One of my new favorite blogs comes from LightThread – a company local to Kansas City. In yesterday’s post, the topic was the consequences of inorganic growth on Twitter.
I’m the first to admit that part of Twitter is vain. A user’s ego can grow in conjunction with their following. It feels good to know that your thoughts have value – even if you’re just telling followers that you had a good Jazzercise class last night. (FYI, I realize that Tweet had no value… though I have connected with other instructors via Twitter)
As author Simon Kuo points out, you don’t want to be a poser in this space… or any space in social media for that matter.
There is no shame in following heavy hitters in social media, but if you’re picking and choosing who to follow just because they will follow you back… you’re probably not building an authentic group of listeners.
It’s one thing to follow someone who discusses your brand or often blogs on a topic you find interesting, but you have to keep their interest as well. Respond to their needs. Keep marketing speak to a minimum. Publish content that promotes discussion. People are smart, and they will see through any faux attempts at popularity.
As Simon says, your followers will eventually leave you if you can’t bring the goods.
Building a new audience when your reputation has been compromised is even more difficult than building that audience organically, one person at a time, through authentic and direct interaction.
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I appreciate that you share our views on these follower-adding practices (though we recognize that like drug-running, where there is an incentive for it there will always be abusers) and also that you worked “simon says” into the article above. Looking forward to reading of your success at SXSW!!