3 Ways to Annoy Your Twitter Followers

Common sense says it's a bad idea to Tweet sexy photos of yourself a-la Anthony Weiner, but there are a few common Twitter sins I see marketers and businesses commit on a much more frequent basis. And while I'd certainly prefer to receive an automated direct message that promotes a blog feed over a photo of a politician in his tighty whities, these Twitter faux pas are likely to make your audience cringe—almost as much as you did the first (or second, or third...) time you saw a headline with the name "Anthony Weiner" in it. Avoid committing these sins at all costs.

1. Send Automated Direct Messages

“Thanks for the follow. Lets figure out how to work together!”

“Nice to meet you. I offer social media consulting services. Hit me up if you have any questions!!!!”

"Check out my blog on social media tips and subscribe to it, PLEASE!"

Okay, I get it. You're busy and you want to promote your product or service. Who doesn't? But the benefit of using Twitter for business (or any other social network) is the ability to develop personal, meaningful relationships with your audience. You can't automate this—it's an on-going process of communicating and getting to know people on a human level.

Assuming you have the ability to direct message a follower, it's because he or she followed you. That follow might be the first step in a meaningful relationship—don't waste it by making your first touchpoint an automated one. Plus, your chances of annoying your best customers by spamming them is huge. So if you have these set up, please turn them off. They are rude, irrelevant, and oh-so-obviously automated.

2. Pay for Fake Followers

Ever see a Twitter account that has Tweeted less than 50 times, but has over 10,000 followers? Unless this account is verified, a relative of Justin Bieber, or a texting friend of Anthony Weiner, chances are this person is a spammer and purchased fake followers. These accounts tend to promote links to “systems” that will make you a “millionaire in 30 days.” And of course, they identify themselves as “social media experts” with “proven systems for generating links and money”, and claim they’re “living the dream.” If being a spammer is your dream, by all means, go ahead and purchase followers. But assuming it's not, I'd avoid this at all costs.

3. Call Yourself as a Guru, Expert or Wizard

The people that call themselves “social media experts” are usually the ones that use tools to generate more followers and have auto direct messages set up. Enough said.

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