Comments on: Is Using the @ On Twitter To Target Customers Right Or Wrong?

By: Lauren Fisher

Lauren Fisher — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:19:58 +0000

Claire, you’re absolutely right in that depends on how you do it. The issue obviously arises when you’re just auto-replying to a tweet mentioning your brand for example. This does nothing to enhance the conversation and is sadly an approach that a lot of brands take. Sounds like you’re doing it right though and getting good results out of it!

By: Darragh

Darragh — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:13:47 +0000

Doing it to answer a question or help someone with their query I would say is acceptable.

Doing it to pimp your business is not.

Transparency and providing value in your response here is the key. There’s a big difference in replying to:

Looking for tips on good restaurants/bars to visit in London next weekend – hotel is next to Tower Bridge so ideally around there

with

There’s some great choices – Bull and Castle, Wharfman and the Ericsson are all close. I own the Sanjay – drop in and say hi if you’re passing.

and

The Sanjay is the best place to go. It’s hip, trendy and cool and really is the only place you should be seen.

is a big one. Similarly if Sanjay was silly enough to reply to everyone with the same tweet, that would be bad too.

I have a big problem with business people approaching me on twitter especially if I haven’t invited them or heard from them before. If it’s done with a “Hi Darragh, this might help” and then an actual benefit to me rather than them, then great. That rarely happens though. People need to understand they’re as much interrupting a train of thought as a conversation. Mostly people want to hear from “friends” on twitter, not to be sold to.

By: Aedan Ryan

Aedan Ryan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:09:45 +0000

Interesting question. I think if it’s done sensitively and it adds value then it’s OK. So for us, if I see in Twitter search someone saying “Help! Where can I find good waterproofs for my kids”, I might @reply them in a non-spammy way. You also need to be non-pushy in the language used in the reply.

By: Twitted by harryharrisblog

Twitted by harryharrisblog — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:55:36 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by harryharrisblog [...]

By: Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:54:08 +0000

Wd this be spam? Probably if you were out right selling something that the person hadn’t requested. But one person’s spam is another person’s value

As one comment had already been made – it’s the tone & the offer that has to be consider. Automated bot-like tweets are going to hack someone off. But an answer to their question, a useful link or a free bit of advice could be most welcome.

Don’t go in for the sell – Get the content right and start a conversation.

Karen

By: Stewart Curry

Stewart Curry — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:44:05 +0000

I’d say that if it’s done sensibly and respectfully then it’s fine, but I just don’t see that happening in the real world. I’d imagine brands/organisations would have to be very careful about how they go about this, and really provide something of value not to be considered spammers.

By: Claire Boyles (Business Coach)

Claire Boyles (Business Coach) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:42:49 +0000

Interesting, I’ve run searches before for things that I’m interested in, so that I can find people with common interests.

I’ve @replied to people that I’m not following, initiating conversation, isn’t that what twitter is about?

Sometimes these people become clients of mine, as a result of the conversation…

Is that spam?

I think as with lots of things in life, it depends not on what you do, but how you do it.

If you’ve got a product or service that someone is actively searching for & you’re giving them information on how to solve their need I don’t see what the problem is, and I’m guessing neither will they- You’ve just given them what they’re looking for!