Top 10 (or more) Twitter Blunders

twitter-blunder-voxefxLet’s face it, social media has created a colliding set of worlds as people approach it with their own set of curiosities and motives.  In this post I’ll shaer a few of the common (and humorous) things I’ve observed on Twitter classified as ‘blunders’.  More importantly, I invite you to share your ‘blunder’ observations as well.  This is no insult to those publishing their status update blunders, rather, somewhat of an admission of what we’ve seen and done ourselves, as we figure out how to use Twitter for business and beyond.

Top 10 (or more) Twitter Blunders

Today at Small Business Trends, Anita Campbell posted and interesting piece entitled Give Us Your Twitter Tips! giving people who have tips on using Twitter an opportunity to share their knowledge.

I thought I’d take a humorous side and see what folks have to say when it comes to blunders observed on Twitter (afterall most tweets are public).  This is your post, I’m attempting to merely start it off with 5 observations of my own.  This post may not go anywhere at all, but if it does it will be because you helped make the most of it.

  1. Auto Direct Messages (DMs): I’m ok with Auto DMs (I use them too) when I follow someone, but not so much when someone you follow automatically direct messages you with the intent to sell you something (not give).  Here is a screenshot of what Warren Whitlock is doing with his “Dumb Auto DM of the Day”
    10-twitter-blunders-01
  2. BizOpp DMs: Similar to selling stuff, one that came recently, Do you know anyone looking to start a business with minimal cash?
  3. Misspellings: If you have ever done this, you can easily delete the message and repost it using the little trash bin next to the message (done this many times).
  4. Multi-Tweet: When 140 characters isn’t enough, some will sequence tweet a whole paragraph…
  5. No Engagement: Always sayin’ rarely listening.  Not participating in a conversation with meaningful replies.

Now it is your turn. What have you observed in your use with Twitter, that you’d classify as a blunder?  Perhaps you have a specific example?  Maybe you just published one yourself?  Drop your input in the comment boxes below.  If I get enough engagement I’ll rank them and post a follow up with acknowledgements.
Image Credit to Voxefx

blunders, Social, twitter for business, Twitter marketing strategy

About Travis Campbell

Husband. Dad. Marketing automator. Author. Educating and coaching others in their online business endeavors. Here's his Google profile.

View all posts by Travis Campbell
  • http://egoist.blogspot.com Martin Lindeskog

    What about # 6 – 10?! ;)

    I recently installed the new version of Seesmic Desktop and sent out a message to my Facebook instead of my Twitter account, so I had to send another message! ;)

    Martin Lindeskog’s last blog post..IS XOCALATL A BITTERSWEET BEVERAGE?

    • Travis Campbell

      Martin-

      You started us off. How about sending a what you thought was a DM, and it was actually public? (happened from my blackberry, and no way to delete it without going to a PC).

  • http://BestSellerAuthors.com Warren Whitlock

    The biggest blunder is to join Twitter and expect that you will be found and reach out to you.

    It’s natural to feel like you need to wait till you have something profound to say, or see a friend who told you about Twitter at work.

    Best to jump right in. “Following” means you clicked on a gray button.. it’s not a commitment ot life long allegence.

    Go ahead an follow a few people that look interesting. Answer a question and engage in conversation.

    Don’t lead with “would you like to buy from me” .. that works about as well as it does at the buss stop.

    • Travis Campbell

      Great one Warren…
      Thinking signing up and doing nothing will make the site useful and interesting is a blunder indeed. Thanks for your input. And keep it rolling with those dumb auto DMs!

  • http://authoritylabs.com Chase Granberry

    I guess this could be filed under engagement, but the biggest thing people do is to not make friends. The easiest way to be successful on Twitter is to simply make friends with the people you’re following!

    • Travis Campbell

      Thanks Chase, very good point. Pretty obvious, but often overlooked.

  • tony

    * mass spam follows – A funny one I got yesterday was a guy whose bio describes him as an ‘internet marketing genious’, but that falls under #3 as well. I suppose I can appreciate following large groups at once, but for god’s sake, QUALIFY them first.

    * blowing your own horn – A recent quote from @chrisbrogan I love: “Here’s a truth: If you have to tell me you’re the best, you’re not. If you have to write that you’ve got an award-winning something, you’re worried that I don’t know you have game. If you’re selling the best whatever-it-is in the world, stop talking about it. Start telling me how I can use it to make me into a superstar.”

    Is ‘internet marketer’ the 18/f of twitter? epic fail.

  • Travis Campbell

    Tony-

    Great points.

    Those who blow their own horn will not be listened too for very long. Here is the link to the article you mentioned from Chris Brogan.

    Can you clarify your last sentence?

    You might include your Twitter ID so I (and others) can be sure to follow you.

  • http://Www.pitzerair.com/ Mrtonothorns

    The one thing that drives me crazy is TOO MANY tweets in a day. 2 to 3 is good, 10 is way too many.

  • http://Www.pitzerair.com/ Mrtonothorns

    The one thing that drives me crazy is TOO MANY tweets in a day. 2 to 3 is good, 10 is way too many.

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