DM DREAD - LESS IS MORE
Fri, January 1, 2010 Tweetledee or Tweetledumb by blogomomma.com

Have you ever heard the phrase "please and thank you don't cost a thing"? It's true! Unless of course you're talking about the Twitter Direct Message!
I remember when I started Twitter, I was overly concerned about acknowledging every new follower with the respect they deserved! "Thank you for following, I look forward to learning more about you"! Nice right? Until one day I used DM for the purpose for which it was intended - to send a private message to a friend. I think I typed something to the effect of, "wow it's hard keeping up with all these acknowledgements". To which she replied "you're wasting your time"! GASP! WHAT! How rude!
She was RIGHT!
In my vast (lol) Twitter experience I have learned, it is highly annoying to a recipient to receive a flood of welcome DM's with a sales pitch, promo, link to your awesome website, hug, free gift, or trial marketing program. They rarely if ever get opened for fear of spam. Especially an automated DM telling about your new product. DM's are "typically" removed manually and if you have filled up two pages with how great you are, it might get you unfollowed in a flash!
Suggestion? If you want to welcome a follower, or get their attention - tweet em! Get in front of them, engage them in dialogue and get to know them. You're more likely to get a response and become a familiar face (or avatar). Send a DM once you've established a relationship, it will be more likey to be received and not instantly deleted. Note of caution! If you are not a close DM friend a link in a DM is like a bomb scare - don't do it!
In Twit City the rules still apply just not in the same context!






