10 easy ways to lose Twitter followers

In this ‘wild west’ time of twitter, while businesses are exploring how to make the most from this excellent and powerful communication tool, and small businesses are looking to exploit this free (low cost) medium, many of us are looking for ways to increase our followers.

In the hunt for new followers are we at risk of long term damage to our reputation?

As an avid user of Twitter I have found it to be a powerful communication and marketing channel/ tool, however I have seen an increase in the behaviour of people using the medium and applying ‘sledge hammer’ techniques to get their message out. With the accessibility to low cost computer programmes it is now easy to commission people to develop small applications to meet our own needs – for example, I have had a simple unfollow tool written which unfollows up to 100 people that have not engaged with me – its easy so we need to watch that what we do does not ‘up set’ users who are prepared to create such tools and then make them available to others.  (this tool or strategy is not right for many users)

Or worse we do not want our actions to encourage people to unfollow or block us.

Here are my top 10 don’ts in twitter – yours (loves and hates) may be different…

1. Have a cartoon or no image as your avatar
2. Have an empty profile and/ or no location
3. Send DMs with links (unless specifically invited
4. Send DM’s inviting me to join your FaceBook or LinkedIn group
5. Send a message with a link and include 4 or more @ addresses – that is spam!
6. Send the same message 4 times a day
7. Tell me that you can get me followers – I have more than you!
8. Tell me how I can make money on Twitter
9. Swear in your tweets
10. Not interacting with people (its important to send some RTs or @’s – its not just about you!)

I’m sure there are many more – but do some of these and expect to be unfollowed or blocked by many.

Twitter should be about adding value to your readers and building relationships. Now if you have lots of followers you cannot engage with each one every day – but if they send you a message or RT something they have found interesting then it is only polite to thank them – you want them to do it again don’t you?

Remember, just because a person is not following you does not mean they are not reading your posts – and just because you fund their posts of interest they many not find yours of value… yet!

Twitter is about a mix of one and two way communications – so make sure your approach meets everyones needs and not just a you follow me so I follow you mentality – its just not sustainable.