

If you are among the lucky few who have yet to receive one, an auto DM is a private message you receive on Twitter, typically right after after you follow someone.

The issue that many people (including myself) have is that they are incredibly impersonal. You make a decision to follow a brand or an individual and then receive:

“Hey friend, please download my crappy eBook at www.you-are-a-sucker.com [so I can get your email address and spam that inbox, too].”

I’m disappointed to say that of the last 10 brands I’ve followed, seven have spammed me with auto DMs.

What if you did that in the real world?

If I was at a party and introduced myself to someone I didn’t know, and they responded: “Good to meet you, friend. Would you like to buy some dental insurance?” I would probably find it hard not to tell them to politely f**k off.

When I follow someone on Twitter, it’s because I believe I will gain value from what that person or brand has to share. It only leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I immediately receive a blatant solicitation encouraging me to buy their stuff.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.