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twidirty: twitter the dirty way
October 30th, 2008I’m noticing a trend in the twitter world and I must admit I don’t really like it. Before going any further, I just want to say that I love twitter so much and it really is a revelation to me as I bashed on it for such a long time! I guess it is because I didn’t really understood its power or just simply didn’t take the time to fully appreciate the platform. Anyway, this is not about whether or not twitter is a nice platform, it’s more about the dirty little trick I keep noticing all around.
Getting twitter followers the easy way
Lately, I read on so many blogs posts similar to “how to get 100, 200, whatever followers overnight”. You’ll read more or less the same thing all over the place: just follow a shitload of persons and something like half of them will follow you in return. Pretty simple heh? You follow 2,000 twitteraddicts and you get 1,000 followers. To me, that’s pretty good exposure when comes the time to tell the world you have a new blog post published or a new product to advertise, but there is a fundamental problem: your following/follower ratio is way too high and you look like a twitter spammer!
Following/Follower ratio
Don’t pretend you don’t check your following/followers ratio, I know you do. It’s all about being important, just like the big guys out there: following 100 twitteraddicts but having 2,000 followers! That way you would look all good and all important, right?
OK, I personally don’t care too much about that ratio, but I think having a ratio of something like 2 (following 2 for every 1 follower) doesn’t look that good (if it’s something like 2000/1000 of course, not if you only follow like 20 persons and 10 follow you) because it sounds like everything you’re doing is following everyone out there in the hope that they’ll follow you in return. When I notice that, I see people who don’t care too much about the persons they follow, but care a lot more about the number of people following them. That annoys me.
twidirty: the dirty trick
Here comes the dirty trick I noticed lately: some people will do the trick stated above to get something like 800 or 1,000 followers and won’t care about the number of people they follow even if it’s twice as much. Now, when they reach a satisfying number of followers, they simply un-follow most of the people on their follow list to something like 100! So they end up following 100 persons and being followed by a thousand! How dirty is that? frickin’ dirty if you ask me. Dirty for you that got tricked in the process. twitter doesn’t alert you when somebody un-follow you so you don’t really have any way of telling unless you really keep track of your followers.
twitter is about connecting and interacting
That raises an important question: what is twitter about? Is twitter about reaching a good following/followers ratio just to feel like you’re important or is it about interacting with your friends/blog readers? For me, it’s about connecting and networking. Good for you if you are being important enough for people to follow you just because your name is ShoeMoney, but for the average twitter user, it’s about networking with other people.
Of course I just un-follow these persons when I notice what they’re doing, but still a lot of persons will fall into the trap. So yeah, it’s a nice trick to get a decent number of followers and to broadcast your new posts while not getting flooded, but I don’t like it.
Another dirty trick
So that was another dirty trick on how you can play with the system. You know my usual recommendation: I don’t advise to do it because of long term personal branding and the usual blah blah blah, but you do it if you think it can serve you well!
30 Responses to “twidirty: twitter the dirty way”
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Cool post, I*ve seen a lot of people talking about this issue as well. I use etsy.com & there are a ton of people who use Twitter i see it as a good way to get to know the people in the etsy community as well as make new friends. Some people are just sad, Maybe their mother didn*t hold them enough?
Leslies last blog post..October Recap!
Good stuff here, Ben! And I love the phrase Twidirty, HHHAAAAAA!
Seriously, Twitter is the real deal. I was like you and thought it was the silliest thing in the world. That was a few weeks ago, now I can’t live without it. Can’t believe I missed out on so much.
It is the networking, but I like to think of it as building. Building relationships with people that you networked with. Networking is like the first step in a relationship, you have to meet..networking.
Building is that next step. The next phase of interaction between people. Twitter facilitates this very well because people are able to interact on their schedule. Yow Tweet when you feel like it. But you can read/keep up with what your friends or fellow bloggers are upto and learn more about them.
I could go on forever it seems. Twitter is awesome! If you get on though, be sure to follow me. I am thinktaylor on Twitter.
LOL! Ben was that TwiDirty?!?!?!?? LOL!
Freddies last blog post..Around the Blogosphere: October 29th, 2008
Shame on me. I was thinking of doing that just now.
I think it depends on the person, do they want to get thousands of followers to spam every time they make a new post? Or do they want to network?
All I know is, if someone wants to network with me, use the direct message.
Rajaie AlKoranis last blog post..Ultimate Blogging Theme Review – Just Another Pretty WordPress Theme?
