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Kyle Lacy

Why I Hate the Twitter Auto-Response and Why You Should Too

I am fairly new at using Twitter. The concept and usefulness of the tool is by far one of the best on the web. I have been noticing an increasing trend in something I find completely worthless: Auto-Response. Whether you are using an @reply or a DM auto response I would prefer not to get them in my Inbox.

The beauty of social media is that (when used right) it turns into a BRILLIANT permission based marketing tool. Do you know what Auto-Response tools bring to social media? Nothing. An Auto-Response tool is simple a selfish method of promoting yourself or saving YOURSELF time. Notice a trend? Yourself.

I don't care how much time you save using an AR tool. I wasted MY time reading your anti-relationship building response tool.

I don't have much patience for someone who cannot take the time to type out a DM or a @reply. They are either:

A) Just using twitter as a marketing tool and don't care about anything else.
B) They are extremely busy and wont be using Twitter much anyway.


Both reasons are enough for me to unfollow someone who uses an automated response system. Social Media is built on authentic communication and relationship building. If you want to break that down...Break it down somewhere else.

If you want to send me an auto-response be prepared to find my name in your Qwitter box shortly afterwards.

Tags: media, social, twitter

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Lorraine Ball Comment by Lorraine Ball on November 30, 2008 at 8:19pm
I don't IM, because i like to be able to do it on my own time. With twitter, I can catch up on posts on my own schedule. The difference is really the ability to follow lots of people at once. folks tend to share links, what they are reading, along with bits of personal information. I have had a twitter account for almost a year, but really only began to use it about 2 months ago.

On Twitter you can find me at twitter.com/roundpeg. Did you use Markbhoward there to?
Mark Howard Comment by Mark Howard on November 30, 2008 at 8:09pm
i'm thinking it will take more time than I have to figure it out, IM seems to do it better in real time with people who really want to communicate, but maybe you can teach me. yahoo IM markbhoward
Mark Howard Comment by Mark Howard on November 30, 2008 at 8:07pm
ummm, i'll let that question hang! are we 'twittering' but using more than 140 characters at a time?
Lorraine Ball Comment by Lorraine Ball on November 30, 2008 at 8:06pm
Mark,
The value comes as you begin to follow interesting people. It takes awhile to get used to the concept, once you do it can be a bit addicting. It is amazing how much you can learn about people 140 characters at a time.

The primary Twitter user interface is a bit hard to work with, but TweetDeck makes the process very easy to manage.

Wow.. do I sound like a geek or what?
Mark Howard Comment by Mark Howard on November 30, 2008 at 8:00pm
i signed on to an account for twitter just now to see what you all are talking about, I don't really see the value in this at all! somebody clue me in!
Lorraine Ball Comment by Lorraine Ball on November 30, 2008 at 7:07pm
I haven't figured out where the auto responder is.. Wait, that's because I haven't looked.

I am with you, auto responders are a waste of time, and text minutes. I think that is the thing which annoys me the most, when I get a text message with a link to advertising for something I really don't want.
Paula Henry Comment by Paula Henry on November 30, 2008 at 3:19pm
I agree, Kyle - I didn;t know there was an auto response tool on Twitter. I try to keep up with good converstaions and add a bit of fun. I haven't yet unfollowed anyone, however, I also do not follow just everyone.
Nicki Laycoax Comment by Nicki Laycoax on November 30, 2008 at 12:43pm
I couldn't agree more. I am almost to the point that I will unfollow that person if I get an AR message in my inbox from someone new that I follow. Any social media platform that I utilize is for genuine relationships, not an auto-responder.

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