If you’re in internet marketing and you want half a chance to succeed on Twitter, pay attention. I don’t know who you’ve been listening to telling you how to make it on Twitter, but if they’re telling you to do these five things, then they don’t understand social media, and you shouldn’t listen to them.
- Follow thousands of people when no one follows you back (except auto-follows). Nothing screams “spammer” like this one. Take it easy, cowboy. Add people at a normal pace. It’ll ensure you get more “organic” or “manual” follow-backs, which is what you want when you’re marketing on Twitter: you want reach.
- Auto-Followback/auto-direct message immediately upon being followed. Nothing tells people you don’t care quite like this move does. Eliminate it immediately from your TweetLater settings (better yet, don’t use TweetLater). You are not so fabulous that you simply must automate this. You want to be seen as a “real” person on Twitter, not as a spammer. Manually follow people back. Do not auto-anything. People especially do not care about your “free gift”. That’s not why people use Twitter. You’re missing the point.
- URL-stuffing in your Twitter bio and in your profile page background image. Everybody has a website. Put your URL where it’s supposed to go just like everyone else does (are you starting to pick up on a pattern, here? I hope so). If you’re worth anybody’s time, they will click through to your site, and from there they can access your other properties and social media profiles. If you’re not providing value on Twitter, nobody is going to make use of your URL-fest.
- Bio pitching. The bio on twitter is so that people can learn a little bit about you. Give them that. Don’t pitch them in the bio. That drives people away. If nobody knows you yet, nobody cares what you’re pitching. Social media is about the social, not the selling. And speaking of…
- Selling in tweets. Yes, I know: ironic, isn’t it? Isn’t that what you’re there for? The answer is a resounding NO. That’s not why you’re on Twitter. You’re on Twitter to network and build relationships by providing value, which leads to sales indirectly. You can let people know a product is available (I certainly do it myself) but only if you’re providing value in between, and the ratio of selling to value has to be extremely skewed towards value, not selling.
If I could distill these five points down to one main message it would be this: act like a normal person as much as you possibly can. Providing value to your followers instead of sales pitches is the best marketing you can engage in on Twitter (or in any social media environment).
Joel Comm was soundly bashed by commenters on this ProBlogger post about affiliate marketing on Twitter, and it was basically because what he did removed the warm, personal, human element. The most successful internet marketers on Twitter are, for the most part, not doing any of the these five things. Learn from them.
If you’re not following me on Twitter yet, you’ll find me here: http://twitter.com/remarkablogger
PS - My Growing blog traffic teleseminar is at 3pm Eastern today. You can still sign up if you want. Head on over to the blog and see the home page blurb about it.
56 Comments
Great tips - seems common sense doesn’t it? I hope folks read and heed your advice.
Michael, very good post and let me tell you why:
1. Follow Thousands When No One Follows back: I have seen many quite popular internet marketers do this.
2. Auto Follow Back/Auto Direct Message: I don’t mind the former, since they are following me only after I follow. But the latter is so true. It is not something internet marketers should do. And let me tell you, till this moment, I never knew there was a service to do this. I had a misconception that these popular internet marketers took time to direct message me (though few might have really done).
3. URL Stuffing: I never follow back those who have many links in their bio page. This is at least bearable. But if they are posting most of links and less of valuable tweets, I unfollow them. People should try to follow the 80-20 pareto principle at least to maintain their brand name.
4. Bio Stuffing: I hate it when people have affiliate links in their bio page. Bio page is about you and not about your recommended products.
5. Selling In Tweets: I’ll be honest here. I have tweeted around 3-5 affiliate links when I started using twitter. But later when I saw others’ tweets containing affiliate links, I found how bad it is. That is the major lesson I learned using twitter. I have never, from then, tweeted affiliate links.
It is better to be on other’s position and decide whether what you are doing is right or wrong.
Just my opinion though.
Seems like it should be common sense–and somehow the above needs to be stated.
Remember, Twitter-and other social media sites and apps are about communciation: one to one; and peer group to peer group. When that fails, the whole fabric starts to unweave.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Put this in the “marketing finds a way to ruin everything” category.
@Christine - Common sense, as we all know, is not so common. Especially when marketing.
@Ramkarthik - thanks for the generous comment! It’s worth noting that many internet marketers are often only reaching other internet marketers. If you want to stand out in that crowd, you HAVE to do things differently.
@esd714 - Exactly: social fabric. Let’s keep it from being torn apart.
These all seem like common sense, but it’s still good to have them up there in black and white. People like people, and we all want to feel like we belong. We don’t need to belong to the Borg.
@Writer Dad: ha ha. You will be assimilated.
Great list, Michael. It’s the same five points I would have made had I written this post. You beat me to it. Congratulations!
I agree 100% with your assessment of the damage that these five mistakes can cause. Well done.
