Friday, January 17, 2014

To Unfollow or Not?

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:

Heather Musk said...

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.

Natalie Aguirre said...

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 I usually unfollow small blogs of unpublished authors where the person never visits me.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.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've seen them as well. There are a couple bloggers I don't visit anymore because all they blogged about was their book.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

Yvonne Osborne said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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.

Stacy McKitrick said...

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!

mshatch said...

I'll unfollow for the same reasons; too much self-promo, and not enough real (okay, virtual) interaction.

Ava Quinn said...

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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

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.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

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.

Unknown said...

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.

Hilary Wagner said...

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!

Jemi Fraser said...

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 :)

erica and christy said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

Christy - I probably should too - but it seems like a lot of work and time I'd rather spend writing :)

Rosalind Adam said...

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!

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosalind - yes! Those can be annoying too. I don't like the foul language either.

klahanie said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

Gary - yup - those are the folks who drive me batty too. Don't understand their thinking at all! Smug is the perfect word.

Suzie F. said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

Suzie - that's pretty much the way I handle it too. And yup, the self promo gets old really quickly! :)

Beth said...

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!

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - it really does seem like common sense! Being polite usually isn't tough :)

Kelly Steel said...

Great post Jemi. I'm just learning all the rules here!

Jemi Fraser said...

Kelly - and you're doing a great job! :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

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. ;)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - the lists are really helpful for that too! Couldn't function on Twitter without my Tweetdeck :)

DEZMOND said...

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 :)

TL said...

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.

Searching for the Story said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

LD Masterson said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

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 :)

cleemckenzie said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

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 :)

Anita Chapman said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

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! :)

DMS said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

Jess - I agree! Social media (for us anyway!!) is about the interacting and the learning!