Twitter followers: quality versus quantity?

[Pr]

Just wondering if other Twitter users feel like I do about automatic following.

Specifically, as soon as you enter a keyword you get one or more instant followers. Yet the context of that keyword is often very different to their interest.

Worse still being, especially when I was new to Twitter, but still now, is this. Out of courtesy (and I suppose flattery!) you thank them for following, probably retweet, or introduce yourself, even do a free ad for them. Yet they virtually never reply!

At first I took this personally and was annoyed, but have since realised they are following thousands and just don't see your message. Even if you direct message them.

Which begs the question, why do they bother following everybody? Of course most of them do it in the hope of getting some more business. Like a scatter gun approach. However, I just think of them as idiots and think they would be far better following a select few. People they could interact with and build proper business or personal relationships with.

Am I wrong? Or do you think the same as me?

Many thanks.

[Jeff]

You'e absolutely right about the "scatter gun" approach. I have even read statements from prominent Internet Marketers that say if they don't get followed back they will unfollow you and regularly check their follow lists to regulate this. This is using Twitter purely as a traffic generation tool and is blatant speculative marketing and although social network marketing is a good business tool if used ethically this is not the essence behind the idea of Twitter.

I'm not tarring all Marketers with the same brush as the few that I follow do offer a good mix of personal "chat" and business information which is both interesting and helpful alongside their marketing efforts.

I believe that following and building a following of like minded people both personal and in business has a similar effect to building off-line relationships through gaining trust and confidence. The to-ing and fro-ing of ideas and information of interest between a few people is far more productive than the impossible task of pretending to be interested in what thousands of people are saying multiple times a day.

Thanks for the interesting question.

[sajan]

you are right

[indigo]

Twitter is used by different people for different reasons.

People interested in having a conversation, would expect to get followed otherwise it is a one way conversation! Expect them to unfollow if you don't follow back. It is also impossible to have a "conversation" with thousands of followers - so would limit who they follow.

Some use it as a platform to influence or get feedback from others - they want followers -but not really a conversation - celebrities & marketers might be in this group. If you're not listening (ie following) they will unfollow.

The great thing about Twitter is that it can be whatever YOU want it to be. Your question is on the money! The greater the number of followers/followings - the lower the quality of those connections. Where YOU choose to set your level is your choice!