One Way Conversation? 8 Types of Twitter DM's Reviewed

When I follow some accounts on twitter, I often receive a Direct Message (DM) shortly afterwards. The messages I've received so far fall into one (or more) of the following categories:

1. Hello and thank you for following
2. Check out our website
3. Check out our app
4. Please answer this quick question
5. Feel free to connect
6. Check out my Facebook page / LinkedIn profile / other Social Media Profile
7. Invitation to collaborate
8. Motivational quote

Sometimes the sender makes it clear that the message is automated, other times it's a bit ambiguous, but sometimes the message has a distinctly personal touch and invites interaction.

But what is the etiquette regarding DM's? Or is there any?

For any brands out there who would like to improve their interaction with followers, here's a brief insight (for what it's worth) into how I deal with DM's.

1. Hello and thank you for following

I assume that it's an automated message and move on with my day. It doesn't leave a lasting impression.

2. Check out our website

Sometimes I click on the link, sometimes I don't. I also assume that these types of DM's are automated.

3. Check out our app

Again, I assume that the DM is automated. I usually click on the link and decide whether or not I need it in my life. The chances are, I followed you because your app sounds interesting, and I may have already clicked your link; so I will pay more attention to the DM in that case.

4. Please answer this quick question

I may or may not respond to these DM's. These ones tend to be worded in a way that is quite ambiguous in terms of whether or not they are automated or human. If I do respond, I will probably ask a relevant question of my own and await an answer. I do this partly to understand how much importance the brand places on engagement. If they respond, I don't know what I will do because this is yet to happen...

5. Feel free to connect

I assume that these are automated. Thoughtful, and good to know. Thanks.

6. Check out my Facebook page / LinkedIn profile / other Social Media Profile

Automated. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

7. Invitation to collaborate

These tend to have a specific call to action, and I assume that they are automated. Sometimes they are clearly personalised, and I will investigate further / respond.

8. Motivational quote

Please and thank you. I will motivate right back!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it

So, that was a small (and probably useless) insight into my DM experiences. If you have any questions, ask away! :)

How I got more hits on my blog

These three simple steps are my personal account of trial and error. Enjoy!

1. Twitter analytics  I practically live on twitter and I tweet regularly about my blog posts. But when I was getting started with my blog, just tweeting alone was not translating into the number of hits that I wanted. Using twitter analytics, I noticed that although my number of twitter followers was only growing relatively gradually, I was actually getting a high number of profile views per day. I wanted to capitalise on that, so I designed a really simple banner for my twitter profile, which showcased my blog url as the heading. Bingo! My hits went up substantially from day one! And even on days that I don't post any new content, I'm getting a steady (and increasing) flow of visitors to my blog, thanks to my profile views on twitter.
2. Google plus  It doesn't have the image enjoyed by twitter and Facebook, but it is a useful tool none the less! When I set up my blog on Google blogger, I also set up a gmail account, and Google+ seemed to come as part of the package. So, I tailored my Google profile and promptly forgot all about it. After a couple of months, however, I checked on my profile and found that I'd had thousands of hits! This was an unexpected result with practically zero effort! So, I started sharing my blog posts via G+ and found that it was generating consistent views, although not yet on par with those from twitter.
3. Networking  I am quite a sociable person and I have built up a professional network using old-fashioned face-to-face methods. I tell people what I'm working on and I share it with them. If they like it, they share it with their contacts. That way, they know the story behind who I am and what I do, and they buy into that story. The value of real-world interactions and connections cannot be underestimated.

This is of course not an exhaustive list, and what it reveals is that you should use your strengths to your advantage. Keep an eye on the data and work with it to grow your brand!