The top 8 reasons people hate your Twitter so much right now

Here we go then, a blog about Twitter tips.

But this isn’t about how to succeed or gain more followers.

This is aimed at stopping your Twitter car crash if you’re really not getting it.

Oh, and you may not KNOW you’re not getting it – so read on…

I run loads of Twitter accounts for clients and I spend far too much time on Twitter. Because of my career choice (I highly recommend it) I see it all.

In fact, I see too much. I see activity on Twitter that I’d rather not see and I sometimes (often) tweet about it when it really gets to me.

I’m a huge Twitter fan and I feel really strongly about using it for business and for life to succeed in networking and find new connections. So with that in mind, this isn’t a rant; it’s a calculated assessment of Twitter and what you’re doing to annoy people.

Oh OK… it’s kind of a rant – but it could be very useful!

So, here’s what you’re doing that’s ruining your Twitter output and literally turning people off your Twitter account.

The top 8 reasons people hate your Twitter so much right now

#1. Auto Direct Messages

Let’s start with a big one. Now I’m not suggesting that you don’t use auto DMs. If you run a huge account with tens of thousands of followers and you’re gaining more than 100 new followers each day, then yes – use them.

If you’re that busy then you don’t really have time to say hi and cement a possible new connection. So yeah, link to your new book, push to Facebook or sell your webinar. That’s fine. You won’t lose out as you’re already rocking it.

But…

If you’re new to Twitter, if you’re a small business, if you’re getting fewer than 100 followers a week, then stop auto DMing people. STOP NOW.

The thing about Twitter is – it’s SOCIAL!

The thing about auto DMs is – they’re not!

If you’re a small business then you need to connect with people. If someone walked into your business you’d offer them help or advice, not throw a business proposal under their nose at first instance. Say hello and introduce yourself before you sell.

Please turn off auto DMs and only use them when Twitter becomes so huge and unmanageable that you can’t cope. No one likes them!

#2. True Twit (or True Twat as I like to call them) validation

Twitter is full of bots and spammers (that’s what I’m trying to fight here). Just deal with them like I do – block them. Don’t treat everyone with the same introduction by asking people to jump through hoops when you follow them – you’re turning them off!

I don’t think I’ve ever gone through the process to prove I’m human. I am human and I’m dammed if I’m proving it to you before you say hello!

#3. Your bio may not be as funny as you think it is (or as informative)

Bios are important. You have 160 characters to sell yourself to Tweeters.

Don’t muck it up. Don’t put ‘space rocket scientist’ and ‘peanut butter invertor’ if you’re not. Don’t put “one day I’ll rule the earth” and please don’t bother with “all views are my own” unless you’re linked to your employer and they’ve told you to.

Your bio should be informative and tell us about you. It should include a cool fact about you and also say where you are in the world. And very importantly – have one!

Don’t start using Twitter without a bio because no one will know who you are and you won’t get anywhere near as many follow backs. It’s obvious, but it’s still an issue in my timeline(s).

#4. #BuyMyStuff

People don’t like being sold to. Social media is about being social. Businesses started using social media after everyday people. Twitter was full of interesting celebs before your boutique shop or doughnut stand rocked up. Be interesting.

Stop selling your shit and stop spamming the hell out of people’s timelines!

In my experience people won’t unfollow you unless you really annoy them, but they won’t talk to you – and that’s a big mistake right there. Keep the selling to a minimum. Do it, but do it around 20% of the time you’re there.

#5. You’ve linked every other network to Twitter with a cool dashboard

I don’t like you on Facebook, connect with you LinkedIn, circle you on Google+, follow you on Instagram, subscribe to your newsletter, or anything else. Yet you clicked a button once and now all that falls onto Twitter in an awkward dump of updates.

If all the social networks were the same then there wouldn’t be loads of social networks.

Each one has its own style, language and audience.

Don’t be lazy or you’ll turn people off.

For example I do link my Instagram but I don’t always share to Twitter and I never share posts with more than a few hashtags.

Think about your audience.

#6. Can’t think of anything to Tweet? RT everyone else’s stuff!

Could you not? As my Grandmother used to say, “If you can’t think of anything useful to say, don’t say anything at all”. (Actually she said ‘nice’ but I’ve re-worked it.)

If people follow you then they follow you for updates about you and your area of interest and what you said you’d tweet about in your bio.

Don’t say you’re interested in motorbikes and then spend all your time RTing funny gifs of cats or news about politics that your followers may not like. Sure, share and RT content but don’t make it 90% of your output. It’s good to share but you’re you and you’re the person they’re following.

#7. #FF off!

Ok, I’m calling it.

Time of death June 30^th 2012.

Yes, it’s been that long (approximately) since Follow Friday has been used en masse. It was good while it lasted but yet again the spammers got involved and now it’s just a list of people with ‘#FF’ on the end.

Rest in Peace #FollowFriday. (Seriously, stop this now. Or give good reasons to follow someone.)

#8. Mass promotion to everyone, one-by-one, tweet-by-tweet

Twitter is good for promotion and I’ll admit to sharing my blog… a lot!

But it’s an 80/20 mix people. 80% social and 20% sales!

If you’re the type of tweeter who decides one night to copy and paste a tweet to every person you know to sell your stuff then prepare to be unfollowed. This is the height of spam. You just aligned yourself with my ‘honourable friend’ in Nigeria who ‘wants to put £20,000 in your bank account, please click here’.

Seriously, no one likes to be treated like this. Give people some respect and make them feel special.

Bring it up in conversation sure, but don’t just send it to them out of the blue. I’ve had these tweets from people who have NEVER spoken to me on Twitter. What’s that all about?

First rule of social media club – be social!

Right. That’s enough of that. As Jerry Springer used to say “Be good to yourselves and each other”.

Please don’t make a hash of your Twitter.

Please try to be social on social media. Turn off the automated ‘I can’t be arsed’ software because it’s not very human, is it?!

Business is built on people. People buy from… yeah you know it.

So apply it to Twitter and you’ll go far. Yes, one day you’ll ignore people and you’ll automate a lot of it – but if you’re not there yet then stopping acting like it.

Much love,

@SocialMediaTodd

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