Comments on: Do You Follow Back When Businesses Follow You? http://carltonzone.com/blog For the Hottest Discussions on Business, Technology, and Marketing Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:31:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Terrance Charles http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4532 Terrance Charles Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:45:32 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4532 When I first started building my Twitter network, I started autofollowing and that was the worst thing I could of did because it started following bots, spammers and people that are not even in the same niche as me. That only led to a clutter of non targeted tweets, spam, and clogged up my Twitter stream. The method I use now is manual follow, from time to time I may autofollow and THEN I go and weed out the people I do not want to follow just because of limited time, but most of the time when businesses follow me, unless I am familiar with that business I don't follow back or if their social media marketing strategy is borning I don't follow back. The only time I follow a business is when I am atleast somewhat familiar with it, I check out their twitter presence and see how much they interact with their customers and potential customers and how they relay their message to their followers, are they just blasting out advertisements or are they interacting and holding contest or free giveaways etc for their customers ;) When I first started building my Twitter network, I started autofollowing and that was the worst thing I could of did because it started following bots, spammers and people that are not even in the same niche as me. That only led to a clutter of non targeted tweets, spam, and clogged up my Twitter stream.

The method I use now is manual follow, from time to time I may autofollow and THEN I go and weed out the people I do not want to follow just because of limited time, but most of the time when businesses follow me, unless I am familiar with that business I don’t follow back or if their social media marketing strategy is borning I don’t follow back.

The only time I follow a business is when I am atleast somewhat familiar with it, I check out their twitter presence and see how much they interact with their customers and potential customers and how they relay their message to their followers, are they just blasting out advertisements or are they interacting and holding contest or free giveaways etc for their customers ;)

]]> By: ChaCha Fance http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4530 ChaCha Fance Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:15:54 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4530 Basically like everyone said. I only follow if it's something I'm interested in. If not I ignore the request. Basically like everyone said. I only follow if it’s something I’m interested in. If not I ignore the request.

]]> By: Rahsheen http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4414 Rahsheen Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:20:23 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4414 I ignore all incoming follow emails via a filter. I never see them. I don't care who follows me. If someone wants me to follow them, they should make themselves known some other way, maybe like...by interacting with me. :) I ignore all incoming follow emails via a filter. I never see them. I don’t care who follows me. If someone wants me to follow them, they should make themselves known some other way, maybe like…by interacting with me. :)

]]> By: Anthony J Hunter http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4407 Anthony J Hunter Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:54:07 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4407 No can follow that person bro. That's clearly a mass spam to get some business without any type of relationship with the customer. Sorry, I am not their Twitter-Trick! :) No can follow that person bro. That’s clearly a mass spam to get some business without any type of relationship with the customer. Sorry, I am not their Twitter-Trick! :)

]]> By: Rachel Levy http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4402 Rachel Levy Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:14:58 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4402 Great idea Carlton! I would follow them back if I'm interested in their business. But, having a 2000/200 ratio and no avatar, would indicate to me that they don't really "get" twitter. So, I would be cautious in following back. Great idea Carlton! I would follow them back if I’m interested in their business. But, having a 2000/200 ratio and no avatar, would indicate to me that they don’t really “get” twitter. So, I would be cautious in following back.

]]> By: John http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4401 John Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:32:58 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4401 Yeah, I do the auto follow and then weed out the knuckleheads when I get time later. john (ColderICE) http://www.ColderICE.com Yeah, I do the auto follow and then weed out the knuckleheads when I get time later.

john (ColderICE)
http://www.ColderICE.com

]]> By: Mo Hall http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4397 Mo Hall Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:56:13 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4397 I think businesses on Twitter is a good idea. For me, following businesses is only done if it is of interest me, it's just noise otherwise. Thanks Carlton, for a chance to make my voice heard. I think businesses on Twitter is a good idea. For me, following businesses is only done if it is of interest me, it’s just noise otherwise. Thanks Carlton, for a chance to make my voice heard.