Here’s two more:
6. Don’t abuse the implicit trust that comes when someone follows you back; they can (and will) drop you with the click of a mouse.
7. Do not create Tweets too frequently lest you risk alienating the people who’ve chosen to follow you by filling up their Twitter pages with too much information.
Michael,
Thanks for the valuable post - just deleted my auto-follow.
A great book I read recently, called “The Go-Giver” addresses an idea that appears consistently in your posts:
Seek to create value for others by focusing on their needs first. This is a powerful concept that “Go Getters” miss out on.
John
@Allen - great minds think alike!
@Mark - Amen on your #6 & #7 points.
@John - I should read that. Zig Ziglar said this a long time ago: If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want. Same idea at the core.
thank you, i just hope they listen. most dont do this but should. even more wont but hey …. only autobots listen to them anywho
peace
mich d
@Mich - A surprising number of internet marketers read my blog and follow me on Twitter, so they will see it. Whether they act on it is another matter. It’s all about thinking strategically for the long run.
@Writer Dad and @Michael
Resistance is futile!
Perfect list.
“Auto-Followback/auto-direct message immediately upon being followed. Nothing tells people you don’t care quite like this move does.” - Exactly!
Hi Michael,
Isn’t it amazing how so many so-called internet marketers are lacking in COMMON Sense? Common sense is supposed to be…well… common!
Some bloggers and/or internet marketers are so busy spamming on Twitter, auto-following, following thousands upon thousands of twitter users, but haven’t said one single constructive micro-sentence yet.
Makes me wonder if these pathetic internet marketers (I use the term loosely) have been smoking some funny stuff or are just that clueless about social networking and building relationships the right way. I’m leaning more towards the belief they’re smokin’ the funny stuff. Can people really be THAT stupid? Obviously they can. Sigh…
@Kelly - Oh yeah, there’s another part to the Borg tagline, isn’t there?
@Oleg - I love it when people agree with me.
@Lin - There are a lot of things that work on a non-technical crowd or that work in more traditional situations, but which do not work in social media. That’s a big part of it. The disconnect is that they don’t see how “relationship” figures into it. They see it as a numbers game.
All excellent points, Michael! I was updating my follow list yesterday and specifically did not add any followers that had the traits above - especially the 1st one (follow ratio).
Another negative sign is lack of conversation. I want to see @replies on someone’s page to show they actually care about those they are following. Not just a list of their own tweets.
@Selene - great point! I look for variety. Too many replies means they don’t have much to say that is all their own–they’re only responding to others. I like people who initiate as well as respond.
@Michael - Yes, a mix is definitely key. I saw someone’s page yesterday that was filled with nothing but “@NAME I found you on Twitter Grader” - Of course it was someone with hundreds of follows and only a handful of followers. Needless to say I didn’t follow back…
Slightly off topic (these are not internet marketers) but do you ever see anyone following 1-3 people, with no followers and no updates? I find that strange and a bit creepy to be honest (when I’m one of 3 being followed). I admit to have blocked a few of those… I’m not the only one to have this happen and find it creepy as well.
@Selene - I bet those are people who gave Twitter a try and couldn’t make a go of it or couldn’t figure it out. Or just didn’t care for it.
Hi Mike,
I am so glad I follow your suggestions pretty much!
~ Follow thousands of people when no one follows you back
I follow people based on quality of tweets, their engagement with other people on twitter, I don’t see if they have great number of followers but I actually see is the tweets and their site in web. section.
Follow 1000’s makes no sense to me at all, but if someone follows me.. I do make sure I check their recent tweets and their website to understand more about them.. if they sound cool.. I follow them back!
~Auto-Followback/auto-direct message
This is most funny party, I have seen so many bloggers talking about it, indeed I tried it at beginning but felt strange at later stage. I was feeling to be like a sales consultant or a sales adviser, who advice or greet you to store and ask you “How can I help you today?”
And also most of the time surprises followers to think you as a automated bot or something!
~URL-stuffing
I learnt a lot from my previous experience, I placed a link in Web and Bio section but when I saw my account myself I noticed it to be kinda spammy by having too many links, sorted it by removing links/urls from places where it doesn’t belong!
~Bio pitching
Very true… I had very big bio in beginning, like I said earlier.. I spent time checking my own profile and valuing it and learnt my bio section looked so weird….and made it small and sweet! I highly recommend this tip!
~Selling in tweets
Twitter isn’t the place! Its more on sharing your thoughts and bloggging (micro!)..!!
Thanks again for the great post.. makes me feel fine as I’m quiet trying to be as what has been explained here. Following you in twitter as I post this comment!
Cheers
@Vinay - glad to see you get it. Thanks for your comment!
Good call on the auto responders. It’s like following up and saying thanks was nice but if I wanted to visit your site (which I might) I could do that through the bio.