Have been noticing that too… No wonder suddenly I got so many people wanted to follow my tweet… duh…
shaxxs last blog post..Reload Money to Tune Card via FPX
You mean all those followers I’ve been getting don’t actually love me for my personality?
I usually click who followed me, check their website link, and make a decision from there. Some are obvious. For instance, I had a little surge of football fan twitters follow me within a week. I don’t like football, so I don’t follow those mofos as it looks like total spam. Plus, if there’s no actual conversation in their recent “tweets”, that’s another flag.
If the person is in a niche that I hang out at regularly, then I’ll follow back.
Ultimately, I don’t care that much.
I Twitter sporadically @ Twitter.com/SuiteJ – Never The Twidirty Way!
Cheers!
Jay
SuiteJs last blog post..Free Revolution Wordpress Themes For Everyone
I’m glad i haven’t joined Twitter. I knew it will become spammy very soon, and honestly i thought that it would take me too much time to update and follow other twitters. Good luck !
Judits last blog post..Creating an Aromatherapy Retail Store Online
I’v not signed up to twitter yet – mainly as I haven’t looked into it, and don’t really know what its about, lol. Maybe at some point I’ll check it out, but thanks for letting us know, I’ll be sure to watch out for it should I ever get onto it!
Dans last blog post..Why Great Ideas Are Useless
“Twdirty”.. Great title. I have noticed lots of followers who then un-followed me when I didn’t reciprocate. I didn’t reciprocate because as far as our niches were concerned, we were light-years apart.
Dereks last blog post..Strange Zen
I have signed in on twitter but I don’t find it that useful.. may b I’m missing on something. But nice topic to blog.
Riturajs last blog post..Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 GT video
@Leslie: Good stuff, I didn’t know about etsy.com and it really looks nice. As you mentioned, it’s sad sometimes but people are just looking for more and more followers, like a race for who has more friends! I guess you’re right…Probably a lack of love!
@Freddie: HAHA that was SO twidirty! Asking on my blogs for people to follow you is really twidirty!
Just kidding hehe
I like it when you say twitter facilitates relationship building because people are able to interact on their schedule. It’s so true because you don’t have to be logged in to receive tweets, you can answer them whenever you want.
Twitter is also great because you can go beyond the traditional blog comment with your readers and actually have a more personal interaction. It’s a win-win situation for both the blogger and the reader.
I actually met some nice people on twitter…so twitter rocks! Thanks for dropping a line motivation dude!
@Rajaie: Exactly, do some cleanup in that twitter list!
@SuiteJ: Hey thanks for stopping by big head! I’m going through the same process. I usually check the twitter page, website, niche and recent tweets and then make a decision. I don’t think I ever received twitter spam like football dudes adding me for no reason…
Anyway, keep life un-twidirty
@Judit: twitter rocks, you have to join it!
It’s not that spammy to be honest, it is really well under control. You are right to say it does take some time to twitter, but I do it while I do some other stuff so it’s not really a waste of time…join the twimily (twitter family)! 
@Dan: Yep, no problems mate! I mean, head to twitter.com and have a look. It will look stupid at first by start following people and advertise your twitter account, you’ll have a great time!
@Derek: Thanks for the comment on title, I always try to make them original. Thanks also for dropping a line about your twitter experience!
@Rituraj: I think you are missing something mate…Sign up and follow me
GREAT piece and so true. The lame tweeps will be found out. I hate the follows I get from pure spammers….so annoying!!
Have a great day!
K
Kelly Olexas last blog post..Part 2 From 20 Hours Ago.
Ben
Isn’t that like that with any program in most cases. I think some people will always be like that so they think they can get ahead, but in most cases never happens.
Bruno Augers last blog post..Search Enigine Optimization Markets
Ben, your blog hums Dark Side vibes again. lol
I have to check out twitter but I keep forgetting. Not much of a social person.
Rarsts last blog post..Entry for two WordPress-related contests
@Kelly: Thanks for dropping a line!
There will be more and more twitter spammers unfortunately, but they are usually easy to distinguish!
@Bruno: Yep, it’s the same story over and over again I guess…!
@Rarst: haha I like the term Dark side vibes
Join twitter, I’m sure that will help you drive some more traffic or at least get more exposure for your blog. I’ve seen a lot of tech dudes on twitter…get your 150 subscribers to follow you on twitter! 
