I'm over at From the Write Angle today talking about Twittequette (Twitter Etiquette). I enjoy the Twitter-verse because it's a no pressure way to make connections with lots of interesting people and to learn a ton. Plus it's fun!
But some people don't seem to understand the unwritten rules and they drive me bonkers ... at least until I unfollow them. My biggest pet peeve is the self promo fanatics. They never tweet about anything or anyone else.
And it's not just on Twitter, I've seen it with a few (very few) bloggers as well. They only talk about themselves and their products. It's probably the same with folks on FB (which I still haven't joined!) and the other social media forums. People don't change their personalities despite the change in venues!
I actually don't unfollow lightly, and I've only done it on Twitter. I know some people unfollow blogs as well, but I tend to just not revisit.
What's your unfollow style? What are some of the reasons you unfollow people?
41 comments:
I am on Twitter but don't look at it often, I think I'm put off purely for the reasons you've given here.
Perhaps I need to have a clear up of who I follow and find out how to use it properly.
I haven't unfollowed anyone on Twitter yet, though that is really annoying. I'm new there, but am starting to use lists to really keep track of the people who I want to interact with.
I have started unfollowing blogs. I usually unfollow small blogs of unpublished authors where the person never visits me. I just don't have time to keep reading blogs for people who don't follow back. I understand I won't get visits with a published author or an industry person and don't expect to be followed back.
I've seen them as well. There are a couple bloggers I don't visit anymore because all they blogged about was their book.
I try to be more selective about my follows. I check out the profile, and if their feed is full of nothing but self-promotion, quotes from others, or RTs, I don't follow. I look for bits of conversation and interaction.
As for unfollowing someone I already chose to follow -- I've done that if their tweets are offensive, if they fill up my feed with a long string of promos for other authors (with whom they obviously have an agreement) or if they tweet promos during major tragic events ... which proves the tweets are pre-scheduled and the person isn't even there, let alone looking to interact.
Heather - Twitter can be a ton of fun - but you're right those annoying folks can suck some joy out of it :)
Natalie - I expect the same kinds of things from bloggers - we're on the same wavelength :)
Alex - and they are annoying!
Dianne - those are very good reasons! I hadn't thought of the auto-tweets either - great point!
I don't use Twitter much (isn't it a lot of noise?) so I can't really comment on that. Regarding blogs, I have unfollowed those who never visit back. Especially when I've repeatedly left comments on their blogs but they're too busy or uninterested to visit me. Simple etiquette I believe.
It's important to take the "me" out of the equation for most posts and tweets, because you're interacting with others. Inflating oneself most of the time is obnoxious. I sparingly tweet about my work. I do it the most for contests and releases, but even then every tweet isn't about me.
I don't do Twitter (which has been described to me as one huge cocktail party and I'm not a fan of those to begin with!).
But I can see unfollowing someone if all they do is talk about their book or feature other books without discussing whether they've actually READ the book their featuring. In other words: their blog/twitter/status/whatever is just an advertisement for them or someone else. I like to know what the blogger feels. I'd like to see a discussion. I want to see the person!
I'll unfollow for the same reasons; too much self-promo, and not enough real (okay, virtual) interaction.
I haven't unfollowed anyone yet, but constant self-promo would definitely make me consider it.
I'm also not on Facebook. (Cheers!) Though sometimes I get nervous that I should be, I have yet to succumb to the pressure.
I do the not-visit thing on blogs and I have unfollowed people on Facebook but usually because they use it to promote their political views.
Oh, I know what you mean about self-promo and Twitter. Usually I don't unfollow...it would have to be pretty egregious. Sometimes I get @ mentions with spammy book marketing--if it's repetitive, I'm blocking it. But I rarely look at my Twitter stream, so that's why I'm more immune to it.
People who tweet only about themselves or their books bore me to death.
I don't unfollow lightly either. In fact I've only unfollowed one blogger and that was because they unfollowed me.
I cannot stand people who follow you on twitter, you follow them back because they're writers too, and then a month or so later, they drop all their followers in order to look popular. Kills me! I want to shake them. It's not going to win them any friends or fans. How do they not get that? Great post, Jemi!
Yvonne - sadly I've come across a few of those folks. I probably should unfollow, but as is I just don't go back :)
Medeia - I think you have excellent Twittequette! :)
Stacy - cocktail parties are not my thing either!! *shudder* I've learned a ton from twitter and actually find it fun :)
Ms H - it's funny how to us it all becomes very real :)
Ava - cheers! Me too - and I know I'll join one day when life isn't quite so nutty :)
Wendy - good reason! I just don't get some folks!
Hilary - thank you! It's bizarre how many people really believe that makes them look good. Time to open the eyes!
Susan - that would be annoying too!