]]> By: TS Elliott http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4396 TS Elliott Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:42:16 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4396 I don't have a lot of following rules any more. I used to be pretty picky. I spend most of my time trying really hard to follow people back. I can say that I like to follow businesses that I am interested in already. I don't want to follow people who have gimmicks or look like they are trying to sell "secrets" about something. I do like to see what people look like and I like it when people use their real names. Lately there are so many strange things on twitter that the rules don't seem to apply like they used to. I want to see twitter implementing more rules and getting rid of the spam accounts. If you see an example of a business using twitter effectively - will you let me know. I like to use examples for my research on how to help companies use social media. Thank you, Carlton I don’t have a lot of following rules any more. I used to be pretty picky. I spend most of my time trying really hard to follow people back. I can say that I like to follow businesses that I am interested in already. I don’t want to follow people who have gimmicks or look like they are trying to sell “secrets” about something. I do like to see what people look like and I like it when people use their real names. Lately there are so many strange things on twitter that the rules don’t seem to apply like they used to. I want to see twitter implementing more rules and getting rid of the spam accounts. If you see an example of a business using twitter effectively – will you let me know. I like to use examples for my research on how to help companies use social media. Thank you, Carlton

]]> By: Kelly Brown http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4395 Kelly Brown Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:39:56 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4395 No, I rarely follow businesses back unless I'm interested in or using their product or service. I learned a long time ago that following all businesses back will lead to an abundance of spam tweets. Just too much noise in my timeline. No, I rarely follow businesses back unless I’m interested in or using their product or service. I learned a long time ago that following all businesses back will lead to an abundance of spam tweets. Just too much noise in my timeline.

]]> By: Angie Haggstrom http://carltonzone.com/blog/do-you-follow-back-when-businesses-follow-you/#comment-4394 Angie Haggstrom Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:38:08 +0000 http://carltonzone.com/blog/?page_id=69#comment-4394 I'm not a believer in reciprocal following for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is noise. You only have to listen to some of those with thousands of followers complain about Dm spam to figure out one of the biggest issues with that concept.Here's a pair of great posts that looks at this whole topic: http://www.michelfortin.com/autofollow-fiasco/ http://www.twitip.com/why-following-too-many-people-will-cost-you/ Here's how I decide who to follow: If they are following more people than are following them, it tells me that numbers are more important than interaction, are bots, or spammers/broadcasters. And unless it's someone or a company I really want to follow, it isn't going to happen. I'm fine with following businesses IF they interact and have something interesting to say, so their icon isn't exactly an issue. If they are following far less than are following them, it impresses me. It tells me that they are selective about the people who surround and influence them and that interaction is important to them. I also look at a person's tweet stream. If they constantly tweet, but never retweet or respond to anyone, I don't follow them. If they only tweet links, I don't follow. I look for a stream with a variety of tweets that match my interests or look fun. So, in your example, I would not follow back. Period. I’m not a believer in reciprocal following for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is noise. You only have to listen to some of those with thousands of followers complain about Dm spam to figure out one of the biggest issues with that concept.Here’s a pair of great posts that looks at this whole topic:

http://www.michelfortin.com/autofollow-fiasco/
http://www.twitip.com/why-following-too-many-people-will-cost-you/

Here’s how I decide who to follow:

If they are following more people than are following them, it tells me that numbers are more important than interaction, are bots, or spammers/broadcasters. And unless it’s someone or a company I really want to follow, it isn’t going to happen.

I’m fine with following businesses IF they interact and have something interesting to say, so their icon isn’t exactly an issue.

If they are following far less than are following them, it impresses me. It tells me that they are selective about the people who surround and influence them and that interaction is important to them.

I also look at a person’s tweet stream. If they constantly tweet, but never retweet or respond to anyone, I don’t follow them. If they only tweet links, I don’t follow. I look for a stream with a variety of tweets that match my interests or look fun.

So, in your example, I would not follow back. Period.

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