It's always fun to watch what the real estate community does with a new technology development or service. With email, it's way past new, and there are still millions of spammy "how to make your kitchen smell good for showings" type drip mail going out every day. What the hey, it's free right?
Now it's Twitter and "auto-follow" tools. If someone mentions "real estate" in a Tweet, they don't realize that they're about to be attacked. Here's a Tweet in my morning's search:
"Marketing on twitter! I wish they'd be sensible about it. ! I got followed by a real estate co in LA just becoz I put Real Estate in a post"
What this Tweet clearly shows is that these practices are annoying to people. With email, you don't see this response, but your email and possibly your IP address hit spam lists when they mark them. Then, all of the others you're sending out go straight to the trash.
I also wonder if anyone at the other end, after perhaps auto-following hundreds, will even see this Tweet letting them know this one user found it annoying. Where there's one...
I agree with your article, and I’m a marketing guy.
I think that I would feel extremely “stalked.” However, as a marketing guy, I understand something else. Much like telemarketing in the “old days,” it’s incredibly annoying, but there’s some reason why it’s done.
Any guesses? ‘Cause it works often enough to pay for itself. Sad but true. (This further supports your title about what happens when you follow the herd.)
Chris,
Thanks for the comment. I find Twitter extremely useful as an information-gathering tool, and a way to keep up with current news and business solutions. But, if I followed more than 30 or so people in each account, it would become useless, as I’d miss too much in the clutter.
I’m watching the evolution of Twitter with interest, as I can’t see how all of the “counting” that’s used to rate “influence” is going to shake out. I’d rather have 200 followers that read what I tweet than 2000 who don’t. And, I’d rather skim and read the tweets of 50 than have hundreds a day get by me. But, that’s just me.
Thanks again for the comment.
Jim
I agree with your integrity, Jim. I like to take information presented to me seriously and focus on it.
There are some people who view their “followers” as a greater status symbol the higher the number of people in their following base.
Earlier, I was trying to make the point that NOBODY likes overbearing tweeters, but there must be SOME PEOPLE who are responding with their wallet. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be done.
Too bad! It’s not the way I like to do business. Then again, I’m not in the top stratosphere of money-making, either.