Confession time. I am a Twitter snob. In fact, some may even call me a diva.
I only add people of value to my network, and I’ve developed a simple process for “following back.” In simple terms, whenever someone follows me on Twitter, I do a quick scan to determine if I should follow them back.
Below is a three-part checklist for scanning Twitter profiles. Given the world’s obsession with follower count, this is critical to your social success on Twitter.
This is a cheap ploy and an annoyance to social media divas like me. If you only care about a high follower count, this is a great way to show your cards. But keep in mind that if you use this hashtag to grow your network, your timeline is going to be filled with Tweets that only talk about following back. Is that relevant to your personal or professional brand? I don’t think so.
Sending me a ‘Thank you for following, let’s connect on Facebook as well’ private message after I follow you is the fastest way to a bad impression. Why? It’s completely, totally superficial. Do you want me to know that all you care about is getting people to follow you on various social platforms? Gross.
I know what you’re thinking; you don’t do any of these things, but you still don’t get a follow back. Don’t worry! I have a simple solution for you. If there is someone you really want to add to your network, Tweet them. Don’t wait for them to notice you – get in front of them! Stand out from the Tweeting crowd! Introduce yourself and ask a question to get the conversation going.
What do you look for in a profile when deciding to follow back on Twitter? What are some of your Twitter pet peeves? Share them in the comments below, or Tweet them to me at @lediamedia.