Well as anyone that is involved with Twitter at all will tell you it is very addicting. As your follower base grows you will begin to want to connect more and more with your users. At some point you will be faced with the question of whether or not to use the auto or robot DMs (direct message) to send out to each new user that starts to follow you. There are services out there that will allow you to send an message to each new follower automatically. While this may sound like a great idea the true practice of this is still a gray area.
If you look at it from one side you could make the argument that it is a way to briefly say hello to all of the new people that are starting to follow you. A nice little welcome message that will allow you to introduce yourself and thank them for following you. Some people use this more to try and sell their products or services, and that is where the general community is still undecided.
One of the most important elements of the whole Social Media movement is the whole “Social” aspect of all of it, and how people choose to interact can deeply irritate and upset others. A recent survey done by Pistachio Consulting gave some rather interesting results.
Overall it seems that most people do not really care for the automatic DMs. The survey then broke things down a bit more into asking if people mind getting Dms if they are not selling something and simply saying hello, it seems as though the community is a bit more lenient.
In looking at the whole issue I also had to come to terms with whether or not I was going to welcome new followers on Twitter with the an auto DM. I started to try and use it but then stopped. In looking at the whole thing I decided to try and reach out to people personally when I can, if possible. I have also added a link to a welcome video on my profile on Twitter as well. I am hoping this allows people to see another welcome message from me, and allow me to reach out and say hello.
In looking at all of this I do have to admit I get a bit irritated by the Social Media elite trying to push their viewpoints out to the masses, but just like I have an opinion, so do they.
In the end I think you should listen to NOBODY but yourself, and make the decision that you feel is right for you and your audience. It is after all your network of connections and nobody else’s.
So do you use auto DMs? What are your thoughts? Let me know.
Be Well
Frank