Excellent stuff. i have about 50 followers, I’m following about 4 and haven’t tweeted in almost a year lol….if they wanna click my link then cool!
I’m picky about who I follow as I plan to tweeting big time very shortly….had to get a whole bunch of other stuff under control before my next addiction
Dennis Edells last blog post..Oct.’08 Post Round-Up for Direct Sales Web Marketing
I’m only following about 20 people and have about the same following me. I just don’t ‘get’ Twitter, there is already too many notifications to pay attention to, how do people keep up with thousands of tweets?
Dot Com Duds last blog post..How I Promoted My First Blog Contest
That has always puzzled me to think how so many people could be following someone and yet they themselves don’t follow that many at all. It does give you the feeling that, “Hey, this is somebody worth following if they’re so popular.”
But that’s why I recommend using qwitter.com. It tells you who’s unfollowing you and right after which tweet they did it.
P.S. Hope you’re heart’s still beating.
Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..A Girl Recovers After Video Shoot
@Dennis: hehe that’s a pretty good ratio! Good news about yourself starting to twitter…I’m not quite sure if I already follow you but we’ll sort that when you start your twitter campaign hehe
@Dot Com DUd: Ahh they get used to it I guess! hehe You have to have a trained brain for filtering information I gues.
@Mark: Yep, so mow you know! Thanks for sharing qwitter, I didn’t know about it so I’ll have a look. It does interest me to know who unfollowed me and why.
Man, my heart is still beating, but I was just really, but I mean really not expecting that! Good stuff hehe. ANd for everyone wondering what I’m talking about here, check out Mark last blog post. You can get it right from commentLuv above!
Careful my friend, I can get addicted pretty fast…hence why I have held off LOL
Dennis Edells last blog post..Oct.’08 Post Round-Up for Direct Sales Web Marketing
I’ve seen that trend as well. Two thoughts:
First, try Qwitter to see who unfollows you and the tweet just before they unfollow. That way, if you loose people after a recent rant, at least you’ll know why.
Secondly, I think some people are just filtering the noise. This morning I received a Qwitter notice about someone I really like following and reading his blogs. At first I wondered if I offended or bored him. When I looked at his recent tweet stream, I see that he’s just trying to simplify life. THAT, I completely understand!
By the way, I’m on twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/cherylsmith999
Cheryl Smiths last blog post..Thomas Nelson – Core Values
just started to twitter , its addictive
ZKs last blog post..6 Reasons to Join Twitter
I really like the “Twidirty” word. To me, Twitter is a way of IM-ing without getting in the way of work! I get to know what people are doing, and I can let others know what I’m doing or thinking at the moment, but there doesn’t have to be a conversation. I know there is no one waiting for me to respond in the next minute, which means I can finish writing the article I’m working on, or whatever I’m doing at the time. I think of it as convenient IMing.
I am embarrassed to say, I have not take the time to learn Twitter. For shame for shame!!! I need to hire someone just to do the social networking crap!!!
Ms Sparkys last blog post..Does KBR Make Money Off Dead Soldiers?
Ms Sparky, that is interesting. My partner and I looking into doing just that, but found it really tough to find someone to work that angle of our business. If you have any luck, please share your source.
We went to elance to find outsourcers, but mainly got resistance to perform our job. Oh well, it is going to happen sooner or later!
Freddies last blog post..IM Experiment #1: Creating an eBook with Help
I really don’t get Twitter. Now with it becoming spammy, I don’t think I’ll ever step in there.
@Dennis: haha I see…But get on twitter man!
@Cheryl: I agree with people filtering the noise. SOme are just posting an impressive amount of posts on twitter and it can get really annoying!
@zk: haha yes it is
@Marketing Beep: Yes you’re right. It is an easy way to communicate with friends without schedule constraints.
@Ms Sparky: I don’t know about hiring someone for twitter as it has to be really personal. You can easily have a social network dude for facebook, digg, stumble upon, etc as it isnèt that personal. Thanks for drpping a line!
@Roger Hamilton: You have to step in there!
Great way to get your brand out there….
Hi,
There are some very interesting and useful thoughts in your post to improve own self. Thank you
Many people get confused by this. This is really people look into. Twitter is great way to interact and exchange messages with friends. But this is some how different. Thanks for update
That's bad. twitter should be a community that shrs ideas and opinions. There must be no space for these dirty tactics.
I have had this happen to me. Wasnt sure why but this explains it. Thanks for the article.