I have to say I am against most automatic replies, unless they are out-of-office messages or automatic confirmations followed by a second email sent by a human being.
As for following thousands, and thousands, it’s really funny when the number of followers is under 30, the account has been created a month earlier and there are only three tweets, all containing a links to the company who created the account.
Great post. It seems like so many unseasoned internet marketers miss the obvious.
@Alina - Yes, some automation is desirable and even necessary where email is concerned. You could never manage a sizable email list and comply with U.S. anti-spam laws without automation for the double opt-in sign up process. The kind of automation I’m talking about on Twitter is not necessary and hurts, rather than helps the marketer. Thanks for your comment!
@Marsadie - And sometimes the experienced ones, do, too!
I could not agree with you more!
I love twitter! I find that regardless of what a person is selling, I like to get to know them as a person! and I personally like to follow and network with those that share a lot of love, inspiration, and happiness!
If a person likes to complain a lot or be negative, it reflects what they are promoting, and tells me that they are really not happy doing what they do. I keep moving on!
if they did not have the human element, then it would not be as satisfying.
Michael,
It really is amazing to me how folks forget one simple rule with social networking:
Sincerely seeking to create value for another, without expecting anything in return, ends up creating an ROI beyond anything one could produce with a “My Me Mine”.
Thanks again for kicking off a much needed conversation.
John
@Georgette - It’s pretty hard to bitch and moan and then turn around and try to sell something. Doesn’t work very well. After everyone has been driven away, there’s nobody left to buy!
@John - You nailed it. That’s exactly it.
The funny thing about it is that if you spend a couple hours researching ‘twitter’ before you start to use it you will find loads of information on ‘how to use twitter’ … Now it may not all be useful, but you will definitly learn very quickly that you need to:
1. Be human
2. Add value
3. Don’t take take take
Simple stuff I’d say … But harder to do consistently especially if you don’t know if your getting any ROI.
—
http://twitter.com/franswaa
Michael,
wow, I learned something here today, I never even knew about the auto-responder. I just add the people I know and then try to get to know new people better when I meet them. I am all about building relationships, not numbers, your points were wonderful and things that wouldn’t have occured to me, glad to hear you are encouraging others to cut that stuff out!
@Frank - I would say that is a formula for high ROI. More specifically, high ROTI (return on time invested). What it is not is a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The ROTI is… displaced, shifted, indirect.
@Wendi - Ignorance might be something these people count on, but I think they just see it as a numbers game. They’re missing an important point: numbers do not always equal reach or influence.
How much does anyone want to bet that I have more influence and reach with my 1,400+ followers than they do with theirs? And I’m not bragging here, I’m just trying to make the point that value and engagement matter if reach and influence are the goal. And if you’re really trying to market yourself online, that IS the goal. Numbers aren’t the point, they’re a side effect.
Lin, Don’t put every “internet marketer” in the same box… we’re really not ALL social media idiots :p Quite a few of us are actually consumers of social media too, so we understand not only what works/doesn’t work from a marketing perspective, but also what “regular” people want to see on these platforms because that’s exactly what we want to see too.
@Melanie - I don’t think anyone is putting all internet marketers in the same box. Glad to see you get it regarding social media, though. Thanks for commenting and hope to see you here again!
You mean like this idiot?
http://twitter.com/regnad
I love the Tinyurl as the Web address. Nice touch.
The auto-answer method is really annoying. Very informative article.
@Allen Taylor,
Case and point. Now http://twitter.com/regnad is mentioned in a widely read blog as an idiot - all because he didn’t listen to what Michael said.
His wrath knows no bounds.
John
@Allen - Yes, exactly.
@Rajeev - It is, and thanks!
@John - Not sure who’s wrath you’re talking about. There’s no wrath coming from me. I’m just pointing out these techniques backfire. But yes, everyone should listen to me, LOL.
I completely agree with you especially re: auto followback. Thanks for the post.
Excellent points.
I wrote a list of 7 Mistakes Internet Marketers are making on Twitter before seeing your post (ironically this link was sent to me via twitter).
I was using #2, but in a humorous way.
My auto reply was
“Thanks for following! This space left intentionally affiliate link free :)”
I got a lot (and I mean a lot) of comments from people (overwhelmingly positive) doing that.
Stopped that today when I got some messages about tweetlater sending the message multiple times (I presume due to a software glitch).
Suddenly the humor was lost, so I’ve turned it off for now.
My take on this is people will soon see “through” any fake act your putting up on Twitter (or any other social marketing site).
Sooner or later in my experience it all comes out in the wash.
If you are not giving out value, no one is going to visit your websites, or pay any attention to what you are saying (or follow you for that matter).
Cheers
Tim
If you’re worth anybody’s time, they will click through to your site, and from there they can access your other properties and social media profiles.
lol - “Act like a normal person as much as you possibly can.” That may be harder for some of us than others.
