Don't Spam Me, Bro!

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Auto DMs = Auto Unfollow*
A number of us in the #usguys Twitter tribe were sharing how obnoxious auto-Direct Messages (DMs) are on Twitter.
To summarize our chat: auto-DMs are obnoxious.
Here's the thing. You follow someone because you like what they tweet, or maybe because they follow someone interesting, so you figure, "Hey, we have this third party in common. Maybe this is a good match for us to get to know each other, too." I've found many of my favorite people on Twitter this way, a second or third level in.
So you reach out, and what do you get in return? A spammariffic message in your email inbox saying something inane such as, "Thanks for the follow!" Um... you're welcome ...-ish. I don't need another computer-generated email, is the thing.
The Shameless Self-Promotion
Even better, though, is the auto- shameless self-promotion. "Thanks for following! Friend me on Facebook, too (with link)." Or "Visit my website to learn all about ____ (whatever it is they're selling)."
Come on, folks! You can do better than that. Would you walk up to someone at a party and say, "Follow me on Facebook!" or "Check out my website!" Isn't that how people catch social diseases?
It could just be me, of course, but I'm a little slower off the mark. How 'bout we start with some polite chit-chat. Let me learn about you before we take it to the next level, huh? Just sayin'.
My friend @LewisPoretz has even gone so far as to create a LinkedIn group whose only rule for exclusion is shameless self-promotion. He tells me he's already had to exclude 3 of his LI pals in accordance with this one simple rule.
Folks, no one's perfect - some of us far less than others. (That would be me!) We're all trying to feel our way through the exciting new world of Social together, and it's going to involve all sorts of missteps - I've made more than most as I continue to educate myself, so I'm not just saying that. The more you fail the more you learn, as the saying goes.**
But really. Show some shame - and some tact - when you self-promote.
Next Social Media Monday, we'll discuss TrueTwit. As the ironically completely un-ironic name suggests, it takes a true twit to think this imposition is acceptable.

For earlier Social Media Monday posts:You Can Run, But You Can't HideThe Three Roles of Social in the EnterpriseMy Follow-Back PolicyIntroducing Social Media Monday!

* I wish I could remember who tweeted this piece of wisdom this weekend on #usguys. (Was it @starry_girl?) If you know, I'll amend this post. Sorry!
** Maybe it's just me who says this. If so, please make it your own. It really does work.