About 3 months ago, my buddy Dave Delaney ran a poll asking if people found Twitter auto-direct messages (DMs) annoying. (Auto-DMs are automatic direct messages sent to someone who follows you – usually through a service like SocialToo.) At the time of the poll, I didn’t get too many of these and answered no. I’m the kind of guy who gives people the benefit of the doubt, if I can. I assumed most of the auto-DMs were from well-meaning folks and tried to take them in the spirit I imagined they were given. What a difference 3 months can make.

Today, I get at least a dozen auto-DMs a day. Many days, I get way more than that. The problem is that more than half aren’t much better than spam. “Thanks for the follow. Check out my website to find great deals on SEO!” Here’s the thing about Twitter, it’s all about relationships. Even when you don’t know the people you’re following, or who follow you, very well, it’s still about developing relationships. Auto-DM spam is no better than e-mail spam or cold call sales pitches you get in the middle of dinner. It’s people trying to make you check out their products that you probably don’t want, weren’t looking for and didn’t ask about.

In moderation, a direct message thanking me for following you could be nice. However, there are just too many now for them to make an impact now anyway.  If you want to get my attention, find something more creative and original. Better yet, engage me on Twitter. Build a relationship. Find out if I even care about your “Make Cash in 2 Minutes a Day” package before shoving it in my face.

And to Dave Delaney, change my vote there to a No please, will ya, bro? Thanks, man!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Member Survey: To Auto DM or Not To Auto DM… (socialmediaclub.org)
• 17 Inspirational Auto DMs for Twitter (philbaumann.com)