Elizabeth - I use the lists to make twitter more manageable too :)
Not really. I'm not on enough to follow or unfollow lately! Well, actually once I did unfollow someone on twitter who constantly used foul language. I should probably go through my blog list and at least unfollow all the blogs that haven't had posts in a few years! Christy
Christy - I probably should too - but it seems like a lot of work and time I'd rather spend writing :)
I don't unfollow blog posts either but I've started to unfollow a lot of Twitter people. It's for all the reasons you mention, constant self-promotion, plus unnecessary vulgarity or general unpleasant tweets. I also have problems with those who RT everything. I end up being forced to look at their choice of Twitter people as well as my own!
Rosalind - yes! Those can be annoying too. I don't like the foul language either.
Hi Jemi,
You might realise that this sort of posting that I very much relate to. Oh, before I continue. Great post! Thanks for sharing!
Actually, I have noticed a number of bloggers who only talk abut themselves, never interact, never respond to comments. All they do is blatantly self-promote. Some of them really get on my nerves. They might create some so-called caring, sharing blog hop and all they really are doing is trying to accumulate more followers. I find that very sad.
I have only unfollowed a couple of blogs. They fell into the smug, arrogant category I mentioned above.
Take care, eh. Gary at KLAHANIE! LOL
Gary - yup - those are the folks who drive me batty too. Don't understand their thinking at all! Smug is the perfect word.
I'm not on Twitter yet, but endless self-promotion would annoy me, too.
I haven't really unfollowed blogs, but there are a lot less bloggers posting regularly, so it hasn't much of an issue for me. When I comment on a blog, I appreciate when the blogger comments back, sends an email, or visits my blog. It wouldn't cause me to unfollow him/her if he/she doesn't, but I might visit less frequently.
Suzie - that's pretty much the way I handle it too. And yup, the self promo gets old really quickly! :)
It's very rare that I would unfollow someone on twitter, but constant self-promotion would do it. It's really in poor taste.
I think people are just learning the rules for courteous tweeting, but it just seems like common sense!
Beth - it really does seem like common sense! Being polite usually isn't tough :)
Great post Jemi. I'm just learning all the rules here!
Kelly - and you're doing a great job! :)
I don't even unfollow on twitter unless they unfollow me, lol. But then, the spammers don't end up in my favourites list either. ;)
Lynda - the lists are really helpful for that too! Couldn't function on Twitter without my Tweetdeck :)
I have more of those who follow me at Twitter than those whom I follow :) I don't follow those with a small number of followers because those are always suspicious.
And I also unfollow blogs here too if their owners never had the courtesy to visit my place and leave a comment :) And I unfollow those who do not follow back.
I'm precious :) and they should know it :)
I am trying desperately to walk that very fine line this week with my release! Feel free to call me out over there if i get to annoying--seriously. :)
The main reason I started the 2nd account you found me on is just what you're saying. When I go back to my original account it's pretty much _all_ author promotion. No chatting, no fun, no camaraderie.
You'll notice the *much* smaller amount of folks I have on the 2nd account--I'm very choosy about whom I follow/follow back because I don't want a repeat of account number 1.
My perspective: someone who's pursues relentless self-promotion is uninterested in being part of a community and so has sort of sort of surrendered their right to your courtesy.
Dezzy - you are! :) So much of it is selfishness and self absorption. Annoying stuff
Tara - you're not even close to the line! That constant me me me is annoying :)
Ethan - that's an awesome perspective! You're so right. They have no desire to be part of the community so I won't feel bad unfollowing!
I'm not on Twitter - afraid of the time drain if I got into it. With blogs, I don't remove myself from their list of followers, I just stop visiting.
Linda - that's what I do too. Twitter is actually not too bad for a time suck. I find I can spend a couple of minutes here and there and keep in contact with friends without much time. Plus it can be fun :)
Me. Me. Me is a turnoff. Actually, I'd be bored if I did that. I like talking and learning about other people. They have a lot of ideas and write super books. By acknowledging that I learn so much and I stay excited by what I'm doing.
Lee - it really is a turn off! I love your attitude and echo it! It's so much fun learning from our buddies! Like you :)
I love Twitter and go through phases of being on it a lot, especially when I get into conversations with other writers/friends. When I need to get writing done I stay away though, because I find it so addictive. I only tend to unfollow if someone DMs me as soon as I've followed with a link to their blog/book. Also I unfollow if offensive/very political or loads and loads of RTs. Re blogging, I always try to comment back and keep a list.
Anita - I go in spurts too - it's easy to get absorbed into a conversation with fellow writers!! I wish I was organized to keep a list but that would never happen! :)
What a fascinating post! I do unfollow people every now and then. I usually will comment on someone's blog about 5 times before I unfollow. If they haven't come back after I have commented 5 times I figure we are not really interacting and my time could be better spent reading other blogs and building a relationship. Like you, I find it hard when I visit a site (twitter, Facebook, a blog, etc.) that is all about the author and their books and nothing else. I like to have authors post about themselves and their books, but it is nice to be able to comment on other posts and topics. :)
So interesting to see everyone's thoughts on the subject!
~Jess
Jess - I agree! Social media (for us anyway!!) is about the interacting and the learning!
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