Only recently have I started getting auto-messages from people I’ve followed that say “Thanks for following. Please visit my website at ____________.” Well, yeah, I looked at your profile and your website already and that’s why I decided to follow you. I find it a little unsulting - and lately it isn’t just marketers.
Kim and Michael,
The other thing that turns me off is the public welcome, like this one I got this morning:
Welcome new followers: @name1, @name2, @name3, @name4, @name5, @name6, @name7, @name8, @name9, @name10
It’s one thing to say you don’t care in private, but to tell the world?
Yuck…
John
@John - Yeah, that’s a good one too. I saw you send that through Twitter
True true Michael!
Though I’d amend your suggestion of “act like a normal person” to suggest a person on Twitter should not be “acting” at all, for any mask of who you really are will come across as false, if not during your tweets then when/if you meet the person in real life or otherwise email with him/her.
Be yourself. Don’t act like a person.
Great info about twittering. I have only been twittering since July and I find it an incredible opportunity to network and create new relationships.
Thanks heaps
Michael,
Liked all your points on Twitter - valid and intuitively smart. However, then I was hit with a teleseminar tout at the bottom of your message, litany of “go here buttons” on the top and side of your blog and pop up ad for something when I came into your site. Then I noticed you have twice as many followers as people you follow. Hmmmm…
Let’s remember - respect for the customer/reader, balancing pushy sales and pully content and appearing genuine, interested and human and not broadcasting is not only a Twitter thing.
Great information for a newbie like me! I really appreciate your insight and that of your “followers”. I hope you don’t mind me “following” you to try and pick up more insight….
Thanks!
Just like all social networks — no one should accept every invitation that comes or automatically follow back. I don’t follow back twitters with 1,000+ followers and 100 following. That screams spammer.
I unsubscribe to those who do nothing but link to their own stuff.
Also don’t like public tweets thanking people to following them or private tweets after I follow someone “Thanks for following me. Check out my blog at … and such.” That’s what the Bio is for.
Yes, people really click on your tweetID to see your bio. I do it all the time. So let your tweets speak for themselves not promote things.
Wow, great comments, everyone! When I check my analytics, most of the traffic I get from Twitter is from my profile page. Provide value and engage with people and they will check out your profile page.
HINT: make sure your profile page doesn’t look spammy, either, with tons of background image text. Stay normal!
Awesome info Michael. I hope we don’t starting getting Tweet sellers. They’ll bugger it up.
Call me stupid but how does a teleseminar work? Do you talk to lots of people on the phone at once?
@Cath - The tweet sellers are already here. Google something called magpie, and you’ll see.
Teleseminars are basically giant conference calls, except that for the most part only the presenters speak. Audience members are muted unless the presenters want to unmute them for a Q&A session. The service I use also records the seminars as mp3s. You can create your own at http://freeconference.com.
I’ve just started to use Twitter for my business and it’s good to read a post like this. As many have said, it’s mostly common sense but it’s good to know there are good examples out there of bad things to do as well.
Michael - Such good tips to follow. I have never tried to sell my services on Twitter and yet I have already had one request for a CMA from a woman who was following me. I know I am not tapping Twitter to it’s full potential but I would rather figure it out slowly than go crazy and tick everyone off.
Thank you so much for putting this together. I signed up on twitter a while ago, but never used it because I didn’t understand it. I knew that everyone was using it, but didn’t know how. Then I started using it like crazy the last few days and I BROKE EVERY RULE that you set up here. DUMB, but hey, better late than never.
9 Trackbacks
The Top 5 Mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter…
If you’re in internet marketing and you want half a chance to succeed on Twitter, pay attention. I don’t know who you’ve been listening to telling you how to make it on Twitter, but if they’re telling you to do these five things, then they don’t unders…
[...] we talked about a WordPress plugin called Twitter Tools. We recommend it despite some prejudice against automation where Twitter is concerned. But I do agree with Michael Martine’s analysis for the most [...]
[...] Remarkablogger: Top 5 mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter [...]
[...] Internet marketer new to Twitter? Or know someone who is? Please pass along these 5 things NOT to do when using Twitter. [...]
[...] The Top 5 Mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter If you’re in internet marketing and you want half a chance to succeed on Twitter, pay attention. I don’t know who you’ve been listening to telling you how to make it on Twitter, but if they’re telling you to do these five things, then they don’t understand social media, and you shouldn’t listen to them (tags: web2.0 twitter tips socialnetworking marketing) [...]
[...] The Top 5 Mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter (tags: twitter marketing) [...]
[...] The Top 5 Mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter [Link: Ann] Applies to ALL businesses not just internet marketers. [...]
[...] The Top 5 Mistakes Internet Marketers Make on Twitter. [...]
[...] The top 5 mistakes marketers make on Twitter [...]